increasing discipline and stuff

[peoplesuck]

I looked at my life a few weeks ago and I realized something scary, I am not going to reach the goals i have set with the current amount of effort i am giving. I have decided to do everything i can to improve myself and my situation, I thought it would be neat to document and see what changes. I am open to suggestions on things to try and do.

I got rid of my phone first, being i would waste most of my time on it. I bought a wireless hotspot so that i can still do my homework, it only has 2gb and i am not going to use it for youtube or any other time wasting sites.
Meditating every day for 20 minutes.
Cold showers 2 times per day.(no hot showers at all)
running one mile every day on top of biking everywhere, since i sold my car.
push ups and sit ups every morning.
nofap
Actually studying for tests, not allowing myself to fall behind.
reading every day for at least 20 minutes.
taking the time to look at something and appreciate that without help or instructions i would never be able to make it even if i spent my life on it. (ex being a car fender, i dont even know how fiberglass is made or how i could replicate it with no outside help or info.)
no more junk food, never using another vending machine. if i forget food i will suffer and prepare better for next time.
Currently working on social skills and taking an interest in others. reading dale carnegie's book c:
replaced my phone alarm with a windup clockwork alarm, I have found that studying in quiet with only the ticking clock has improved my ability to not get irritated by distractions. It was painful at first. Also waking up to a clockwork alarm is like waking up to a heart attack for a few days. xD
I can already tell you that getting rid of my phone was an amazing decision, my attention and ability to not always be doing something has improved just from this one thing. It is very strange seeing everyone on their phones, something you dont notice when you have a phone, Because your doing it too.
I plan to add 20mins of duolingo and piano practice per day, but im not trying to kill myself in the first month ( I have had shin splints for 2 weeks now),

discipline is built with time and patience.

More stoofs will be added and updates given.

 

[Happy]

My advice: don't try to accomplish so much at once. You'll more likely burn out. Consistent incremental change is key.

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

So, are those things you already do, or plan to do?

I should figure out why I do none of this. :/

 

[The Gopher]

My advice: don't try to accomplish so much at once. You'll more likely burn out. Consistent incremental change is key.

Yes and

push ups and sit ups every morning.

Okay so that's good and all. But that's working out your front, and not your back. If you keep up that long term you'll end up with muscle imbalances. Try rows if you can find a bar or something. Even better find a sport you enjoy, there is a sport everyone enjoys I guarantee it. It doubles as a social life even if it's an individual sport. You can then cut out pushups and running and stuff. Or have running and meditation at the same time.

Basically combine things to optimise time. Do running while meditating etc. Work out where you want to be in life, what you need to do to get there, and optimise and combine as much as possible.

 

[peoplesuck]

Happy: indeed but this seems manageable for me.
artsu: I started about 3 days before posting, and my posting doesnt include everything atm.
Gopher: good advice c:
so far i skipped one shower and AFTER my cold shower i took a hot shower.


It feels great to start your morning with a mile and some exercise, it makes it feel like something has been accomplished. Also for some reason doing push-ups makes half my right hand feel broken.
After work today i have to pour water all over my bed so i dont go to bed, so much stuff to do.

 

[Shadowlands97]

Awesome man. I work 10-12 hour shifts. I'm learning Norwegian and thinking about learning German and French. I try working out in the morning but waking up at 5 and getting home at 7 every day is draining for me. Makes working out impossible. I realized I always bit off more than I could chew with my goals and learned to stop making them. In my case it's because I have an addictive and obsessive personality type. I'm INFJ and always feel like I'm wasting time around other people. Started trying to discipline myself and realized it's a good thing I didn't join the military!

 

[Polaris]

This is a very interesting list.

If I only had the willpower. I don't do the phone thing though. I sit on the train and wonder how shit on the internet could possibly grab their attention and hold it for that long. The only time I pay that much attention is if someone's shouting loudly in the street or being robbed or something. I really like looking out the window, it is great for my shitty attention span because things are flying past at about the same pace as I manage to hold my attention to them. I just don't want to miss those things flying past.

I can always go back to whatever website. But even then, they are not interesting. I only like psychology journals and INTPf. And I like looking at pretty people. Nothing else really grabs me.

Or perhaps I'm just abnormally distracted.

But the ascetic lifestyle is something that appeals to me. I look at the works of Jung, Freud, Thomas Mann, Hesse. What was it about the time they lived in that produced works of such significance? Or was it just that these people had extraordinary dedication and discipline? I read the Glass Bead Game by Hesse. The novel seems to capture this spirit, whatever it was.

