Well, here I am, back from four weeks on holiday, and what an adventure it was. Trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro, camping under the stars, exploring the wild beauty of the Serengeti. It was magic, life-changing in ways I’m still processing.
Quick Summary: What a Habit Coach Learns From Falling Off Track
But here’s the thing: as incredible as it was, I came home and realised how easy it is to slip back into old habits. As a habit coach, I know this better than anyone, and living it firsthand hit differently.
Why Five Weeks Undid So Much
Six months ago, I set out to change my life, one habit at a time. Slowly, week by week, I rebuilt my health, boosted my energy, and rewired the way I think and live. I felt unstoppable. Strong. Unshakable.
But five weeks away from my routines, and boom, I slid back into patterns I thought I’d left behind.
Off Balance, Not Unhealthy
I wasn’t “unhealthy” in Africa; I was just off balance. Living off potatoes, thanks to gluten and egg allergies, and being outside my environment flipped a switch I didn’t see coming- exactly the kind of environmental trigger a habit coach watches for. It humbled me.
I thought six months of habits had rebuilt my system. But I can see now, it takes more than six months to undo decades of stress, sickness, and survival mode. As a habit coach, this is exactly why I never promise a quick fix; real change compounds slowly and can unravel fast without structure.
Structure Creates Freedom
This is what I know now: structure creates freedom, the first thing every habit coach learns and the last thing most people believe until they feel it. We need routines like we need air. The moment we let go of them, even for an amazing adventure, old patterns wait in the wings, ready to jump back in.
So I’m resetting, not dipping my toes in, diving all the way back to the beginning. All of it, at once, because I’ve felt what it’s like to live without these habits, and I don’t want to feel sluggish, low energy, and flat anymore. This is the same all-in structure I build with women each week inside Promise Kept.
Africa taught me a lot, not just about resilience but about life. The Swahili phrase “pole pole” (slowly, slowly) echoed with every step up that mountain. “Hakuna matata” (no problem) reminded me that most of what we stress about isn’t worth the energy. The climb wasn’t about conquering the summit; it was about the journey, and so is this: the same identity-level rebuild I explore with women inside Reclaim Her.
Conclusion
These next six months are about showing up for myself, day after day. If the first half of this year cracked me open, the second half is about building a stronger, lighter, brighter version of me. As a habit coach, I’ll say this to you the way I say it to myself: it’s not how many times you slip; it’s how fiercely you rise.
We all slip, we all drift, and that’s okay. What matters is whether you stay there or find your way back. If you’re ready to reset your own habits, you can learn more on Transformational Coaching, or read about working together on my Work With Me page. What habits would you reset today if you let yourself start fresh?
FAQ’s
Why did habits unravel so quickly after just five weeks away?
Without structure, the body and mind default back to older, more familiar patterns, which is exactly what a habit coach would expect after a long break.
Is it normal to slip back into old habits after a big life event?
Yes. Travel, stress, or any major disruption to routine can undo progress quickly; it doesn’t mean the progress wasn’t real.
What does a habit coach mean by “structure creates freedom”?
Routines remove the need for constant willpower. Without them, every choice becomes a decision again, which is exhausting to sustain.
How long does it really take to rebuild healthy habits?
Longer than most people expect. Six months can build real change, but undoing years of old patterns is an ongoing process, not a finish line.
What’s the best way to restart after falling off track?
Go back to the beginning rather than easing in gradually. A habit coach will often say a full, deliberate reset works better than half-measures.