by Dr. Christine Li
I just wrapped up another round of my Re-Energize Your Home Five-Day Challenge, and I continue to be amazed by what can happen in just five days. Women (and a few men!) show up, often unsure or overwhelmed, and within one day—sometimes just one session—they’re clearing clutter, shifting energy, and making room for something new. And that got me thinking deeply, once again, about how to break old habits.
Why do habits feel so hard to change?
And what actually works when you’re ready to learn how to break old habits in order to build something better?
If you’ve ever struggled with feeling stuck in old patterns, or wondered why that pile of clutter keeps reappearing, this post is for you.
The Power of the Habit Loop
Habits are incredibly powerful. And that’s because our brains love predictability. Once something becomes automatic—whether it’s tossing your keys on the counter or walking past that growing stack of mail—it slips into what’s called a habit loop:
Trigger → Routine → Reward/Consequence
Here’s a simple example:
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You walk into your home (trigger)
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Drop your keys on the table (routine)
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And… hello, clutter. (consequence)
The brain repeats habits to save energy. But when the consequence of that habit isn’t serving you—like visual chaos or daily frustration—it’s time to take a closer look at the loop.
Why We Ignore Clutter (And Why That’s a Habit Too)
Here’s something I’ve learned from years of coaching: clutter doesn’t just accumulate on surfaces, it settles in our minds and energy fields too.
Many of us develop a coping habit of ignoring our clutter—walking past it, pretending it’s not there, convincing ourselves it’s not affecting us. But that “ignore and avoid” cycle becomes its own habit. And often, it’s blocking us from real progress in other parts of our lives too.
The good news? All habits are changeable.
The Three Essentials of Habit Change
If you’re serious about shifting your habits (and your life), here are the three essentials I want you to know:
1. Believe Every Habit is Changeable
This is key. Once you understand the structure of a habit—trigger, routine, reward—you realize you can rewire any part of the loop. That means your patterns aren’t fixed. They’re just familiar.
Habits, by definition, are things that can be reshaped. That’s why we call them habits and not personality flaws.
So instead of saying, “I’m lazy” or “I’m just not a tidy person,” start saying:
➡️ “I’m learning to change my habits.”
➡️ “This loop is shiftable.”
➡️ “My environment can match the life I want to live.”
2. Commit Fully
Wishy-washy doesn’t work with habits. You can’t toe-dip into change. You’ve got to go all in.
Ask yourself: What do I really want?
Then give yourself full permission to design your life around that desire. You don’t need anyone else’s approval to decide that less clutter, better routines, or more ease is what you’re worthy of.
Commit to the new direction. Thank the old habits, bless them, and walk forward without shame or judgment.
3. Continue with Consistency
This is where the magic happens.
Repetition creates momentum. Every day you recommit to the new habit—especially when it’s hard or inconvenient—you reinforce your new identity.
Things that help:
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Tracking sheets
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Accountability partners
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Celebrating small wins
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Remembering why you started
And don’t underestimate the power of pride. Every time you stick to your intention, you’re building self-trust. That positive reinforcement can be stronger than any external reward.
Be Kind to Yourself Along the Way
One of the biggest roadblocks I see is self-criticism. That voice that says:
“Why can’t I do this?”
“I must be lazy.”
“Everyone else has it together but me.”
Please, release those thoughts. They don’t help you. They don’t move the habit loop. They just weigh you down.
Your ego is not the problem. The system is. And systems can be changed.
You are not broken. You are awesome. And you’re allowed to grow and change without beating yourself up.
Ready to Reinvent Your Habits?
Let’s recap:
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Believe every habit can be changed. You now know how to break old habits.
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Commit to what you want with full energy.
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Continue with consistency—especially when it’s hard.
When you approach your habits with compassion, clarity, and commitment, the change becomes inevitable.
And if you’re ready to go deeper, download your free Habit Change Worksheet at maketimeforsuccesspodcast.com/commitment
Until next time, I’m cheering you on.
Keep going. Keep growing.
And don’t forget—you’ve got this.
Best,
Dr. Christine Li