But I don't have the dedication. Maybe I should pay some attention to this thread. I could actually learn something, for a fucking change.

 

[Hadoblado]

That list seems insane. I mean, if you can do it, that's beyond fantastic, but as an expectations set for yourself it's unreasonable.
"discipline is built with time and patience."

But you've sort of just decided you have it. The increased rate of gain seems not worth the additional strai- ...probability of failure. It's pretty common for people to compare themselves to their ideal self, go-hard in trying to attain every aspect of that, and then experience cascading failure as something goes wrong and they attribute an absoluteness that's unwarranted.

 

[Polaris]

^AK47 Hado strikes again...




But seriously. I think it is good to have aspirations. As in, the non-syringe kind. Hado's point: be realistic in terms of your history and predicted outcome, based on this history.

Another point (don't know who's): you don't know your potential. Testing is necessary. For science. And Jung. Thus Sprach Zarahthustra. The human potential and all that.

You just don't know what the outcome might be. In any case, it will most probably be different to the outcome, should you not have made these changes.

O man, take care!
What does the deep midnight declare?
"I was asleep—
From a deep dream I woke and swear:—
The world is deep,
Deeper than day had been aware.
Deep is its woe—
Joy—deeper yet than agony:
Woe implores: Go!
But all joy wants eternity—
Wants deep, wants deep eternity."

...

Boing

 

[Ex-User (14663)]

Organic inspiration, incentives induced by hormones - that, to discipline, is what a 5000-horsepower locomotive is to a bicycle

Work on cultivating obsessions instead

 

[Happy]

I looked at my life a few weeks ago and I realized something scary, I am not going to reach the goals i have set with the current amount of effort i am giving. I have decided to do everything i can to improve myself and my situation, I thought it would be neat to document and see what changes. I am open to suggestions on things to try and do.

I got rid of my phone first, being i would waste most of my time on it. I bought a wireless hotspot so that i can still do my homework, it only has 2gb and i am not going to use it for youtube or any other time wasting sites.
Meditating every day for 20 minutes.
Cold showers 2 times per day.(no hot showers at all)
running one mile every day on top of biking everywhere, since i sold my car.
push ups and sit ups every morning.
nofap
Actually studying for tests, not allowing myself to fall behind.
reading every day for at least 20 minutes.
taking the time to look at something and appreciate that without help or instructions i would never be able to make it even if i spent my life on it. (ex being a car fender, i dont even know how fiberglass is made or how i could replicate it with no outside help or info.)
no more junk food, never using another vending machine. if i forget food i will suffer and prepare better for next time.
Currently working on social skills and taking an interest in others. reading dale carnegie's book c:
replaced my phone alarm with a windup clockwork alarm, I have found that studying in quiet with only the ticking clock has improved my ability to not get irritated by distractions. It was painful at first. Also waking up to a clockwork alarm is like waking up to a heart attack for a few days. xD
I can already tell you that getting rid of my phone was an amazing decision, my attention and ability to not always be doing something has improved just from this one thing. It is very strange seeing everyone on their phones, something you dont notice when you have a phone, Because your doing it too.
I plan to add 20mins of duolingo and piano practice per day, but im not trying to kill myself in the first month ( I have had shin splints for 2 weeks now),

discipline is built with time and patience.

More stoofs will be added and updates given.

I've thought about this a bit since and want to revise the advice I had previously given.

There's no real reason you can't achieve all of that. Probably best to dive in and give it 100%.

The advice I'd like to give is that while attempting all of these, there are 3 things you should have at the absolute top of your list, and if they aren't being taken care of, drop all else until they are.

These three things are:

1. Consistent, regular and sufficient sleep (Go to bed at the same time every night. If you can wake up naturally without your alarm, that's also good.)
2. Good nutrition (lots of cruciferous vegetables as a minimum; eliminate or at least reduce sugar intake also)
3. Sufficient water intake (if pee = yellow, then drink more water)

It's pretty basic, but I know just how easy it is to neglect, and the difference it makes if these three things are in place is substantial. If you stay on top of these 3 things, then the rest will all happen so much more easily.

A couple more things:

• with the meditation and mindfulness, aim to do your meditation in the morning. You'll get more out of it as you carry the positive effects with you throughout your day
• I'd personally advise against nofap unless fap is really a problem for you. You're probably better off giving up porn than giving up fapping altogether.

