It's important to celebrate. (I think that's just as true in life as it is with habits.)

When it comes to sticking to better habits, there is an important reason to always reward yourself: we want to continue doing things that make us feel good.

And that is why it's especially important that you reward yourself each time you practice your new habit.

For example, if I'm working towards a new fitness goal, then I'll often tell myself at the end of a workout, "That was good day." Or, "Good job. You made progress today."

If you feel like it, you could even tell yourself "Victory!" or "Success!" each time you do your new habit.

I haven't done this myself, but some people swear by it.

• Floss one tooth. "Victory!"
• Eat a healthy meal. "Success!"
• Do five pushups. "Good work!" Rewarding yourself with positive self-talk can take some getting used to if you're not someone who typically does that. But even if it sounds silly, research has proven that the reward is an important part of the habit process. Give yourself some credit and enjoy each small success.

Now that we've covered the science of habit formation, let's talk about how to use it in real life.