21/90 RULE - MORE ON CHANGING HABITS
Local Edition – Albany, NY in-person events inside
A.J., a participant of several of my programs, including the current 21 Day Challenge©, introduced me to the 21/90 formula. Despite my research for my program, I had never heard of it.
The 21/90 rule is a theory that claims that if you do something for 21 days straight, it’ll become a habit; once you’ve reached 90, it becomes a permanent lifestyle. It was first introduced in the 1960s by Dr. Maxwell Maltz in his self-help book called, Psycho-Cybernetics, A New Way to Get More Living Out of Life.
As I have said previously, 21 days is manageable and requires low commitment, but researchers disagree with just how much time is required to effect change. Studies show that to form a new, habit it takes between 18-254 days, with an average of 66 days.
Why such a wide range? It depends on the new, desired behavior, as well as an individual’s personality and lifestyle. In fact, because life is unpredictable, there is no such thing as a permanent lifestyle change. Circumstances can always change for the better or worse.
Susan, another writing program participant, has been developing her writing practice. A couple newsletters ago, I wrote how she shared that she had been writing every day with the new year. At last week’s Timed Writing Sprint, she reported that not only had she continued her daily writing, but she was writing first thing in the morning.
Many authors and instructors recommend writing upon rising up because of the transition between sleep and wake states is said to be a time when we are close to our dreams and our unconscious. It is also a time when our inner critic is less active.
Another practice Susan shared is going to bed thinking about her writing project. This ties in with other recommendations of letting our unconscious minds work on our writing projects. One exercise is called “Night Work”:
Before going to bed tonight, ask yourself to wake up in the morning with a great opening line.
Prime the pump by writing about your work and what you wish to convey; then see what your dreams produce.
An answer may come in the shower, during a drive.
But wait, not a morning person? Not able to write every day? The goal is to fit your writing into your life and lifestyle. Remember, the best writing practice is the practice that works for you. As long as you are working on your writing goals, you’re succeeding.
Keep writing and keep in touch. Ellen
P.S. I’m calling this the “local edition” because the programs I talk about are all in-person to people living in the Albany, NY area. (Lately, my in-person workshops are filling more than the online ones (already 15 registered for tomorrow’s program) - perhaps an indication that the virtual or Zoom era is fading.) In addition to my classes, I’m highlighting a book release and Rebecca showing to benefit the local Whiskers Cat Rescue and local in-person Write-ins run by the Albany Writers Group.
MassMOCA museum, North Adams, MA 1.25.25
Ellen’s WritingEssentials IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS (Albany, NY area)
Writing 101: Getting Started, HWFC*. Tues., Jan 28, 6:00 – 7:30 PM ET Free
So you’ve always wanted to write a book? Or you’ve always written something— stories, letters, a journal, but don’t know what to do with the writing? Learn strategies to get started.
Intensive Writing Session, HWFC*. Tues., Feb 4, 6:00 – 7:30 PM ET Free
A mini-introduction to the strategies employed in the semester-long Workshop below, see how writing generates more writing and takes your work to a new level.
Intensive Writing Workshop, Mon., March 3, 6:30-8:30 PM ET (8 weeks) $60*
Writing generates more writing. Take your writing to the next level with this session using techniques to deal with issues writers confront, including facing the blank page, building writing skills, and finding their voice. Whether you work in fiction or nonfiction, this class can inspire and improve your work. Schedule and registration form. Deadline: February 14. (Please note: Late registration may be accepted, but not encouraged since space may fill up or class cancelled if participant minimum not met in time. *Fee higher for non-residents.) For more info visit: EllenHiggins.com
AMY PATRICIA MEADE’S WORLDWIDE RELEASE OF DEATH UPON A STAR Thurs., Feb 6:00 PM ET Regal Cinemas, Clifton Park, NY Free
This event includes free showing of Hitchcock's Rebecca, author talk and Q & A, book signing, raffle, and a virtual silent auction - all the proceeds go to support Whiskers, whose mission is to bring love, sanctuary and forever homes to abandoned, abused, and stray cats in the Capital Region. (Recent changes in NYS law necessitate Whiskers find larger accommodations for the animals.)
If you’re local, you can come to a fun free night of literary delight and classic cinema, but because it’s an exclusive, private event, you must register.
Not local? You can still contribute to Whiskers by participating virtually in the auction.
ALBANY WRITERS GROUP hosts two SUNDAY NIGHT WRITE-INS:
East Greenbush Denny's, 126 Troy Rd, East Greenbush Every Sunday from 6 - 9:30 pm (Grace Spinner hosts this event) Clifton Park IHOP, 611 Plank Rd, Clifton Park Every Sunday from 6 to 9:15 pm (Shannon hosts this event) Questions, contact Grace at spinner.grace@gmail.com