Eh hope that's helpful.

Discipline = Freedom

 

[peoplesuck]

I've thought about this a bit since and want to revise the advice I had previously given.

There's no real reason you can't achieve all of that. Probably best to dive in and give it 100%.

The advice I'd like to give is that while attempting all of these, there are 3 things you should have at the absolute top of your list, and if they aren't being taken care of, drop all else until they are.

These three things are:

1. Consistent, regular and sufficient sleep (Go to bed at the same time every night. If you can wake up naturally without your alarm, that's also good.)
2. Good nutrition (lots of cruciferous vegetables as a minimum; eliminate or at least reduce sugar intake also)
3. Sufficient water intake (if pee = yellow, then drink more water)

It's pretty basic, but I know just how easy it is to neglect, and the difference it makes if these three things are in place is substantial. If you stay on top of these 3 things, then the rest will all happen so much more easily.

A couple more things:

• with the meditation and mindfulness, aim to do your meditation in the morning. You'll get more out of it as you carry the positive effects with you throughout your day
• I'd personally advise against nofap unless fap is really a problem for you. You're probably better off giving up porn than giving up fapping altogether.

Eh hope that's helpful.

Discipline = Freedom

Thanks, I have made goals like this before but i always gave up or stopped caring. I suppose there is a massive difference in wanting something and having the fire in your heart to go take it. I think i have found my fire
Meditating in the morning makes more sense, derpy me was doing it before bed.
I already eat super healthy as a vegetarian, and i drink more water than those retards with gallon jugs who dont even exercise. adequate sleep has been made impossible by my school/work schedule, but since i am leaving my job on the 24th i will have the sleep i need. The nofap thing is just because i like the reduced sensitivity(lolwut?) i have been cursed with this damn dog tail that gets happy when im happy, somehow nofap helps reduce my sensitivity. stopped watching porn about a year ago, thats someones kid y'know!

I feel amazing since starting this, feel better physically and have more confidence.

for shadow: jeg lære meg norsk ågso, hvor lang har du vært studerer norsk? (sorry my norwegian is a mix of swedish)

 

[baccheion]

I tried doing something like this and it ended up being a waste of time (didn't increase motivation and I couldn't stick with it). I was happy, however, that it led me to brainwave entrainment, meditation, spirituality, nootropics/supplements, being more health conscious, etc.

That is, start by using selegiline (1.25mg/day sublingually, then spit/rinse out).

Vitamin/mineral deficiencies: magnesium oil spray + multivitamin (AOR Ortho-Core)

Cognition/fluidity enhancement: N-acetyl semax amidate + N-acetyl selank alternated (5 days on + 2 days off + 4 weeks, then switch) with P21

 

[peoplesuck]

update:
still doing everything, except the one mile run, that has been reduced to other exercises and a quarter mile run.
made a daily schedule of waking up at 6am and going to bed at 10pm
reading 3 books, budha walks into a bar, some book on productivity and a book about investing.
added some things that i will add to here and explain later :d
have had a few misses on daily goals, but otherwise doing great

 

[kalika]

What kind of meditation do you do? And how are the cold showers going? I've been doing cold exposure for 2 months. In winter it was unbearable but in spring it's been lovely.

I'm curious as to why you're doing cold showers? I've used it to replace exercise for now. My reasoning is that voluntary activation of my sympathetic nervous system helps me gain more control over it. Everytime I voluntarily acivate the stress response in the absence of an external stressor, I am training the body to endure physiological symptoms of fear in a state of cognitive and mental calm.

So the next time I encounter something "dangerous", my body will be more used to experiencing a physiological fear response without overreacting to it.

The benefits have been particularly noticable to me when, a week back, I had to engage in a bout of public speaking, and usually would be consumed by nerves, but found myself with the ability to dissociate myself from it in a way.

Anyways you seem really interested in self-improvement, I recommend reading this.

If I only had the willpower.
But I don't have the dedication. Maybe I should pay some attention to this thread. I could actually learn something, for a fucking change.

You needa question your self-talk. Willpower can be trained, just like any behavioural trait, thanks to the wonders of neuroplasticity.

 

[redbaron]

How Cold Showers Made Me A Better Public Speaker

Replace Exercise With This One Simple Trick


I honestly don't know the memeing of discipline. Wish I had any.

