All the talk last week was the news that “love rat” actor Andrew Buchan had been taken back by Amy Nuttall, the wife he left in January for another woman. It’s been the top water-cooler subject ever since – beating Meghan’s hat and shorts combo, rude bad Australians and “What is the weather doing?” – not because of the happy ending but because of Nuttall’s long list of terms and conditions for taking Buchan back. And one condition in particular has piqued our interest: that the couple, henceforth, observe the 777 Rule.
Here’s how the 777 Rule works: every seven days you go on a date, every seven weeks you go away for the night and every seven months the two of you head off on a romantic holiday. It might sound a tad prescriptive, and an à deux holiday almost twice a year could be one too many, but nevertheless we get the point. If you don’t put inthe regular maintenance the wheels may come off and you’ll regret the ensuing car wreck.
Anyway, you don’t need to be rebuilding a relationship to adopt the 777 Rule, you may just want to keep it ticking over, or you might care to apply it to other areas of your life.
Relationship maintenance
Every seven days you change out of your WFH uniform into something less loose and comfy. Every seven weeks you do something about your upper lip and toenails. Every seven months you book a table for two in the pub and make a note not to mention one of the seven banned topics. These will vary a bit but will generally include: why you listened to Porky Burlington about the mortgage and not Us; and why are we going to your third cousin’s wedding in Stornaway when we could have been staying with the Whatsits in Greece?
Friendship maintenance
Every seven days you send a text. Every seven weeks you make a plan. Every seven months you meet up. (If you’re doing this with 12 friends you’re reasonably busy).
Diet
Every seven days you weigh yourself (any more frequently and the week is ruined). Every seven weeks you ban carbs and aim not to eat anything before midday. Every seven months you go for a long stretch of being practically vegetarian and eating fermented foods, or whatever the latest advice is (could be eat meat only and skip the veg). Then repeat.
Drinking
Every seven days you take a day off. Every seven weeks you have four alcohol-free days (even if this has been precipitated by a very heavy weekend with the Whatsits). Every seven months you do Dry January/June – Whatever, or make a really good stab at it.
Exercise
Every seven hours you do calf stretches at your desk. Every seven days you go to a Pilates class or similar. Every seven weeks you take an inventory of the classes you have not attended and why (drinking in Dry June) and lock yourself into a weekly routine, either by buddying up with a scary friend you would not dare bail on at the last minute, or by paying a lot up front. The former is safer.
Parenting young adults
Every seven days you send a “Just checking in” message. Every sevenweeks you send a Fam Whatsapp message announcing you are definitely organising a family holiday and asking for dates. Every seven months youpanic and book them all non-refundable tickets to Cornwall and a theatre performance featuring Jodie Comer/Paul Mescal (aka actors they will show up for).
Work
Every seven days you switch out of idling mode into all engines firing. Every seven weeks you are first in the office and at your desk, hammering away at your keyboard, when the others roll in. Every seven months you dress up and stand tall, thereby creating the impression you are job-interviewing and they’d better not be taking you for granted.
Good luck.
