I Challenge You

The 30-second drill was one of my favorite parts of basketball practice.  Those of you who have been tortured with the 30-second drill during a sports practice are probably raising an eyebrow and quietly saying to yourself, she is crazy, but I’m not.  I liked the 30-second drills because I knew that I just had to last 30 seconds and then it was over… or at least I got a break.  So when I joined gold gym and they introduced me to 30 second circuit training I really enjoyed it, because once again I did an exercise for 30 seconds and then I was onto another exercise that worked another part of my body giving the part I just worked a break.

I decided to challenge myself by taking the 30-second concept and making it 30 days. I have heard that if you can do something for 30 days you have the ability to make it a habit.  I did a little research and found out that 30 days to create a habit is a myth that came from a psychological article in the 1960’s.  However, even after the research I decided to test the 30-day challenge.  I began with the 30-day ab and squat challenge.  And guess what?  I finished it and I felt great.  I was able to successfully complete the 30 days because like the 30 second drills I knew that I only had to do x amount per day for 30 days and I was done. 

We can all do something for 30 days if we put our minds to it, but will we go past that designated time?

Day 31, I woke up and instead of getting up and doing my squats and ab work, I slept in because I finished my goal.  I was done and there was no need to continue. However, on day 32 I resumed my squats and ab work not because it was a habit, but because I began to see a difference.  To me what makes a challenge stick is not just doing it day after day, but doing it for a deeper purpose.  Yes I wanted defined and toned lower half, but the bottom line is I really want is to be healthy and if abs and squats are a part of that then so be it. So, I guess you can technically say it became a habit because I am still doing it, but my intensity is not as strong because there is no deadline.

I believe that we can all make something a habit and that a challenge is a great way to kick start it, but the challenge has to have a deeper purpose or we will either not finish it or not continue it after the challenge is over. 

I challenge you today to find something you want to change in your life to make your brand better and do it for 30 days, but only if there is reason that resonates with you beyond the challenge.