 

[Pyropyro]

Dale Carnegie's books are good but social actions are more refined IRL. Have you considered attending an organization like Toastmasters?

 

[The Gopher]

How Cold Showers Made Me A Better Public Speaker

Replace Exercise With This One Simple Trick


I honestly don't know the memeing of discipline. Wish I had any.

Yeah I'm stealing this for my fake news website, you know, for when I have time to update it.

 

[peoplesuck]

What kind of meditation do you do? And how are the cold showers going? I've been doing cold exposure for 2 months. In winter it was unbearable but in spring it's been lovely.

I'm curious as to why you're doing cold showers? I've used it to replace exercise for now. My reasoning is that voluntary activation of my sympathetic nervous system helps me gain more control over it. Everytime I voluntarily acivate the stress response in the absence of an external stressor, I am training the body to endure physiological symptoms of fear in a state of cognitive and mental calm.

So the next time I encounter something "dangerous", my body will be more used to experiencing a physiological fear response without overreacting to it.

The benefits have been particularly noticable to me when, a week back, I had to engage in a bout of public speaking, and usually would be consumed by nerves, but found myself with the ability to dissociate myself from it in a way.


Anyways you seem really interested in self-improvement, I recommend reading this.
I do my cold showers for all the awesome benefits like stress tolerance, and its totally fucking miserable after working hard all day. buird chraktur. Seems to have worked very well for me, my social anxiety is at an all-time low. I got a ride from a lab partner and i actually noticed i wasnt anxious and i started feeling anxious about maybe making them anxious...but thats improvement!
pyropryo i just found out about toastmasters through you. will look into it.

Things are going really well, AND i actually made a friend, like the intelligent learn from each other kind. my human relationships have been doing really well since reading Dale Carnegies book.

I studied for a math test for 8hrs straight, super diligent 8 hours as well, i had never done that before.
PrOgReS

 

[Polaris]

I knew it was a good idea to pay attention to this thread. Just had one of the more amusing moments this week (which was badly needed) in the shower, making involuntary gasping and panting noises and finding the whole spectacle quite absurd. Stepped out of the shower cabinet with a sheepish look on my face, but definitely felt better for it. I had a hot shower first, which kind of made it easier to get psyched, but the shock was no less and definitely worth it.

I will continue with this ritual and then maybe progress to an attempt at regulating my sleeping patterns next. Cutting out phones, etc is not so challenging as I have done it before, not that I use my phone to even a fraction of the extent other people seem to, but I could definitely cut down on pc time.

Have been reading articles, which has spurred inspiration for my main project. I finished my abstract and will submit it next week after some proof reading. Also signed up for an intensive medical imaging course, which will make it easier for me to figure out methodology, but also challenge my brain, which is something I have not paid attention to lately. At the moment, I’m teaching myself to use all the software, but prgress is slow because I’m not in a stimulating learning environment. This course should keep me on my toes as there will be mostly people there who are far more advanced in the field, so I might learn a thing or two.

Basically, I’ve gone from mildly suicidal to mildly inspired in four days

The trick is to gain momentum first. To be able to to that, one must work up the pace slowly but steadily, otherwise the whole machine might stall. I guess it is similar to any energy principle, even if it concerns the mental and not physiological - although the two are of course mutually dependent.

Eeerrgh, my cat just dragged in a rat the size of a kitten....gotta go

 

[peoplesuck]

I knew it was a good idea to pay attention to this thread. Just had one of the more amusing moments this week (which was badly needed) in the shower, making involuntary gasping and panting noises and finding the whole spectacle quite absurd. Stepped out of the shower cabinet with a sheepish look on my face, but definitely felt better for it. I had a hot shower first, which kind of made it easier to get psyched, but the shock was no less and definitely worth it.

I will continue with this ritual and then maybe progress to an attempt at regulating my sleeping patterns next. Cutting out phones, etc is not so challenging as I have done it before, not that I use my phone to even a fraction of the extent other people seem to, but I could definitely cut down on pc time.

Have been reading articles, which has spurred inspiration for my main project. I finished my abstract and will submit it next week after some proof reading. Also signed up for an intensive medical imaging course, which will make it easier for me to figure out methodology, but also challenge my brain, which is something I have not paid attention to lately. At the moment, I’m teaching myself to use all the software, but prgress is slow because I’m not in a stimulating learning environment. This course should keep me on my toes as there will be mostly people there who are far more advanced in the field, so I might learn a thing or two.

