The popular answer
21 DAYS
It started as one plastic surgeon's remark about how long patients took to get used to a new face. It was never a habit study.
Winter arc 2026 · Victory Square Partners
part.nerdswinter arc
Pick one habit. Show up for 66 days.
Finish the year stronger.
We own itWe are responsible
Kickoff day. Day 1 of 66.
15 OCT — 19 DEC 2026/ONE SMALL THING. EVERY DAY.
Mission intel
Do you know how long it takes
to build a habit?
Most people say 21 days. The research says it takes longer, and it varies a lot from person to person.
The research average
66 DAYS
In a University College London study, a new daily behaviour took about 66 days on average to feel automatic.
The real range
18–254 DAYS
Some people got there fast, others took far longer. Exercise habits took about 1.5 times as long as eating or drinking habits.
So our winter arc is 66 days.
The fall challenge got you started. Now we keep going, 15 Oct to 19 Dec. In the study, one missed day made little difference, but too many did. If you miss a day, just get back on it the next day.
Pick a track and a habit to start counting.
Source: Lally, van Jaarsveld, Potts and Wardle, European Journal of Social Psychology, 2010. 96 people were recruited and 82 completed the 84-day study. The 254-day figure is a prediction beyond the study period. Read the summary ↗
Mission briefing
Three steps. 66 days.
Everything is self-directed. There are no daily reports and no forms until the finish line.
1. Pick your track
Go solo with one daily habit, or team up with a buddy for ten weekly challenges. One track per person.
From 15 Oct2. Show up every day or week
Check in on your card: daily on the individual track, weekly on the team track.
15 Oct – 19 Dec3. Finish and win
Submit the short self-validation form on the intranet and you are in the prize draw.
21–23 DecWatch
Extra context for the winter arc
A video to watch before you pick your habit. It plays right here — press play.
It is a summary of Atomic Habits by James Clear — a good resource for reference if you want to go deeper.
Choose your track
Solo or together?
Pick one. You can switch later; your progress on the other track is kept.
Individual track
One habit, 66 days
- Pick one habit from seven categories
- Check in every day on your own card
- Build a streak and finish on 19 Dec
Team track
Ten weeks, ten challenges
- Choose a buddy who keeps you accountable
- Do one shared challenge each week
- Rope in your whole team for some of them
✦
The squad
Team board
Colleagues who choose to share show up here with their habit, days done and stars. Nobody sees which days you missed, and the list is alphabetical, not a ranking.
Your squad is here.
Sign in with your VSP email to see the team board.
The payout
The finish line and prize draw
Kickoff day. Day 1 of 66..
- 1
15 OctYou are here
Live kickoff
Announced at the October All Hands call. Day 1 starts the same day.
- 2
15 Oct – 4 Nov
Days 1–21: build the routine
We own it. You chose the habit, you show up. A great start, not the finish.
- 3
5 – 27 Nov
Days 22–44: keep going
We raise the bar. The novelty wears off here. Show up anyway, and check on your buddy.
- 4
28 Nov – 19 Dec
Days 45–66: make it automatic
We are responsible. You reach the research average of 66 days on 19 Dec.
- 5
21–23 Dec
Finish line
Submit the self-validation form on the intranet. Prize draw and recap follow.
Everyone who validates is entered.
No spinning required.
How to win
- Complete the short self-validation form after your 66 days (21–23 Dec).
- Everyone who submits is entered into a random prize draw.
- Winter arc highlights are shared with everyone afterwards.
Mission passed
Pick your habit, show up for 66 days, validate. That is the whole game.