So Money with Farnoosh Torabi · Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Monica Packer, author of "Sticky Habits," argues that traditional habit-building advice, often focused on extreme routines and rigid schedules, is unsustainable and can lead to feelings of inadequacy. She proposes a more nuanced approach where habits should support individual well-being and feel authentic, rather than just boost productivity.
“And that's what I hope we can present to people today is it's habits aren't about fulfilling prescriptions. They're not about doing what the bro self-help tells you you need to be doing. It's about helping you feel like yourself. And that framing, all of us are habit people. We don't have to meet the stereotype. Because I don't. I don't.”
“And so your book's core idea is that habits should make you feel more like yourself and not just productive. This is not a productivity book.”
“Habits aren't there so that you feel rigid and beholden to them. They're more touchstones to your day. Like what's going to ground me at different parts of the day or help me through a trickier part of the day.”