In his book Atomic Habits, researcher James Clear explains why starting with a small habit – like driving to the gym – is key to forming bigger habits like running 5K every other morning.

“Research shows that willpower is like a muscle,” he explains. “It gets fatigued as you use it throughout the day. [But you can] solve this problem by picking a new habit that is easy enough that you don’t need motivation to do it.”

Basically, habits get easier with each repetition, and real change is made from consistent, small everyday steps.

Dr Faye Begeti, author of The Phone Fix: The Brain-Focused Guide To Building Healthy Digital Habits And Breaking Bad Ones, explains that habits are stored in a primitive part of our brain called the basal ganglia.

Having a hard time sticking to a fitness routine? This simple hack could help (no exercise involved)