Sunday, August 9, 2009

Research Says

So, "research says" it takes 21 days to make a habit. You have heard it. Exercise for 21 days, eat well for 21 days, etc etc, and you are home free! Suddenly you embark on the new life that is yours having conquered whatever negative aspect of your life has plagued you.
Sadly, I looked it up, and there is no "research" that says anything of the sort. Apparently some doctor in the 1960's wrote it in his book, but it was based on his own observations, nothing more. People seemed to like the idea, as now there are hundreds of books and self-help programs based on 21 days.
The worst part of trying to develop a habit is that no matter how many wonderful "21 days" you exercise, eat fresh fruits or vegetables, avoid sugar, or any number of other worthy goals, inevitably there comes a day when you feel too tired to exercise, or the fruit has gone moldy, or someone in the office has brought in donuts and you just don't want to see them go to waste. And then each time you try and start over, it seems it is now twice as hard to go back to where you were.
So, what can a person do to stay motivated? Without the promise of 21 days to the new and better you, how can a person develop and keep a habit? More important, what can be done when a person "falls off the bandwagon"? When that day where you were too tired to exercise becomes a week, a month, or more?
Your turn: What do you do to stay motivated? How do you convince yourself to do the things you know you should, but frankly just don't want to?

2 comments:

Petrova said...

My motivation is stems from viewing pictures of myself in which I don't really like what I'm seeing. That is a huge motivator for me to exercise. But, that's me. Not to mention its supposed to help prevent panic attacks - I found that to be good motivation as well!

Rebecca said...

A good motivation can also be watching yourself in the mirror at Irish Dance class.