Consistency: what neuroscience explains about maintaining habits over time.

Lavanda Insights
Dec 28, 2025
2 min read

Many people fail to benefit from the positive effect that consistency has on the brain.

Yes, dopamine is released when you maintain a behavior over time. But for that to happen, the brain needs to recognize that action as predictable, achievable, and rewarding . And it is precisely at this point that many people get stuck.

They start a book and stop at the second chapter. They try to organize their routine and give up on the third day. They start a new habit, but can't sustain it.

This is not weakness. This is neurobiology .

How constancy is formed in the brain

Consistency is the result of three neurobiological mechanisms :

1. Predictability

The brain conserves energy when it knows what to expect.

2. Repetition

Repeated behaviors strengthen neural circuits.

3. Reward

Completing a task releases dopamine and reinforces the habit.

These three factors create a functional cycle:

I do → I conclude → My brain understands → I repeat

When this cycle happens consistently, consistency ceases to be an effort and becomes a natural process of the brain.

Dopamine does not reward isolated effort.

Dopamine doesn't reward sporadic attempts. It rewards patterns .

When an action is repeated, the brain understands: "This is worth continuing."

Without repetition, dopamine levels become unstable and the motivation cycle breaks down.

Why is maintaining habits so difficult for some people?

In addition to brain mechanisms, several biological and psychological factors directly interfere with consistency:

Low levels of vitamin D or B12 , which affect energy and mental clarity.
Seasonal depression , which alters mood and disposition.
Anxiety disorder that interferes with focus and emotional regulation.
Hormonal fluctuations , common at different stages of life.
Adolescence and middle age : periods of brain reorganization.
Chronic stress , which reduces the ability to plan and execute.

When these factors are present, the difficulty is not "lack of will." It is a need for investigation .

In these cases, seeking help from a psychiatrist, neurologist, or general practitioner is essential. Ignoring the signs is neglecting your own body.

Applying this in practice

To support this process, I'm making available a monthly habit tracker . The concept is simple and grounded in neuroscience:

You set your monthly goals and record daily what you managed to accomplish.

As a result, the brain begins to recognize: predictability → repetition → reward , and the cycle of consistency begins to form.

With its development in mind, I added wellness monitoring.

The idea is to observe how you feel throughout the day, understanding that emotions, energy, and mental state directly influence your willingness to build new habits.

When the brain is observed and nurtured, it learns more confidently and consistently.

Remember: consistency comes from security, not from demands.

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE HABIT TRACKER: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhofY0Oguask5fiFHiyZv8QSM21z6rmm17gLkFidO9NPR7wA/viewform?usp=publish-editor