Basically, I’ve gone from mildly suicidal to mildly inspired in four days

The trick is to gain momentum first. To be able to to that, one must work up the pace slowly but steadily, otherwise the whole machine might stall. I guess it is similar to any energy principle, even if it concerns the mental and not physiological - although the two are of course mutually dependent.

Eeerrgh, my cat just dragged in a rat the size of a kitten....gotta go

Im so happy that i sort of helped you!?
My next goal is to get a cuddle buddy, maybe you should get yourself one as well?

 

[cheese]

That cold shower thing is brutal. I seem to have almost completely lost my tolerance for them. Used to have them all the time (never in winter; I'm no hero), then only once every now and then as a challenge when I felt like it, when I became much more sensitive to temperature.

I tried it again today because of this thread, and did my usual, "1, 2, 3 - GO" routine, expecting to be gasping for only a few seconds as usual before acclimating.

But the suffocation didn't stop! My body was so overwhelmed I couldn't think clearly enough to get out of the water/get my nose out enough to breathe properly. This went on for a long time. I finally had to give up and start with a hot shower, then work my way down. Made it in the end, but I was dizzy and dazed through most of it.

Still fun though.

But why do you think it's useful? How do you know it's helpful, and that the effects you're experiencing aren't exclusively from the other stuff you're doing?

 

[peoplesuck]

That cold shower thing is brutal. I seem to have almost completely lost my tolerance for them. Used to have them all the time (never in winter; I'm no hero), then only once every now and then as a challenge when I felt like it, when I became much more sensitive to temperature.

I tried it again today because of this thread, and did my usual, "1, 2, 3 - GO" routine, expecting to be gasping for only a few seconds as usual before acclimating.

But the suffocation didn't stop! My body was so overwhelmed I couldn't think clearly enough to get out of the water/get my nose out enough to breathe properly. This went on for a long time. I finally had to give up and start with a hot shower, then work my way down. Made it in the end, but I was dizzy and dazed through most of it.

Still fun though.

But why do you think it's useful? How do you know it's helpful, and that the effects you're experiencing aren't exclusively from the other stuff you're doing?

if you search cold shower benefits lots of stuff will come up. That is the problem with changing multiple variables isnt it? not knowing what caused the change.

 

[peoplesuck]

if you search cold shower benefits lots of stuff will come up. That is the problem with changing multiple variables isnt it? not knowing what caused the change.

That was not meant to sound as condescending and shitty as it did. MB

long time no update, basically i fell down and am getting back up, stopped doing cold showers and running because of school, freezing weather. I destroyed my digestive tract by taking too many daily vitamins with overlapping ingredients. woop woop dont do that kids.
Made 2 friends and am improving
I actually asked a girl out.(sort of) I meant hang out and she turned red and got really nervous and weird, so i suppose she mis-understood.
IF i run and take cold showers everyday 3 showers per day, i actually feel amazing, no depression or other bullshets. 10/10 would recommend.
I started reading more, totally failing my calculus class (with a C but hey thats fucking pathetic amiright) but regardless am not about to quite or try any less.
My bike tire keeps going flat so im just going to get one of those obnoxious bikes with 4inch wide tires and not worry about snow.

Still working on that cuddle buddy goal

 

[DerpAssault]

Best of luck to you.

 

[Ex-User (14663)]

That was not meant to sound as condescending and shitty as it did. MB

long time no update, basically i fell down and am getting back up, stopped doing cold showers and running because of school, freezing weather. I destroyed my digestive tract by taking too many daily vitamins with overlapping ingredients. woop woop dont do that kids.
Made 2 friends and am improving
I actually asked a girl out.(sort of) I meant hang out and she turned red and got really nervous and weird, so i suppose she mis-understood.
IF i run and take cold showers everyday 3 showers per day, i actually feel amazing, no depression or other bullshets. 10/10 would recommend.
I started reading more, totally failing my calculus class (with a C but hey thats fucking pathetic amiright) but regardless am not about to quite or try any less.
My bike tire keeps going flat so im just going to get one of those obnoxious bikes with 4inch wide tires and not worry about snow.

Still working on that cuddle buddy goal

This couldn't be more predictable, dude.

I tried to explain this earlier; this superficial stuff is not sustainable. It makes you feel like you are in control for a short while and then you revert back. Superficial measures will always work like that,.

