There are plenty of things I’ve knocked before I’ve tried them:
- Affirmations
- Skydiving
- Eating a steak
- Getting married
- Having a baby
- Owning a franchise
- Driving a Hummer
A 30-day program that claims it can change my life is not going to be one of them. This thing I’m actually going to do.
And why not do a 30 day program about changing my life?
I’ll be doing something during the next 30 days, so bonus points if it’s something supportive. I’ll be using Rhonda Britten’s book Change your Life In 30 Days as a framework.
After going through a very difficult week last week with some health issues, I’m finally coming out on the other side. Fortunately instead of being discouraged and bummed, I’m actually encouraged and excited to start paying better attention to myself in the ways that can help keep me in my best shape. I’ve had some great body insights lately that have been really important to me.
I’ve been through maybe 6 days worth of this book already and I stopped using it. I don’t know why. At the time (like 2 years ago?) I don’t think I was participating with the material interactively and documenting my experiences anywhere. And if we’re not documenting our experiences with something, we’re actually less likely to improve.
Yep, it’s true. What you measure or track improves. There was a cool study done about this to prove it. The results even got a name: The Hawthorne Effect.
So I’m applying the Hawthorne Effect and I’m going to go track this 30-day period. This means there’s a higher likelihood that I’ll complete the entire 30 day program as the book is outlined.
But it’s not enough just to say that I’m going to do it. I’ll need some more systems in place to help make sure that it happens. Here are some of them:
- Calendar Time: If I’m going to do this and really make it a part of my life for the next 30 days, I’m going to need an appointment in my calendar so that I’m sure to do it. It’s easy to put off things that aren’t in my calendar (sometimes even when they are) but again, if it’s in there, I’ll have a higher likelihood of doing it.
- Time Length: There’s another theory that can be really helpful when we’re trying to bring in a new habit or ritual. It involves time frames and it’s called Parkinson’s Law. This law states that “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” The way this applies to my Change Your Life In 30 Days program is that if I give myself 2 hours to do the assignments, it will take that long. If I give myself 20 minutes, it’ll take that long.
- Accountability: Sharing my reports here on the blog will help me stay accountable. Especially knowing that others are watching and following along. When there’s a place to come and report, that can help with sticking with something.
So here’s what I’m going to do to use these systems to help me follow through with kindness:
- Calendar Time: Daily appointments with myself (around noon depending on the day)
- Time Length: 50 minutes using a timer. If I’m not done at the end of the 50 min. I’ll leave it incomplete. Do that a couple times in a row and I imagine I’ll start doing it faster and with more focus. This will include reading and blog posting time.
- Accountability: Coming to the blog to post about my experiences will help me stick with this. Only exception will be on Thursdays. No posting on Thursdays because it’s a computer-free day each week. (The 1st of what I imagine becoming 2 very soon.) So I’ll still do the Change Your Life activities on Thursdays and take written notes so that I can combine them in the Friday report.
So it’s only a 30-day window of paying attention to some things suggested in a book, looking within myself for the answers, and posting what feels right to post about it here on the blog.
I can do this.
Day 1 = Monday, July 6.
Day 30 = Tuesday, August 4th.
