Why Some Changes Need Drama, Not Discipline
Most people try change like they try a new hobby: cautiously, and with one foot still in their usual routine. They don’t live the new thing. They circle it like a nervous cat.
But not every change deserves a gentle, 1%-better-every-day approach.
Some shifts need force. Speed. Drama.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how many changes never really get a fair trial — because we never give them a true shot. We inch toward them, hedging with half-measures and backup plans. “Let me just dabble in this new diet.” “Maybe I’ll test this productivity method on Tuesdays.”
That’s like trying to judge a new city by visiting the airport.
So I’m doing something different.
For the next 90 days, I’m not buying anything I don’t need. No new clothes, no books, no smart home gadgets that promise to make me 3% more efficient. (Sorry to anyone with a birthday between now and June — just kidding, you’re the exception. Also, food and shower gel. I’m not feral.)
This isn’t about minimalism. Or morality. It’s an experiment in clarity through constraint.
I want to know what my life looks like without frictionless consumption. Whether I’ll get bored, frustrated, creative — or all three.
But more importantly: I want to give the experiment a fair shot.
That’s why it’s temporary (3 months), total (no loopholes), and committed (no escape routes back to my usual behavior).
Why go extreme?
Because if there’s an easy way out, your brain will find it. We’re wired for convenience, repetition, the familiar. And that’s fine — until you want real change.
If you’re serious about testing a new way of doing something, the gradual route can actually be the worst way to get clarity.
You don’t try something new. You live in it. Briefly. Then decide.
Try this:
Change your phone. Sell the iPhone. Go Android. Or vice versa. Feel things.
Change your place. Move to another country for 90 days. Yes, it’ll mess with your rhythm. That’s kind of the point.
Change your fuel. No meat. No alcohol. No decaf loopholes. Give your system a reset.
Change your noise. Log off socials. Delete the messaging apps. Watch what (and who) fills the space.
This isn’t about forever. It’s about fair testing.
How to not flake:
Pick something that matters. No baby steps.
Set a timeframe (4–12 weeks = ideal).
Remove the escape hatch. Make the old way harder to fall back on.
Go all in. No cheat days. No “but it was on sale” moments.
Reflect after. Don’t autopilot back.
The point?
You either discover a better way of doing something… or realize you had it pretty good already. Both outcomes = useful.
So yeah, build your habits. Track your steps. Drink your water.
But once in a while — torch the plan, jump in headfirst, and see what happens when the boats are gone.