Hi, I'm Maya. I'm the habits specialist on the Ferni team, and I have a confession: I don't believe in motivation.
Don't get me wrong—motivation feels great. That rush when you decide "this time will be different." The excitement of a fresh start.
But motivation is a terrible foundation for lasting change. It's like building a house on sand.
The Problem with Willpower
Here's what nobody tells you about willpower: it's a limited resource. You wake up with a full tank, and every decision drains it.
By 4pm, you're running on empty. That's why you can crush your morning routine but cave to ice cream at night. It's not weakness. It's physics.
So what actually works?
Start Embarrassingly Small
When someone tells me they want to "exercise more," I ask: "Can you do one pushup?"
They laugh. "Of course."
"Great. Do one pushup every day for a week. That's it."
It sounds ridiculous. But here's what happens:
- Day 1: One pushup. Easy.
- Day 3: "I'm already down here, might as well do two."
- Day 7: Five pushups feels natural.
- Day 30: You're doing 20 without thinking.
The secret isn't the pushups. It's building the identity of someone who exercises daily. Start so small that failure is impossible.
Stack Your Habits
Every habit needs a trigger. The easiest triggers? Habits you already have.
- After I pour my morning coffee → I'll write one sentence in my journal
- After I sit down at my desk → I'll take three deep breaths
- After I brush my teeth → I'll do my one pushup
You're not adding to your day. You're attaching new behaviors to existing ones.
How I Can Help
When you talk to Ferni and mention habits, I'll often join the conversation. Here's what I do:
- Find your starting point — Not where you want to be, but what you can do today
- Design your stack — Connect new habits to existing routines
- Celebrate the streak — Every day you show up matters
- Adjust without judgment — Missed a day? Let's figure out why and adjust
I'll remember your habits and check in on them. Not in a naggy way—more like a friend who genuinely wants to see you win.
One Day at a Time
The people who transform their lives don't do it through heroic effort. They do it through tiny, consistent actions repeated over months and years.
Your only job today? Show up once.
Ready to build habits that stick? Talk to Maya and let's find your starting point.