{"id":538,"date":"2008-06-03T05:09:26","date_gmt":"2008-06-03T09:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/how-to-focus-your-enthusiasm\/"},"modified":"2013-08-16T12:27:51","modified_gmt":"2013-08-16T20:27:51","slug":"how-to-focus-your-enthusiasm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/how-to-focus-your-enthusiasm\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Focus Your Enthusiasm"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I recently had a conversation with a reader over the 30 Day Trial method. The idea, made popular by Steve Pavlina, is that you stay focused on one change for thirty days. After that, it becomes a habit and no longer requires willpower. It\u2019s a technique I\u2019ve used to start exercising, switch my eating habits<\/a>, wake up early and add various other productivity routines.<\/p>\n

Our debate centered around whether you should implement one 30DT (30 Day Trial) at a time, or several. According to this reader, life was short, and he wanted to do as much as possible in a small timeframe. He was asking advice on whether he should implement 3-4 trials at a time, or just one.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t the first time I\u2019ve heard this question, or the first time I\u2019ve seen the results. Usually someone who stumbles upon the 30DT gets it in their head to multiply the effects by doing several at the same time. After ten days of this insanity, they slip and end back where they started. Nothing changed and nothing gained.<\/p>\n

Runaway Enthusiasm<\/h2>\n

The problem isn\u2019t that doing several 30DT\u2019s at a time is impossible. I\u2019m sure with enough practice and motivation<\/a>, you could do it. The problem is that doing several trials at the same time is overkill. It\u2019s taking something fairly simple and making it incredibly difficult, just to save a month or two.<\/p>\n

This is just one case of runaway enthusiasm, but I\u2019m sure you know of others. Runaway enthusiasm happens when a new idea or interest fuels you with intense motivation. For about two weeks. Then that motivation dies out and you\u2019re left with the wreckage.
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\nFor many people this cycle happens every time they start a new diet. It goes from:<\/p>\n