Why the Advice You’ve Heard for Creating Habits Isn’t Working

Podcast

Why the Advice You’ve Heard for Creating Habits Isn’t Working

Apple Podcasts | Spotify

We met Alessia at a retreat last October and instantly knew this was a conversation we needed to bring to the pod. She spoke about creating habits in a way we had never heard before— not just as a tool for getting more done, but as a way to become who you’re meant to be.

One thing that really stuck with us? She pointed out that almost all the major habit books are written by men—and don’t take into account things like our cycles, energy shifts, or the very real mental load women carry. 

So today, we’re diving into what it looks like to build habits that support your goals and your body. If you’ve ever struggled to “stick to a routine,” this one’s for you.

What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

  • What inspired you to shift away from the corporate world into what you are doing now?
  • As women and moms, how can we consider our energy and hormone shifts when building routines?
  • You talk about habits being a path to your “higher self”—what does that mean to you?
  • How can we start designing habits that support the person we want to become?
  • What would you say to someone who’s stuck in the “start-stop” habit loop? They try, fall off, then beat themselves up?
  • How do you personally reset when your habits fall off track?

Are You Bad at Sticking to and Creating Habits?

So many people (including us) feel like they’re “bad at creating habits” or “not disciplined enough” to stick to habits. It’s probably 99% a belief that we need to repeat affirmations to get out of it, but we also need a better understanding of creating habits.

Alessia wants to challenge all of us with this question: How many of those habits you feel like you should do are things you don’t actually need to do?

Probably a lot 😬

We ‘should’ on ourselves way more often than we’re conscious of. We’re all just doing the best we can! 

Instead, think of the things you actually have to focus on that will fuel your body so you can do more of what you want. For everything else, it’s a bonus if you get to it, and it doesn’t matter if you don’t.

Using Habits to Reach Harmony

Think about your hierarchy of needs. Here’s a refresher if you need it:

maslows hierarchy of needs

Focus on the stuff at the bottom of the pyramid first and work your way up. The mistake people make is starting at the top two levels. They jump right into these huge goals and skip the boring lower-level habits that will help them get there. 

You can’t build a million-dollar business if you don’t sleep enough every night.

The first things to go when preparing for a big launch are sleep and eating healthy food, but we justify it by saying it’s temporary. We let the things that matter go, and that’s a problem, too!

Where Do You Start with Creating Habits?

Start at the bottom with a basic physiological need. Look at the big picture. What’s the common denominator that would solve a lot of your problems? Examples are:

Other than that, think about where you feel excited to start! If you don’t want to do it, it won’t happen. 

After talking to Alessia, we have so much to think about! This was such an eye-opening conversation about creating habits that align with our cycles, lifestyles, and goals. So ditch those habits you hate and create new ones that work well for YOU!

About Alessia Citro and Higher Self Habits Method

Alessia Citro is a habits expert, transformation coach, and 2x bestselling author who helps women turn everyday habits into unshakable confidence as the foundation to authentic thought leadership.

Drawing from her own transformative journey—from excelling in tech sales at globally recognized companies like Google and Salesforce to building a 7-figure wine business and later embracing sobriety—Alessia empowers visionary women to amplify their voices and step into authority through authorship and podcasting.

She is the creator of the Higher Self Habits Method™, a proven framework blending science, strategy, and spirituality to help women break through limitations and design lives of purpose and impact. Alessia is also the author of Higher Self Habits®: The Scientific, Strategic, and Spiritual Framework to Get Out of Your Own Way—For Good, and host of the top-ranking podcast INHABIT with Alessia Citro.

If ‘write and publish a book’ is on your 2025 or 2026 bucket list, well this is for you. Alessia is hosting a dreamy writing retreat in Sedona this August. Learn more about this retreat and why it might be exactly what you need to get your book off the screen and into your readers hands.

creating habits to stick to

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Abbey Oslin and Courtney Petersen are Minnesota-based marketing experts, educators, and co-founders of boutique marketing agency Duo Collective, which specializes in SEO, social media strategy, and branding for small business owners and creative entrepreneurs. To learn more about Duo Collective, or to inquire about working with our team, head over to www.duocollective.com. 

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