The Experiment, part 2
I heard somewhere once (like I have so many other things that quickly become a part of 'the way the world works' in my head) that it takes 9 days to make a habit and only 3 days to break a habit.
(I have no idea where I heard it... I remember it most vividly from Costa Rica, but I don't remember learning it in spanish.)
Now, this sort of thing makes me happy. It is a law (so to speak) for the way the world works. Being pretty mathematical and also into understanding things, if I can come with some sort of rule for the way things should be or are or were or anything, it fills my heart with joy. Also, this particular law has a nice symmetry to it; what with it 9 being 32. So, anytime I am trying to start a new habit, 9 times is my goal.
9 times isn't very many. A week and two days.
Anyway, I started my experiment last Tuesday. A week ago today I got into bed at 9:30, read for 30 minutes and then went to sleep. The next morning I woke up the following day around 6 or 6:30. (I know my goal was 5:30, but we have to start somewhere people!). I did something similar Wednesday and Thursday, and then on Friday I went to sleep at 2am.
And just like that I am back to my old habits. I made it 3 days! (Which I think is pretty standard for habits I am attempting to start). But, fear not my fearful pirate comrades! I am still hoping to make what I am beginning to call 'The Great Experiment Oh Nine!" a success. (And when I say 'beginning to call' I mean 'this is the first time I will call'). Given that I am posting this at 10:45pm, I am obviously not going to make my goal tonight.
What was the reason for me jumping off the bandwagon so abruptly and easily? Programming, of course. There just isn't enough time out there to program everything I want to program! I worked on something like four different projects this weekend. And accomplished what I wanted to with two of them.
But the big programming news is that I redesigned my other website Benjaminthomas.org! I am trying to make this a more vocational presence online.
I removed the mini lego mes for two reasons, a) I think they were copyright infringement with Lego (after this fiasco) so it didn't make sense to build an online Benjamin 'brand' based on something that I couldn't legally use, and b) There is a newer and better version of the legos up on KeriAndBenjamin.us (or on BenjaminAndKeri.us if you prefer), which is a website I made for Keri for Valentine's Day last year.
I also added a blog to Benjaminthomas.org. Actually, that is now all the site really is. Why do I need two blogs? Well, you guys really don't want to hear me go on about web development and programming every night.
I bet you are worried that I will neglect you won't you? Especially considering I have already blogged there 2 times this week. Well, worry not my worrisome pirate friends! I will do my best to love you both equally! Scouts honor!
Mostly, I want to sort of foster a programming reputation, and a blog is as good of a place to start as any. (The second part is to start volunteering for an open source community, which will hopefully happen at some point this year. I am thinking either Rails or Django in addition to hopefully releasing some code along with Omer).
So, I would love it if you followed along over there as well, but I understand if you don't find it as interesting!
Well, talk to you all again soon!
28 January 2009 07:03am UTC • 323 views • 1 comment
Tagged with theexperiment, habits, website, bt.org, keri, legos, schedule
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1 comment
Sailing Master Keri
28 January 2009 02:33pm UTC
Good luck with "The Great Experiment Oh Nine!" You can do it!