Most of us have this “Just One Day” Problem.
So what’s this “Just one-day” problem.
I started a 30-day writing challenge and on the day of writing this blog, it’s the 11th day.
I was able to keep up the challenge till the 10th day without any problem.
But on the 11th day, I got busy with some personal work. I was out till 5 pm.
So this task of writing 600 words is running in my mind, but I kept myself busy with things that were not important.
Somehow I managed to waste time till the end of the day 😀
That’s when this “Just one-day” problem kicked in.
My mind started telling me that, “It’s just one day” you can write two articles tomorrow.
But I had to fight with myself!
I know that, If I miss this day, I am not going to write continuously for the next 20 days. I definitely don’t want that to happen.
I challenged myself for the 30days challenge, and I need to win that challenge.
At the time of writing this blog, it’s 1 am.
I don’t want to go to sleep before I finish the work that I was supposed to do. It’s about discipline.
I Quit Smoking, But its “Just One Day”
I used to be a smoker.
I wanted to quit smoking so badly, and after several attempts, I was able to spend 3 months without smoking.
After 3 months, one fine day, I met with this friend of mine.
We were having tea, and he offered me a cigarette. I told him I quit smoking. He said, “it’s just one day.”
I smoked a cigarette thinking that “it’s just one day”. Guess what? I started smoking more cigarettes than I used to. It continued for years.
But, I quit smoking, it’s been more than five years. I was able to do that because there is no place for “it’s just one day” for cigarettes in my life.
How to Overcome the “Just One Day” Problem
This is the issue we face everyday.
Whether it’s a workout session, writing, learning, or eating healthy.
Good things happen only if you want it so badly and ready to sacrifice simple pleasures that come your way.
I can relate this to my weight loss journey.
Once I reduced my body weight from 89kgs to 75ks in 3 months’ time.
When I decided to lose weight, I challenged myself that I wouldn’t have any sugary/fatty food and I would work out a minimum of 5 days per week.
There were so many days where I was part of office parties where I was offered Pizzas, cakes, etc..I just said “no”
So, to overcome the “Just One Day” problem, all you have to say is “No”. Sometimes to others and most of the time, it’s to yourself.
In this case, with my writing challenge, I went to bed, but I told myself “No, you cannot sleep without publishing the article“.
Also, asking yourself the following questions might help you to avoid the one-day excuse trap.
- Why did I start this challenge in the first place?
- How badly I want it?
- If I finish this challenge, what impact does it create?
- If I don’t do this, what opportunity in my life am I going to lose?
- Is this one day worth as compared to what I am going to lose in the future?
Conclusion
Starting a challenge and sticking to it will help you develop the habits that you wish for.
Self-discipline plays a key role here.
I know it’s really hard to follow something religiously if you are not used to it. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it.
We have to work for it and try really hard.
Its like the mountain quote.
“Hard to climb, but once you get to the top, the view is beautiful”
