Three days down, 27 to go. So, how are you doing?
In yesterday’s post, I shared with you that I thought the main impetus behind the NANOWRIMO culture was to get writers into the habit of writing every day. I believe that. I live that. But that got me to thinking, what exactly does it take for something to become a habit? To become so ingrained within your psyche that you don’t even question why you’re doing it, you’re just doing it?
When I was in nursing school (a 175 years ago!!) I remember reading in one of my psychology courses that it takes 7 days to make something a habit and 21 days to break it. That always explained -to me at least- why it was easier to gain weight than to lose it!! Think about it….
But I digress.
Since I read that first article, lo those many years ago, I’ve actually heard those numbers disputed. At the end of this post I’m going to list a few links you can peruse and decide for yourself what the actual number may be, but suffice it to say, habits don’t form OVERNIGHT. They take time, dedication, and concentration before they are so ingrained in your thought processes that you just do them. Without thinking about what you’re doing or saying, Or even singing. Like when you hear a song on the radio over and over again ( do people still listen to the radio??? Heehee. I’m old) until you’ve got the words memorized. They become a part of your unconscious thought processes.
Here’s something that’s fun to do with friends. Don’t even stop to think – just respond the moment you read what I’m about to write. Ready?
Trix are for ????
ChooChoo Charlie was an ?????
It’s fingerlickin’ ???
Between love and madness lies ????
?????. There is no substitute.
Takes a licking and keeps on ????
How many did you get correct? If you said all, you need to know you’re probably in the majority and not just super smart. Sorry! But the reason you got them all (or most of them!) correct is because you’ve heard these slogans over and over and over and….you get the idea….again. The first rule of advertising is to make sure people remember what you’re selling. How do advertisers accomplish that? By repeating, reminding, and reinforcing the product name or slogan so many times over a course of time that your brain automatically shifts to it the moment you begin to hear the slogan or jingle. The slogan becomes, for lack of a better word, a memory habit. You know what’s going to be said as soon as you hear the first word or so.
Well, the NaNoWriMo challenge is a bit like that. You write every single day, no matter what, no matter where, until you’ve become so used to pushing words out everyday, you continue doing it even after the challenge ends.
Does that make sense to anyone other than me?? I hope so.
So…onward. Keep writing EVERY SINGLE DAY. No matter what, no matter where, no matter what time it is. You’ve got this. 3 days down already. Just keep pushing and moving through.
Here are some articles on making something a habit I found interesting. What I find really interesting is that a few of them dispute one another, but that’s just me!
http://jamesclear.com/new-habit
http://jamesclear.com/three-steps-habit-change
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/18-tricks-to-make-new-habits-stick.html
And just because some people may not know all the answers to the above slogans/jingles, here they are:
Trix are for kids. (Breakfast cereal)
ChooChoo Charlie was an engineer. (GoodNPlenty candy song)
It’s finger lickin’ good. ( Kentucky fried chicken slogan)
Between love and madness lies OBSESSION ( really lousy smelling perfume. My opinion. Don’t hate me.)
PORSCHE. There is no substitute. (Ridiculously expensive male-menopause car)
Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. ( Timex watch slogan)
And here’s a little eye candy motivation to keep you going strong on the challenge….
Peggy Jaeger, Author 