One week trial istead of one month?

[moimoi]

I know blog posts and papers are mostly about 21-28-30 days of challenges when it comes to building habits. 30 days are overwhelming to me and the thought of it blocks me.

I just thought about calling it a 'One week challenge' and commit to one thing for one week and if that is successful I will continue it for another one week and so on. This way I should keep one thing for one week only. One week doesn't seem to be overwhelming.

Isn't a 30-day-period of time overwhelming for others? Is it so for me only?
One week at a time seems to be more achievable for me as it would trick the mind. (And of course 3-4 weeks will add up to 21/28 days on the long term. )

[Clint Cora]

The only thing you can do is try it out on yourself and see if a new habit continues. If not, then you need the longer term.

[moimoi]

Originally Posted by Clint Cora

The only thing you can do is try it out on yourself and see if a new habit continues. If not, then you need the longer term.

What I mean is that thinking of stucking to a commitment for 30 days is overwhelming but if I set up a weekly milestone that approach may be more achievable and reaching 3 to 4 milestones would add up to 21-28 days. I know a habit won't be really formed within a week.

[mariazeyn]

Originally Posted by moimoi

I know blog posts and papers are mostly about 21-28-30 days of challenges when it comes to building habits. 30 days are overwhelming to me and the thought of it blocks me.

I just thought about calling it a 'One week challenge' and commit to one thing for one week and if that is successful I will continue it for another one week and so on. This way I should keep one thing for one week only. One week doesn't seem to be overwhelming.

Isn't a 30-day-period of time overwhelming for others? Is it so for me only?
One week at a time seems to be more achievable for me as it would trick the mind. (And of course 3-4 weeks will add up to 21/28 days on the long term. )

I think you should try doing it for a fortnight. That's the time period I decided on when I was trying to make a habit out of going to the gym daily. And it worked

[sandy]

Exactly, it's a good trick to build a habit, and starting is most important, one week or a month, just start it first, think small at the start

I forgot the name, but he was a famous marathon runner in Japan, won world chapion for couple times and when he retired he shared the one secret for his success: he never thought about running the whole marathon all the time. He said when he left the starting line, he was only running for the first 5 miles, thinking nothing else but get the small distance covered. When he reached that goal, he feel joys and accoplishement. Then he head for the next 5 mile. Again and again, until he reached the deadline as a first

He said, if he aimed for the whole 26.2miles from the start, he would probably get frustrated by his own thoughts and fears, wouldn't keep up a high spirit all the time and reach the destination that fast.

[CoolBee]

I use tricks like that all the time. Sometimes when I'm swimming, my target feels a bit overwhelming esp. when I'm doing the 2.5km swims so I award myself 'grades' - when I've done 40% I've got a pass, 50% grade d, 60% grade c etc up to 90% grade A and obviously (to any Brits watching ) 100% = A* with knobs on.
So I just think to myself, another 4 and I'll have 'passed swimming', another X and I'll have a grade B or whatever.

[moimoi]

Originally Posted by sandy

Exactly, it's a good trick to build a habit, and starting is most important, one week or a month, just start it first, think small at the start

I forgot the name, but he was a famous marathon runner in Japan, won world chapion for couple times and when he retired he shared the one secret for his success: he never thought about running the whole marathon all the time. He said when he left the starting line, he was only running for the first 5 miles, thinking nothing else but get the small distance covered. When he reached that goal, he feel joys and accoplishement. Then he head for the next 5 mile. Again and again, until he reached the deadline as a first

He said, if he aimed for the whole 26.2miles from the start, he would probably get frustrated by his own thoughts and fears, wouldn't keep up a high spirit all the time and reach the destination that fast.

WOW! Well said! This is exactly what's also on my mind how I try to approach it coming to building a habit. You have just described what I was not able to pu into words. Thanks!