56. The Real Reason Your Routines Fall Apart (And What to Do Instead) with Ana Builds Habits

If you've ever started a new habit with the best intentions — only to watch it fall apart two weeks later — this episode is going to hit different. I sat down with Ana Cordera, the NYC-based creator and speaker behind Ana Builds Habits, and honestly? I felt like I was getting free therapy the entire time.

Ana breaks down why most habits don't stick (spoiler: it has nothing to do with discipline or willpower) and what you actually need to do first, before you build a single routine. We get into identity, perfectionism, the messy middle of building a creator brand while working a 9-to-5, and what Coco Gauff writing "I will win the French Open" the night before she actually won has to do with your creative journey.

— Introducing: Ana Cordera!

— Why habits really fail (it's an identity problem, not a discipline problem)

— The running story: how Ana learned to commit to a new identity

— Growing up across multiple countries & how structure became both a superpower and a trap

— Taking $10K worth of coaching — and the real shift that finally clicked

— The tactical moves that helped Ana claim the identity of a creator

— The mindset coach question that moves you out of overthinking and into action

— Coco Gauff, the French Open, and reverse-engineering your success through identity

— What Ana's week actually looks like: balancing a 9-to-5, wedding planning & a creator brand

— How to build a household that actually works when two people have different work styles

— The habit that surprised Ana the most: Alyssa Liu and the joy of the process

— What people romanticize about being a content creator (and the real difference between influencers vs. creators)

— Unfavorable habits Ana has had to break — including one that's still a work in progress

— Why rest is Ana's hardest habit to build (especially living in NYC)

— How to schedule a doom-scrolling session (yes, really — and it works)

— What to do when confidence and doubt show up at the same time

— Using a physical challenge to build confidence in a totally different area of your life

— How Ana recharges creativity when she hits a wall

— Rapid fire: the messiest thing about Ana

— What Ana is still figuring out: learning to let go of the outcome

— What Ana is most excited about right now (personally & professionally)

✨Connect with Ana✨

@anabuildshabits | Keep up with Ana on LinkedIn

✨Connect with Maddie✨

Explore Maddie’s Website | @messywithmaddie