369 method vs 55x5: which one should you do?
369 is the long game and 55x5 is the sprint. 369 asks for 18 lines a day, split into three sittings, for 33 or 45 days. 55x5 asks for 55 lines in one sitting, for 5 days. Pick 369 if you want a rhythm. Pick 55x5 if you want it over with.
The two, side by side
| What it asks of you | 369 method | 55x5 method |
|---|---|---|
| Lines you write a day | 18 lines | 55 lines |
| How long it runs | 33 or 45 days | 5 days |
| When you do it | Morning, afternoon and night | Once a day |
| What you need | Pen and paper | Pen and paper |
Do the 369 method if
369 spreads the writing across your day: 3 lines in the morning, 6 in the afternoon, 9 at night, about five minutes each time. Over 33 days that is 594 lines, and over 45 days it is 810. It is the bigger total by far, just never in one go.
- You want the practice to touch your whole day, not one moment of it.
- A small daily rhythm suits you better than one big push.
- You have 33 or 45 days to give it.
- Writing 55 lines in one sitting sounds like something you would quit on day two.
Do the 55x5 method if
55x5 is one affirmation, written 55 times by hand, for 5 days. That is 275 lines in total and it is done inside a week.
- You want to finish something this week.
- You would rather do one long sitting than remember three short ones.
- You have tried a 30 day practice before and lost it around day nine.
- The ache in your hand feels like proof you turned up.
Can you do both?
Common questions
55x5 finishes sooner: 5 days against 33 or 45. That is a fact about the calendar, not about which one lands harder. Pick the one you will actually finish. The 55x5 guide has the five day version written out.