A pioneering study has uncovered the reasons behind why we form bad habits, and how to break them.

University of South Australia Professor Carol Maher told Karl and Millsy on 6PR Breakfast the research had shown there is a multitude of factors behind who forms what habits.

“Since about the 1960’s there’s been this idea that it takes 21 days to form a habit, but it’s actually not that simple,” she said.

Press PLAY to hear more about the key discoveries over how we make and break habits