Habits, Lifestyle Changes, and...

...The Practice of Mediation
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It’s February 3, 2026. If we aren’t personally doing it, we all know people who see the new year as a signal to do something different—and if they’re still sticking with their resolution, they’re about one month in (hopefully). Often, that “something” is health-related: cutting out sugar, committing to “Dry January,” or resolving—once again—to use a gym membership. Other times it sounds like, “This year, I will start/stop ______.”
 
The intention is good. The results are often short-lived.
 
According to a Forbes Health/OnePoll survey (2023), the average New Year’s resolution lasts just 3.74 months. Only 8% of respondents stick with their goals for one month. Roughly 22% last two months, another 22% reach three months, and just 13% make it to four months.
 
Research also shows that action-oriented goals—things we commit to doing—are more successful over time than avoidance-oriented goals, which focus on what we are trying to stop.
 
The 3-Month Disconnect
I’m not an expert in human motivation, but I’ve observed two patterns that matter. First, doing something consistently for about three weeks helps form a habit. Second, sustaining that behavior for three months can create a lifestyle change.
 
So here’s the disconnect: if three months is enough time to establish a lifestyle shift, why do resolutions tend to fall apart right around that same point? I believe the answer lies in mental readiness and motivation—the same forces that often determine whether conflict escalates or gets resolved.
 
Mediation Is a Lifestyle Practice, Not a One-Time Event
Many people think of mediation as something you do after conflict becomes unmanageable. But in reality, mediation reflects a set of habits and behaviors—curiosity, accountability, self-awareness, and intentional communication—that function best when practiced consistently.
 
If your resolution includes reducing stress, improving workplace relationships, or managing conflict more effectively, the work starts well before a formal mediation session.
 
Begin by paying attention to patterns around you:

• Are there people who consistently trigger frustration or defensiveness?
• Do certain conversations leave you feeling dismissed or unheard?
• Do the same disagreements resurface without resolution?

 
Just as with health goals, awareness comes first. After awareness, we can take action-oriented steps to make a lasting lifestyle change.