The 21 Day Habit Challenge that Could Change your Desk

Righto, I’ve got a challenge for you today.

Nothing over the top. No full-blown life overhaul (cause how often do they work?). Just one small shift. One habit you’re going to pick to change and stick with for the next 21 days.

Sound doable? Good. Let’s get into it.

Why Habits Actually Matter

We talk a lot about big goals, big moves, big outcomes. But the truth is, your life and your recruitment desk is built on the small stuff you do without thinking.

That’s what habits are. The things that run on autopilot when you’re not even paying attention.

And if you’re not keeping an eye on them, the wrong ones quietly take over. You don’t even notice it until things start feeling off: the motivation dips, the calendar’s chaos and you’re reaching for another coffee at 3pm wondering why you feel absolutely wrecked.

Your Brain Wants Easy. Your Goals Don’t.

Here’s the tricky part – bad habits feel good. That’s why they’re so bloody persistent and hard to break. On some level, we actually LIKE them.

Your brain’s wired to find the path of least resistance:

Hungry? Grab sugar.
Tired? Skip the gym.
Bored? Scroll TikTok.
Overwhelmed at work? Avoid the tough calls and do the easy stuff.

Left unchecked, your body and brain will always default to easy. That’s just how we’re built. But if we want different outcomes, we’ve got to consciously choose a different path and keep choosing it long enough that it becomes second nature.

That’s what this is about.

When I Hit the Wall (And What I Did About It)

I’m usually very conscious of my habits – as a Type 1 Diabetic & a Coeliac, I have to be. But this all came to a head for me recently. I’d been pushing hard in the gym, working long hours, keeping up with the kids activities, juggling all the usual plates and my body just hit a wall. Sore hips, busted shoulders, low energy. Not ideal. Not a great baseline to work from.

I started complaining to my trainer, and the first thing he asked was, “What’s your nutrition like?”

And honestly? I didn’t know. I was skipping brekkie, eating a bit here and there, but nothing consistent. So I booked in with a nutritionist and within 20 seconds she’d figured it out. I just wasn’t eating enough. Not enough protein, not enough carbs, not enough fuel to back up the work I was doing.

Three days after changing how I ate? Massive shift.
More energy. Clearer thinking. Better recovery. All from one small change.

Now I’m locked in on that habit; eating to support my training, not just snacking to get through the day and it’s making everything else easier too.

What’s Your One Thing?

So here’s where it flips to you.

What’s the one habit you know you need to shift? Not ten. Not a full list of resolutions. Just one thing that’s either crept in quietly or dropped off without you realising (cause a bad habit can be a no-habit).

It might be:

Midweek drinking when you said you’d cut back.
Letting your morning routine slide.
Skipping lunch and wondering why your energy tanks.
Avoiding BD emails or pushing tasks into tomorrow.
Not having a consistent schedule for headhunting or sourcing.

Or maybe it’s something that isn’t even there yet – a habit you’ve been meaning to build but never quite got off the ground. That counts too.

Whatever it is, I bet you already know. It’s that little voice in your head going, “Yep… that’s the one.”

Lock It In. 21 Days. No Excuses.

So now, do something with it.

Pick your habit. Commit to it for the next 21 days. Literally go into your calendar and block it out, make it visible, daily and non-negotiable.

You don’t need to get it perfect. You just need to keep showing up. And if you miss a day, don’t bin the whole thing, get back on and keep going. If habit changes were easy, we’d all be Million $$ Billers right? It’s not meant to be easy. Just look for momentum, not perfection.

Set a small reward for the end of it if you like. Something that gives you a little nod, a little win. But trust me, the real reward is how you’re going to feel once this thing starts clicking into place.

Why This Works

Because building one solid habit is like flicking a switch. It creates momentum. You start feeling better. You start thinking clearer. You start making better calls, not just at your desk, but in life too.

One good habit can pull other good habits in with it. That’s the ripple effect. You don’t need to fix everything. You just need to start somewhere.

So what’s your one thing?

Find it. Commit to it. And back yourself to follow through.

You’ve got 21 days. I know you can do it.

Let me know how you go!