Thoughts about research and writing

If you don't have knowledge about your subject, the process is harder and less enjoyable. So far, no matter how many times I remind myself to read ahead and maybe jot a few notes to remind myself of important points, I still read as I'm writing. Not fun, and I haven't figured out what is my mental block.

Habits are rough to reform or eliminate. Establishing a new pattern is also hard. In yoga, it's said that 40 straight days are required to form a new habit. I think it is more like 42 to 49 days; the extra time re-enforces the new patterns and provides greater satisfaction with the process. But the trick is not stopping after the end of the cycle; I did a breathing practice for a 40-day yoga challenge two years ago and found so much freedom in my nose, but I forgot to continue the practice and the habit did not stick. I feel that 80 days are needed to give a habit a chance to establish itself in the neural pathways, so I think I have a new goal to reach.