10 day promise

What is the “10 Day Promise” all about?

Commitment is the key to lasting change. It is relatively easy for most of us to make changes for short periods of time but often find it difficult to maintain the changed habit or action.

 But what about committing to doing one of the following:

1. Try something new for 10 days
2. Make a change that you have been putting off for 10 days

The theory behind repeatedly doing something you want to do for 10 consecutive days is that it becomes one of your good habits and eventually becomes something you do instead something you would like to do.

Let me give you an example. About 15 years ago, as a one man protest against cruelty I saw to animals on a television program, I decided not to each meat for just one day. At the end of the first day I decided to carry on my protest for one more day. You guessed it one day turned into two, two turned into three and before I knew it a week had passed and I was still doing it. At the end of the first week it almost became natural for me to look for food that was not animal. I ended up not eating meat for about 5 years  

There are lots of other examples I could give you …. Here are a few that some of my friends have tried:

• Cycle to work
• Not eat after 8pm
• Wear different coloured socks (I didn’t say you had to be sensible!)
• Take a photograph

Reasons for giving the 10 day promise a go

• It’s fun
• Its creative
• You may become more adventurous
• Your self-confidence may grow

You may benefit from the 10 day promise

• If you feel stuck in a rut in general or in one particular area of life
• If there is something you have always wanted to add to your life
• Because making small changes are usually sustainable

And here is the important thing about the 10 day promise. It is just that … a commitment to do something for ten days. You should not feel under pressure from yourself or from others to continue it after ten days. However, you may find that you got so much out of whatever it was you changed or tried that you want to make it part of your everyday life. The choice is yours. The thing is you will never know if you want to continue it until you try it for 10 days so as to make it into a bit of a daily habit.