30 days to a charmed life Day 18: change just one habit

It's unlikely that you can change any ingrained habit in a day. The ever-brilliant "they" (as in "they say...) report different time frames for letting go of one habitual practice and inserting another in its place. I've heard everything from 21 days to a full year - a complete cycling through all four seasons.

The amount of time I tend most to agree with is 16 weeks. I've seen in my own life and with my clients that this 4-month period is about right for making a change that lasts. (This doesn't count for addictions, however: those you have to keep an eye on a day at a time for the rest of your life.)

So, this day 17 suggestion may indeed be for day 17 plus 16 weeks, and that is: "change just one habit." You do yourself a favor if you choose a habit that's already on the list of things you want to work on this month, or is at least related to something there. That way, you're reinforcing an effort already being made. But you're free, of course,  to pick some off-the-wall habit that has nothing to do with the other life changes you're paying attention to right now.

Either way, figure out what the opposite of this habit is and write that down as your personal affirmation. Put it on Post-Its and on your desktop and in your journal. Write it at least ten times a day and read it - aloud - at least thirty. Glue it to your memory. And most importantly, every time you actually do this thing - this opposite action of the habit you want to sever - give yourself a fabulous compliment and, every now and then, an actual gift. This reinforces the positive change.

The habit I want to change is to get past the notion I've had for over a decade that any hours after dinner are for vegging out. Of course I want to veg out some - that's a basic need - but to spend from 7:30 to 10 every night doing nothing more productive except brush/floss/rinse and cleanse/tone/moisturize isn't working for me. I want to get into the habit of getting the dinner dishes done and the kitchen cleaned up before ye olde veg-out time, and I want to get my financial records for the day - income received, deductible expenses recorded - so that neither of those tasks spills over to the next morning.

Let's see, this is October 27. Four months from now is February 27. I'll keep you posted now and then about how I'm doing and I'll give you a full report at the end of February. If you want to do the same, put your commitment and your progress reports in the Comments section - we'll all be cheering you on. 

New Yorkers! - How would you like to live the "Look-Great, Feel-Fabulous, Never-Age Lifestyle"? Learn how this evening, Tuesday, October 27, when Victoria Moran presents this lecture at 36^th St. Studio, 260 W. 36^th Street, Manhattan. The presentation is geared to actors, but all are welcome. Enroll by emailing rsvp@36streetstudio.com. There is no charge. A selection of Victoria's books will be available for signing after the talk.