“It takes six weeks to develop a new habit.”
Army basic training runs (depending) eight to twelve weeks, time needed to break old habits and build new ones. I’m a bit old to think about a military career, but not too old to change.
Pre-kids, my wife and I were discussing long term plans, and I told her I didn’t see being a design engineer until I retired. I was 15 years in, beginning to tire of it, and was thinking about a change.
Then Kid 1 came along. Then Kid 2, Kid 3, a house and a new car.
Going back to the beginning and starting a new career under the weight of that is a non-starter, at least doing so all at once. Which doesn’t mean I cannot build an off ramp to greener pastures before I leave.
Eventually in all things you reach a break point, and that point has come. I’m tired, I’m done, I’ve determined my new path (writing), and I’m building my off ramp.
There is much to do, and learn, and many habits to develop. It hasn’t been the six weeks needed for even one new habit, but each day I work at it, and each day I feel a little bit more compelled to it. So every week, as each new habit develops, I add another.
Every day, I write. And I make videos. And I publish; both writing, and video.
Every day I get up earlier than I ever did before, and start my day with exercise.
I’ve changed my sleep, my diet and my work habits, yet there are still may things to do.
It turns out that real change is time consuming and hard but I’m doing it anyway.
And I’m already seeing the benefits.
