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Chronicle 4
Every two weeks, on Tuesdays, Mélody Benhamou joins the show On part ça d’même, hosted by Tommy Coderre on Viva 105.3.
In this chronicle, the discussion focused on a topic that affects most of us: why is it so hard to build good habits, even though they’re what truly transform our daily lives? Through concrete examples, Mélody explains why we tend to put off physical activity and how we can break out of this vicious cycle.
Here, we offer an adapted version of the key takeaways from this chronicle.
This is a thought we’ve all had.
And yet, the paradox is surprising: the less we move, the more tired we feel. We put off our yoga class, our walk, or our workout thinking we’re saving energy… when in reality, it’s often exactly what would give us the most.
This is how a real vicious cycle sets in.
When you decide to get back into physical activity, the first few days are rarely the most enjoyable. Our brain naturally tries to keep us in what’s familiar, it prefers immediate comfort over effort, even when that effort is beneficial in the long run.
That’s why it’s normal to feel resistance. The good news? That resistance doesn’t last forever.
Building a new habit takes repetition. Experts agree that it takes a minimum of three weeks to establish a new ritual, sometimes longer depending on the goal. The first few weeks are often when we negotiate with ourselves the most: “It’s raining.” “I’m tired.” “I’ll do it tomorrow.”
Yet the more you repeat an action, the more natural it becomes. The goal isn’t to be perfect, it’s to be consistent.
This is actually why Idolem regularly offers practice challenges: they help build a routine long enough for well-being to become a habit rather than an effort.
Yoga is often associated with flexibility or physical fitness. Of course, those benefits are real. But over time, many people discover that’s not what keeps them coming back.
They come back because they sleep better, because they manage their stress better, because they’re more patient with their loved ones, because they arrive at work with a clearer mind.
Yoga then becomes a tool for living better day to day, far beyond the few minutes spent on the mat.
During this chronicle, Mélody also introduced the concept of the Miracle Morning, a morning routine that involves giving yourself a few moments before the day truly begins.
You don’t need a full hour right away. A few minutes can already make a difference:
The idea isn’t to fill your schedule, but to start the day by giving yourself a moment.
Changing your lifestyle doesn’t happen overnight. But a small action repeated every day can have a huge impact over the weeks.
Whether it’s a yoga class, a walk, a few sun salutations, or simply five minutes of breathing, what matters is getting started.
Because in the end, well-being isn’t built on one big, dramatic change. It’s built, one habit at a time.
Make your first class the starting point of your new wellness habit.
The brain naturally favours immediate comfort. That’s why the resistance you feel at the start of a new habit is normal, but it fades with repetition.
It’s the period during which a new action requires the most effort. The more it’s repeated, the more natural and easy to maintain it becomes.
It’s a morning routine that involves giving yourself a few minutes before the day starts to breathe, move, meditate, or plan your priorities.