Assalamu Alaikum - How I Finally Broke the Habit Cycle

Assalamu Alaikum - I’ve fallen into the habit cycle more times than I care to admit. I’d start with energy, keep it up for a couple of weeks, then slowly let everything slide and tell myself I’d restart “soon.” This time ended differently, so I wanted to pass along what helped. The biggest change was doing less, not more. I stopped trying to craft a flawless routine or become a whole new person overnight. I picked a few simple habits and committed just to those. Once I let go of the pressure, showing up didn’t feel so heavy. Writing things down mattered more than I expected. I honestly thought I was consistent, but seeing it on paper exposed where I was fooling myself. When I started keeping a streak, I didn’t want to break it, even on low-energy days. I use a straightforward habit tracker (nothing fancy), and because it’s clear and not overwhelming, I actually kept using it. I also stopped waiting for motivation. Motivation comes and goes - so I made my habits small enough to do even on bad days. Over time they became automatic, and motivation stopped being the boss. I’m not perfect yet, but I don’t quit after a few weeks anymore. For me, that’s real progress. May Allah make our efforts blessed and keep us consistent.