Habits tend to be one of those things that get a bad rap. We tend to automatically think of our bad habits; those little quirks we all have, the things we resolve to quit at the beginning of each year, the vices that become automatic, uncontrollable reactions. But not all habits are bad habits, and they’re actually pretty powerful – they’re what help us create a new routine and if we focus on forming healthy habits, they can make us not only feel better in the long run but make serious progress toward those big crazy ultimate goals we have.

I’ve been a bit intrigued with the idea of habits lately – how does something go from feeling like a chore to a natural extension of our everyday routine? What can I do to ditch the excuses and find the time and motivation to be healthier, happier and more successful? Well it turns out that it’s been scientifically proven that it takes 21 days to form a habit and build a new behavior into your life. Only 21 days! Less than a month! So I did a little experiment and decided to challenge myself to form some new healthy habits, specifically by maximizing my mornings.

A few things I’ve been working to reach “habit status” with:

Setting Goals, Not Just To Dos: I love a good to do list, to the point where I feel a paralyzed if I don’t have one in front of me. I love being able to see exactly what’s on my plate and feel a sense of accomplishment from checking things off, the longer the list the better. One thing I’m not so great at? Having a vision beyond all of the individual things I need to do. Instead of spending all my time down in the weeds with my to do list, I’ve been working to spend time on a regular basis to reflect on my longer term goals which has given me a clearer sense of my path and what exactly all of those little to dos have me working toward.

Making Smart Breakfast Choices: If you’ve been reading for awhile you know I’m pretty much obsessed with donuts. I’m also pretty obsessed with pancakes and many other delicious forms of sugary carbs which makes breakfast my favorite meal of the day and while I won’t lie to you and tell you that green juice is just as delicious of an alternative, I have been working to become more conscious of what I’m consuming, especially for breakfast (it’s the most important meal of the day!) I’ve noticed that what I eat for breakfast sets the tone for the remainder of the day, both with my other meal choices and how I feel with my energy level and mood. Getting into a habit of making a smart breakfast choice in the morning has helped me feel more inspired to eat better overall and recognize the importance of fueling my body with good stuff instead of empty calories.

Getting Some Extra Help in the Vitamin Department: Embarrassing confession time: I can’t swallow pills. Like I have to shove them down my throat (because I’m a child apparently). This little fact plus an overall aversion to medicines has made me avoid vitamins once I grew up past the Flinstone Vitamins phase of my childhood (anyone else have those?! SO tasty). I’ve also realized that yes, while I’m actively making better choices in my diet, I also do plenty of not so great things to my body like staying up too late to make a deadline and exposing myself to tons of germs while traveling. Enter Olly vitamins, which you may have noticed at Target recently – they’re awesome gummy vitamins that are available for very specific things so you can mix and match to create a custom vitamin routine. I was first drawn to their packaging but then loved the fact that they’re super simple to understand – each variety explains what they’re for, why it’s beneficial and even which flavors the gummies are and exactly what’s in ’em. Sold. I’ve since been working to make Olly a habit, both everyday with the Women’s Multi-Vitamin and as needed when I need a little immune system or energy boost. And given that they taste like you’re eating candy? It’s been the easiest habit in my little 21 day quest.

The bonus is that Olly is hosting a giveaway right now too with an amazing grand prize: a Day Spa package for a lucky winner & a friend, a 6 months supply of Olly Vitamins, and a personal wellness consultation with Olly’s resident nutritionist! 100 runner ups will receive an Olly product of their choosing. You can see the details and enter here if you’d like and you’ll also get 20% off your order for entering: http://bit.ly/1KtzMf5

Do you have any habits you’re working on at the moment? Has anyone tried Olly vitamins yet?

* Photos by Tory Putnam

This post was sponsored by Olly Vitamins and as always, all opinions are 100% honest and my own – authenticity is a top priority and I only partner with brands I truly love. Thank you for supporting the brands that partner with Pretty & Fun!