When I mentioned my no-surf challenge (becoming more intentional with my phone and internet use), I didn’t tell you that it’s part of a bigger commitment around discipline and habits. While I highly recommend one habit change at a time, because I’ve been at this habit changing thing for more than a decade, I’m ready to go all in for 90 days.
Why now?
I often become completely undisciplined in the summer; working less, traveling more, eating more, lounging around more, drinking more and staying up later. I don’t want to do that this year.
Why 90 days?
I enjoy and learn from 30 day challenges and I’m curious to see how much more powerful 90 days of consistent habit changes will be. I’m writing a book, creating new speaking presentations for events later this year and changing some things up around here. I’ll have to be very focused to do that while still making time for non-work things like family dinners, beautiful hikes and other summer adventures. I think 90 days of discipline will help.
What’s included?
This is what my 90 days of discipline will look like:
Very simple, clean diet (no sugar, alcohol, processed foods + similar meals)
- Breakfast: Bulletproof Coffee
- Lunch: some combo of eggs, potatoes, avocado and veggies
- Dinner: some combo of big salad, veggies, + some fish or seafood a few times a week
- Occasionally I’ll add rice, hummus, strawberries, and corn tortillas to the mix
Consistent 2-3 hour morning routine including:
- writing
- walking
- yoga
- meditating
More exercise:
In addition to my morning walk and yoga, I’m adding 3-6 hours of high intensity (heart pumping) exercise each week.
No mindless internet surfing.
I’m scheduling time for work related social media, book research, email and business related internet things, deleting email from my phone and any other distracting apps. If I’m still checking my phone frequently, I’ll put an elastic band around it as a reminder to stop.
Dedicated, themed work hours. This one might not stick. I am usually very flexible with my work but want to experiment with more structure 5 days a week to help me get this book written and to create more free time.
1 hour a day of project (blog, course, interview) writing
1 hour a day of book writing
1 hour a day of email/social media
3 hours per day of one of the following:
- writing (more in-depth book writing)
- creating (mostly Project 333 video for YouTube)
- learning (research, reading)
- social media (planning/creating/showing up)
- connecting (local events, writing notes, meetings, webinars, interviews)
- admin (working with team, planning, accounting)
- extra self-care (seeing a movie, getting a massage, taking a hike)
Some weeks may be a mix of 5 of the above, and other weeks may include doubling up, like 2 writing days and only 3 others. My friend Mike, the Productivityist inspired these themed days.
If you are thinking – hey, that’s only 6 hours a day (and 3 of them may be focused on extra self-care), I know! I typically work more than that but I’m curious if I limit myself to fewer more focused hours if I can do better work. Be more with less right? If I’m not thriving with this extra work structure, I’ll change it up.
What I want to see at the end of 90 days:
- A 90%+ success rate. That gives me 9 days of being undisciplined if I need it.
- A completed manuscript of new book.
- Less distraction.
- More energy, creativity, focus, and clarity.
How I will stay accountable:
I’ll give you a monthly update here and a weekly update here on Instagram. Because of some extra travel this week, my 90 days will begin on July 8th.
How can you create your own 90-days of discipline?
Start with what you want to see at the end of 90 days and then choose habit changes that will support that. Write them down. Identify a 90-day date range. Share with someone (friends, family, or on Instagram or other social media) for accountability. Don’t worry about how many things you are changing. It might be only one! Experiment with consistency and discipline and at the end of each month, shift things around that aren’t working.
If this isn’t the right time, don’t force it. I’ve been looking forward to and planning this for months. Schedule 90 days that work best for you. If this is anything like any 30-day challenge I’ve done, I know the first 2 weeks will be tough, but then the goodness will kick in and make it all worthwhile.
P.S. I have an exciting update for you! Last week I promised to match up to $1500 of your donations to Back on My Feet. In less than 24 hours, with the match, we raised more than $6000. I offered my e-books as a thank you for donating any amount thru June 27th and I want to extend that offer until we’ve donated $10,000 to Back on My Feet. See the details on how to get your book here.
And, one more (really amazing) thing to support Back on My Feet …
Have you ever dreamed about running the New York City Marathon? The entry drawing for the 2018 marathon happened back in February but if you donate or raise $3000, Back on My Feet will enter you to run in this year’s marathon on November 4th (and include a bunch of amazing perks). Secure your guaranteed entry into the 2018 TCS NYC Marathon to help combat homelessness. Back on My Feet combats homelessness through the power of running, community support, and essential employment and housing resources.
I’ve personally donated $2600 and will add another $400 to match the first $3000 donation.
Donate here and let me know if you want to run the marathon via email or contact deb.brown@backonmyfeet.org for more information.
