Changing Habits is Really Difficult!

One of the things I have learned about myself is that I am much better at planning to change a habit in my life, then I am it actually changing it. I can lay out an elaborate plan of action... and then do pretty much nothing.

I think it's pretty well documented that changing habits — and particular one that you have been engaged in for most of your life — is extremely challenging, just like taking up a new habit of practice can be extremely challenging... at least if you hope to make it stick.

In my case, the challenge comes not so much from whether I actually want to — or don't want to — change something, but in the simple act of getting started on something. I find that starting anything is perhaps the single most difficult part of the project!

A lot of people probably think that's pretty silly — or that I must just be a lazy slob — but that's just the way it is (and has been), pretty much since I was a kid. I remember it frustrating my mother to no end!

Once I get started on something, the next part of the challenge is that I tend to have a really long "learning curve" when it comes to new things. That is to say, it takes a really long time before what I'm doing feels comfortable and familiar enough that I don't have to constantly think about it... and want to put it off.

For example, back when I was at University I was a runner but then I sustained a leg injury. That leg injury kept me from running — and even walking — for almost three months. When I finally got the green light to start running again it took me an extremely long time — "unnaturally long," my friends said — before I could pull myself together to go get started again. And I should add it wasn't because I had residual pain I was avoiding; I was perfectly okay. I just couldn't motivate myself.

And even though I'd been a runner since my early High School days, once I did finally start running again it didn't feel natural to me for almost 3 months!

At the moment, I'm trying to "retrain" myself to go to bed earlier at night. The reason is that I'm really not getting enough sleep, and enough quality sleep. Doesn't sound like it should be much of a challenge does it?

But I have a whole life routine that's centered around my usual getting up around 8:30 in the morning and working on things until somewhere around 1:00 to 1:30 in the morning. Of course a bit of simple math will tell you that I'm only getting about 7 hours of sleep, and even less if you consider the fact that I don't immediately fall asleep when I turn out the light.

Why do I bother? Well I feel tired in mid afternoon and my concentration is just not all that great and from everything I've read — as well as by the advice of my doctor — I've been told that I really need to work towards getting at least 8 hours of sleep, or possibly nine.

I've been trying to look at how I ended up living on relatively little sleep, and the simple answer has always been that there's so much that needs to be done every day, and because I have never been financially prosperous, I have never been able to hire people or buy things to make myself more efficient, time wise.

And the current economic state is not exactly helping, either. Seems like I have to work more hours to end up with the same income and take that same income to apply towards ever increasing costs of living.

On the other hand, I don't want to keel over dead because I'm not getting enough rest. So there is a bit of a dilemma there!

For now, I'm still figuring it out.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week ahead!

How about YOU? Have you ever tried changing a major life habit? How did it go for you? Have you ever tried to change your sleep pattern? Leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

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Created at 2026.07.26 23:58PDT
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