I have a question I ask my clients all the time:

“Is that true — or was that true?”

I didn’t realize I needed to ask it about myself.

“I only work out at a gym.”

I told myself I was too social.
I needed the accountability.
I needed to leave the house.
I needed the vibe.

And honestly? Five years ago, that was probably true.

I worked from home. The gym was my one big outing of the day.
It worked beautifully.

Then life changed.

I decided to rent my dream-come-true downtown office.
(You can read about that here.)

Suddenly I was driving 20 minutes to the gym.
Then 20 min back home to get kids ready.
Then 20 min back to my office.
Then finish the workday and drive 20 min back home to do school pickup.
Then usually another 20 min back to ballet or something.

I was spending 120 min in my car at least 3x per week.

But I surrendered to it shrugging,
"Well, it’s either this… or I just won’t work out. Because I don’t work out at home.”

Hmm.

Is that… a truth?

Or is that a limiting belief that was once true?

Because here’s the update my brain hadn’t loaded:
​I’ve worked out consistently for five years.

Maybe I’m not the same beginner I was five years ago?

So I decided to run a February experiment. (And share it with the Habit Labbers where we are all just experimenting with our habits with curiosity, NOT shame.)

What if I tried working out at home for three weeks and just… saw?

It’s been three weeks and so far…

I lifted weights three times a week.
Location: my house. (!!!)

Turns out, my identity shifted.

Five years ago, I needed every odd stacked in my favor.
Now?

I’m a workout person. (!!!)

That identity travels.

Here’s the distinction that matters:

Phase 1: Starting a Habit

When you’re brand new, make it ridiculously supportive.

• Clarify your habit values (you can find that series here).
• Create the easiest possible on-ramp.
• Consider “every day” over “some days.” (I wrote about that strategy here.)​
• Reward, reward, reward.
  Dopamine drives repetition. Sticker charts work. Research backs it.

In the beginning, protect the habit like it’s fragile.

Because it is.​
​

Phase 2: After Identity Shift

Once you’ve become “someone who does the thing,” you’ve earned the right to be little more flexible.

You can:

• Change the location.
• Loosen the structure.
• Try a new rhythm.
• Pivot when life pivots.

It’s not so precious anymore.

The habit isn’t being held up by willpower.
It’s being held up by identity.

And if you try something new and it wobbles?

You can always go back to Phase 1 and reset.
(Yes, I have a whole reset framework if you want it.)

The mindset underneath both phases is the same:

You are capable of change.

You can update your systems when your life updates.

You can teach an old dog new tricks.

Neuroplasticity says so.

So here’s the question:

Where in your life are you clinging to an old “truth” about yourself that might not be true anymore?

Hit reply. I want to hear your experiments!​
xoxo- Katie Day

P.S. I may change my mind again for March. That’s the freedom that experimenting gives you. Nothing has to be a life sentence. Just “try and see”. Decide. Re-decide. Pivot. Repeat.

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Current Podcast Release: Shailey & Katie's Lemonade Stand: Happy Home Organization & Style Series Part 1: Konmari and the life-changing magic of tidying up review! Listen on Apple or Spotify​ Currently: February: Monthly theme: Simplified Meal-Planning inside the Habit Lab I'm giving away my formula for no-brainer prep.

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“Protect the habit
until it becomes your identity.
Then let the identity
carry the habit.”

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| ohkatieday.com | | instagram: @ohkatieday |

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