At the beginning of each month, my calendar prompter reminds me that it's time to update my Change Journal. This is a ritual I started in June 2008 after spending considerable time reading about making changes. One of the best resources I found was Ariane de Bonvoisin's web site called First 30 Days. I really liked her idea of taking change in small chunks at a time. But would this work better than other strategies I'd tried in the past?
The answer to this last question is a resounding YES! It's now been several years since I started my Change Journal (a simple composition book I picked up for $1 at Walgreens). At the beginning of each month, I list the changes I want to try or work on for that month (2-5 items is normal for me). When I reach the end of the month, I review my list and write briefly about the results – what worked and what didn't. And then I create a new list for the new month.
Some changes stay on my list for several months until they are fully cemented in my life. Some things get tabled and tried later. Some changes get knocked off the list (i.e., tried it, didn't work, try something else). Bottom line, I never beat myself up over the things that don't work. I just focus on what DID work for me, and move forward with keeping change active in my life.
What kind of changes have I made since I started this practice? Here are some examples from my change lists:
- I started doing crossword puzzles – something I had always shied away from because my dad and sister are such crossword puzzle wizards. Now this is an activity I look forward to every evening.
- I did my first REAL push-ups at exercise class. Today I'm proud to say that I have more upper body strength than I've ever had in my life, to me a great achievement!
- I switched health clubs which led to trying aqua classes for the first time – exercise that gives my aging joints a break, is surprisingly effective and fun, and one that's provided a nice change of pace in my weekly routine.
- I took baby steps toward being more energy conscious – starting with using cloth bags for groceries one month, turning off unneeded lights around the house another.
- I FINALLY lost the extra unwanted pounds I had gained by trying a new diet that now allows me to eat more and weigh less.
- I cut down on salt and started using salt substitutes like Mrs. Dash at most meals.
As you can see, not all of these changes are big ones. But as I see it, EVERY POSITIVE CHANGE COUNTS – no matter how big or how small. I've also learned that once I find a change that feels right for me, then I need to work on making it STICK so it becomes a natural part of my life – even if it takes several months to accomplish this. Changes that stick are how progress is made and how rewards can be reaped for your efforts. Once a change is cemented in your life, then you can move on to the next thing and keep building on your change successes.
So, what do you think? How does approaching change just 30 days at a time sound to you? Is this something worth trying this year? To learn more about this, go to www.first30days.com and give change a more reasonable try. Who knows – it may just stick like it did for me. Good luck!
Sue Ronnenkamp is the creator and founder of Age-Full Living, an aging education and consulting firm that focuses on the positive aspects, opportunities, and gifts of growing older. For more information, visit Sue's website at www.AgeFullLiving.com.