Random Musings

They say, if you wish to make a change in your lifestyle, you need to find a way to do it, 21 days in succession.

Say you want to change your sleeping time, or you want start a new diet, or a new time to have your meals, etc. What you need to do is to force yourself (or find a way, anyhow) to do it for 21 days. Consistently. And you should be into the new system. Ingrained into you. Formed as a new habit. Used to it. Into it.

Well, I hope that it right.

Because I have myself embarked on a journey of change. And I am into it, for last 7 days. And looking to do it for the next 14 days as well. And hoping that these 21 days then, make it a full fledged habit, and a change in lifestyle, for good.

And what are the changes I am working on?

1. I am sleeping early. Early for me, is in the 11 pm – midnight band. As against, 1-2 am that used to be the norm.

2. I am looking to sleep at least 7 hours. Again, as against 5:30-6 hours that I was averaging.

3. Once I get up in the morning, I desire to NOT do regular work, but instead, catch up on some reading, listen to podcasts, catch up on RSS feeds, perhaps write blog posts or other stuff. But NOT get into routine emails and stuff like that.

4. Then, in the morning, go for a morning walk or alternately, do some other workout. Minimum of 30-45 min.

5. Generally, eat healthily. I am not off all fried or sweet food. But just conscious enough to have small helpings and avoid when I can. So control to that extent.

6. Have meals at reasonable hours. Somehow find the time, even in the middle of back to back meetings, to do lunch and not wait till 5 pm, to grab something to eat!

Yes, these were urgent needs at my end. So set things on the right path.

And I have done a decent 7 days of this, including a Sunday. And looking forward to 14 more days, as a first target. And thereafter, hoping for the theory to hold true. That it becomes a natural way of life.

Have you had any such experience on the 21-days rule? How did it go for you? And what do you think of my new resolutions? 🙂