Skip to content
Home > All articles > Habitual success: Long-term habit maintenance

Habitual success: Long-term habit maintenance

It is crucial to differentiate between good and bad habits for personal development and overall well-being. Good habits contribute positively to physical health, well-being, and productivity, while bad habits can lead to harmful outcomes.


Good habits have positive impact on health and well-being. Regular exercise is a commendable habit that enhances physical fitness and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. On the contrary, a bad habit like smoking has adverse effects on lung health and physical stamina, with the potential to cause various types of cancer. Therefore, a habit’s impact on your health is a key criterion to differentiate between the good and the bad.

Developing a good habit is an achievement but sustaining it over time is a strategic approach. Following strategies can be useful in maintaining good habits.
1. Positive reinforcement: Rewarding yourself for sticking to your habit can reinforce the behavior. For instance, after a week of a balanced diet, treating yourself to your favourite meal is a positive incentive.
2. Track progress: It is always good to track your habit journey. Saving money is a good habit and it can be tracked this through different apps. In the long run, this will be highly beneficial.
3. Visual cues: You can have multiple reminders of the habit that you are trying to maintain. You can place sticky notes with the goals and objectives around your living space.
4. Learn from role models: Identify individuals who excel in the habit you are trying to maintain. Common role models in daily life include parents, teachers, and a great boss. A role model is a person whose character is worth emulating. They always inspire others to be their best.


Maintaining a good habit involves a blend of psychological strategies and real-world tactics. Real-life examples, from fitness, and reading to saving money and reducing plastic waste, illustrate how these strategies can be applied across various contexts.

Share this post

Read more on this topic

Discipline and habit stacking as the twin pillars of transformational change

Power of habit stacking and commitment

Good or bad habits: Exploring motivations and strategies for change