Experimenting with Habits

Happy New Year! 
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​As is customary this time of year, I am once again thinking about habits and resolutions. Having given up traditional resolutions last year, but unable to shake the desire to try something new, I decided to conduct a little experiment: Try out a habit for one week. Seven days. That's it. Then, move on to something else. Wait - what? 

Ditch the 21 day habit framework. Give yourself the freedom to try something new every week.

I didn't realize I was on to something big until I shared this little experiment in the chat of a webinar, and it got a wave of interest. (Ok, so it was one person, but the host liked the idea too!) They asked about the rules and the different habits I would be attempting this year. 
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There is only one rule: Try the habit for seven consecutive days. By challenging yourself to short bursts, you are building your capacity to stick to a goal with multiple small wins. ​

​When the seven days are up, you can move on to something new. I suspect I'll likely loop around to the same few habits over the course of the next 52 weeks, but this method allows for variety and gives me the freedom to choose.
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​So far, here is my list of habits to try, one week at a time: 
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Morning Habits

• Green juice or smoothies
• Overnight oats for breakfast
• Sun Salutations (Yoga)
• Dry-brush every morning
• Caffeine-free week
• 10-minute exercise video 

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Evening Habits

• 10 minute stretch 
• Floss 
• Phone-a-friend
• Prep next day's lunch
• Use a 7-day pass for a class & go every day after work

The trick? Attempt to work on these habits in weekly rotations, at roughly the same time every day (that is why they are split into AM and PM lists). That way, you train your body and your brain to do something at that time, regardless what the habit is; you're conditioning a response to the time, not the action.  The idea of using time is not novel, but I am suggesting you don't have to make one habit stick - you will be making the process​ stick. 
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​Who is this habit experiment for?  Those who crave freedom within a framework; Those who are too rebellious to stick to 21 days; Those who are curious; Those who want to experiment with new habits; Those who want to approach habits in a playful way.

​This experiment will appeal to you if...

• You charmed (i.e. motivated) by the allure of trying/learning something new 
• You want to try all new and cool programs and offers that pop up on the interwebs
• You have a BIG goal (like self care, relationship building, professional development) but you don't know where to start 
• You want to use up some of those 'one week trial' coupons you bought 
• You know you want to make a change, but don't want to commit to it until you test it out
• You're a bit of a rebellious soul and want to feel like you can take up a habit or leave it without the guilt or the feeling of failure

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During the summer, I started taking long walks every evening after work, and tracked my progress. It worked really well, up until the first severe winter weather warning. I tried indoor exercise, but that too lost its allure after several days. So I thought to myself, why not try a new healthy habit for a week? Just one. I can handle that! And if I don't want to stick with it it, I'll try something new on Monday!

​This week, I have committed to drinking a green juice or a green smoothie every day. So far, I'm 3 for 3 and feeling like a champ - probably because of the green stuff, though I cringe the whole time I have to drink it - but mostly because it's a small victory that motivates me to keep the streak going. Next week: Overnight Oats for breakfast. This is the recipe I use and adapt to my personal tastes.

I'm curious - is there something else that appeals to you about this habit experiment? 
​What will you be testing out this week?

Happy experimenting!

xo
​Katherine

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P.S. ​If you are looking to make a particular habit stick, I am a fan of this lady's offerings. I plan on following her advice once I decide which one of my little experiments I want to stick with.

P.P.S. I did some Googling and found this lady who talks about habits in seven-day increments too! 

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