The best new habit I picked up in 2013 is flossing daily. But I was weary of calling it a new habit at first because I’d had plenty of false starts when it comes to flossing — a few days of inspired flossing before it was back to my old routine of only brushing.

The problem wasn’t building an entirely new routine, it was that I already had an established routine that didn’t involve flossing. Plus, the routine already had a cue and reward system (cue: time for bed! reward: minty-fresh mouth!) so it would be significantly harder to cram even more into the routine.

But I’ve been flossing now, every day, for over four months — and I think the habit is here to stay.

How was I able to successfully build a new flossing habit? Continue reading →