Why not a 10 day challenge?

[Dannyboy1]

I understand it takes 21-30 days to form a habit, but it's a big committment. I'd be willing to bet, many people who are overwelmed by a 30 day challenge would commit to a 10 day challenge and after the 10 days, many would probably amend it to a 30 day challenge.

Also, you could make a 10 day challenge to accomplish something you've been putting off or to accomplish something you've always wanted to do... sort of a focused blitz .

That could be a lot of fun AND very productive. Plus, friends and family would probably make more allowances for just a 10 day challenge.

[lasti]

Originally Posted by Dannyboy1

I understand it takes 21-30 days to form a habit, but it's a big committment. I'd be willing to bet, many people who are overwelmed by a 30 day challenge would commit to a 10 day challenge and after the 10 days, many would probably amend it to a 30 day challenge.

Also, you could make a 10 day challenge to accomplish something you've been putting off or to accomplish something you've always wanted to do... sort of a focused blitz .

That could be a lot of fun AND very productive. Plus, friends and family would probably make more allowances for just a 10 day challenge.

Because at day 10 you might not be able to see the advantages of the new habit. Especially when it's about physical stuff you might not be able to see the results so soon.
Then: What when you skip two days in a 10 day challenge? Did you complete it? Two days in a 30 day challenge shouldn't be a problem.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by lasti

Because at day 10 you might not be able to see the advantages of the new habit. Especially when it's about physical stuff you might not be able to see the results so soon.
Then: What when you skip two days in a 10 day challenge? Did you complete it? Two days in a 30 day challenge shouldn't be a problem.

It's less time, so you HAVE to do it every day. As far as the advantages, it all depends on what the habit is. There's no pressure to get results because very few things bear results in 10 days. With the 10 day challenge it's not about the results, so there's no pressure to get results. It's about seeing if you can do it.

[lasti]

Well, you asked "why not".

[kf9211]

Why not 30 days? 30 days is just a number that seems like a good amount since its an about a months time period. You could easily do a 10 day trial, a 15 day trial, a 300 day trial, or even a 3 day trial. 30 days just seems to be a good amount of time to develop into a new habit. Also it depends on your level of self discipline, and the trial that your doing.

Kyle

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by kf9211

Why not 30 days? 30 days is just a number that seems like a good amount since its an about a months time period. You could easily do a 10 day trial, a 15 day trial, a 300 day trial, or even a 3 day trial. 30 days just seems to be a good amount of time to develop into a new habit. Also it depends on your level of self discipline, and the trial that your doing.

Kyle

I'm just suggesting this for different people or for other reasons than developing a habit.

[Eisho]

I think if you're doing a 10-day challenge and strictly restarting at Day One every time you 'fail' you will be conscious of the challenge for a lot longer than 10 days. If 10-days is too easy for you and you sail through it the first time around then I think you will have no problem extending the time period beyond those original 10 days.

Cheers,

Eisho

[kf9211]

Originally Posted by Dannyboy1

I'm just suggesting this for different people or for other reasons than developing a habit.

Right. The amount of time should be different for every situation, and every person. 30 days generally is a good amount of time, however it may not be the best for all situations and all people. You should try to judge each situation differently when creating a 30 day trial.

Kyle

[Restrikted]

But if you go to 10 days, what's to stop you from decreasing it to 1 week, then 1 day, then 1 hour? It would be madness. MADNESS I SAY(pulls out his hair)!!!

Seriously though, I agree as well that it depends on the person and the challenge. If the person has a hard time setting and completing goals, then 10 days might be a good start, and if it goes well, extend it to 30 days. Like I'm about to go back to school in a couple weeks, and instead of always procrastinating, I might do just 2 weeks of no procrastination and see how it goes. It's more of a mental goal, so results should reveal themselves in a shorter period of time.

[g00016138]

Once I tried the seven-day challenge, by trying to change something for only 7 days, and the funny thing was, on the eigth day, I figured, If I could do 7, one more day won't harm...and the next thing you know, the habit was off for a longer time.

Needless to say, my willpower is weak though, the habit did return, but for a longer time period than 7 days even though that was what I had planned.

Regards,

AH
Personal blog: IGNORE INC.

[Swannie]

30 days?

I don't think it is an accident. We have adjusted to a lunar cycle. Why are women's cycles not 10 days?

Personally I think 30 is important, because you should experience enough challenges to know whether you can continue it or not.

Your initial post contains the single strongest reason I can find against 10 days:

"Plus, friends and family would probably make more allowances for just a 10 day challenge."

Allowances? They don't need to make allowances, they need to have acceptance. This isn't for "fun", it's a serious change! :-) As you say, 10 days people can "put up with" your changes... it's not a realistic experiment. 30 days, if people feel strongly about it, they won't put up with it that long.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by Swannie

30 days?

I don't think it is an accident. We have adjusted to a lunar cycle. Why are women's cycles not 10 days?

Personally I think 30 is important, because you should experience enough challenges to know whether you can continue it or not.

Your initial post contains the single strongest reason I can find against 10 days:

"Plus, friends and family would probably make more allowances for just a 10 day challenge."

Allowances? They don't need to make allowances, they need to have acceptance. This isn't for "fun", it's a serious change! :-) As you say, 10 days people can "put up with" your changes... it's not a realistic experiment. 30 days, if people feel strongly about it, they won't put up with it that long.

is if you do the 10 days, you'll probably be inspired to do more. Plus I'm not just talking about a habit. It could be you try and complete a huge project you've been wanting to do in just ten days.

[Angela]

I just like the psychological occurrence of one month -- actually 28 days. Maybe because it coincides with the moon & menses, maybe because my very first month long trial was doing Richard Hittleman's 28 days of yoga when I was a little kid. I like measuring and celebrating my triumphs each week on the same weekday. It's easier to remember.

28 days feels great because I can easily see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's enough days to "set" an intention like Jello. I can look forward to the end, and it's enough to feel results in a real way.

[Trustme]

for me it'a 21-day-trials up to 100 day trials. Why not start with 10 days and afterwards shoot for 21 days the next time, or even 30.