July 2 calendar page

30 Days of Small, Sustainable Changes

Thirty days hath September…

All the rest have 31.

July 2 calendar pageThat leaves 30 days left in July, the perfect opportunity to think about this short TED Talk by Matt Cutts urging us to make “small, sustainable changes” 30 days at a time:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnfBXjWm7hc]

What can we do for the rest of the month?

  • Write for ten minutes (longhand, on an e-tablet, whatever) before checking email or going online each morning. Do it for 30 days.
  • Read for 15 minutes after supper or before bed or when the kids are in bed. Do it for 30 days.
  • At lunchtime, do writing prompts or exercises from your favorite writing guidebook. Do it for 30 days.
  • Read the daily Poem-a-Day from the Academy of American Poets, and commit a few lines to memory or write a short poem in response. Do it for 30 days.
  • Write in a quotation journal a sentence you have read or overheard that is meaningful to you. Do it for 30 days.
  • Send a handwritten postcard or letter to someone near or far, just because. Do it for 30 days.
  • Write one page of a chapter or short story. Do it for 30 days.

What are some other ideas?

5 thoughts on “30 Days of Small, Sustainable Changes”

  1. Lisa,
    Love this post! This does work! I cut out coffee for 30 days. Now it has been almost 90 days. Cutting out coffee was difficult ( I love coffee), but I did it!
    This post is great, makes think about fun new habits… that I could do for 30 days.

    I always read your blogs everyday 🙂 , don’t always have a chance to leave a comment.

    Congrats to you!!!

    Happy 4th!
    Dee

  2. Yes! Thank you Lisa (once again) for your thoughtful, meaningful post.
    I’d like to add: Every day this month, go outside and sit or stand for two minutes without distraction (no book, ipod, cell phone, conversation, cigarette, or anything). Just breathe, just be. Maybe take off your shoes and socks and feel the grass beneath your feet. Hopefully you’ll get a better feeling for the fullness of what the term “grounding” refers to.

  3. Hi Lisa,

    Thanks so much for sharing this post and the video – how inspiring! Breaking missions down into 30-day streaks seems so much more manageable.

    In addition to your list about, I like Katrina’s idea – taking time out everyday day to just breathe. I’d also like to do just a little bit of yoga everyday.

    Thanks for sharing!

  4. Love your list and the video, Lisa! I know this is about productive changes, but can i just add a few pieces of dark chocolate everyday? Chocolate makes me happy. 🙂

  5. Writing one page of a chapter or a short story, for thirty days: need to do it, want to do it. I’ve heard a saying, “I can do anything for twenty-four hours,” which fits nicely into the scheme of thirty days as well 🙂

    Thanks for a great post!

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