 

[Jennywocky]

Short-term bursts are hard to maintain. it's that way with anything; energy is a limited resource unless you're hopped up on something (and then it just kills you eventually). You want to get sustainable practices down, usually layered in a bit at a time; those things typically have more chance to endure.

Not that the goals were bad at all. Those are admirable. So just develop a longer-term plan with more sustainable energy investments. Prioritize what you think is most important; do that; get it down until it becomes second-nature; then layer in something else; and so on.

It's not a lot different than weight-control methodologies.

 

[peoplesuck]

This couldn't be more predictable, dude.

I tried to explain this earlier; this superficial stuff is not sustainable. It makes you feel like you are in control for a short while and then you revert back. Superficial measures will always work like that,.

You are absolutely right, dude. when you try things that are above your current abilities you have to grow to achieve them, and you WILL fail sometimes. Life is all about ripping that "hang in there" cat poster off the wall and shooting up more heroin to finish all your insane goals.

I had messed up my sleep schedule in the beginning, going to bed at 10 and getting up at 6. the only way to get 8 hours would be to fall asleep instantly. which made things hard.

I realize i am aiming high, which was the idea in the first place. Im adjusting things to be manageable but challenging, because I sort of guessed in the beginning.

Short-term bursts are hard to maintain. it's that way with anything; energy is a limited resource unless you're hopped up on something (and then it just kills you eventually). You want to get sustainable practices down, usually layered in a bit at a time; those things typically have more chance to endure.

Not that the goals were bad at all. Those are admirable. So just develop a longer-term plan with more sustainable energy investments. Prioritize what you think is most important; do that; get it down until it becomes second-nature; then layer in something else; and so on.

It's not a lot different than weight-control methodologies.

^ indeed, much work is needed to figure out how to do the most with still having it be sustainable. I stopped doing some things but put more effort into others, I dont see this as a bad thing, but I would like to continue the things i stopped.

Basically I like doing things the hardest way possible

 

[Ex-User (8886)]

dont forget to enjoy yourself or you will fall in depression

 

[Absurdity]

I used to be a young productivity obsessed fellow like you, then I took an arrow in the knee.

 

[Puffy]

Maybe keep a list of the desirables you want to experiment with and introduce a few things from the list at a time, in the safe knowledge the others are stored and won't go forgotten. And only introduce more when the others have become routine?

I've gone through similar phases and have tended to find that trying to master-plan my life leaves me paralysed and I end up obsessing over the details of the plan rather than implementation. There's also an extent which the expectations around it become draining and prevent me from enjoying those things without punishing myself when I don't do them.

I set a New Year's resolution to be healthier and look after myself more and I'd say I'm doing okay with that. My diet is good, I've cut out most salt, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and cook for myself for most meals. I meditate and practice relaxation techniques daily. I get up at 7am (rather than midday ) now. Slowly replacing procrastination tendencies with more meaningful activities like writing, etc.

But I think most things that are related to habit are pyrrhic victories and very much 2 steps forward 1 step back over a period of months and months, particularly if the root of those habits lie in character or psychological wounds. (They're also natural changes based upon certain realisations, rather than forced.) One of the big things I've learned about people in life is that they change very slowly. You can fight that process and get frustrated with yourself, or work adaptively with it and remind yourself of how well you're doing when you lapse from the plan.

P.S. In my experience, cuddle buddy is a bit of a trap. Seems nice at first but is predicated upon strong boundaries which are hard to have when intimate. It isn't pleasant if you get emotionally attached or sexually attracted to that person.

 

[cheese]

I used to be a young productivity obsessed fellow like you, then I took an arrow in the knee.

Assuming this is somewhat serious, what happened afterwards? Did you become a complete slob, and/or renounce the cult of productivity?

 

[baccheion]

Maybe keep a list of the desirables you want to experiment with and introduce a few things from the list at a time, in the safe knowledge the others are stored and won't go forgotten. And only introduce more when the others have become routine?

I've gone through similar phases and have tended to find that trying to master-plan my life leaves me paralysed and I end up obsessing over the details of the plan rather than implementation. There's also an extent which the expectations around it become draining and prevent me from enjoying those things without punishing myself when I don't do them.

I set a New Year's resolution to be healthier and look after myself more and I'd say I'm doing okay with that. My diet is good, I've cut out most salt, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and cook for myself for most meals. I meditate and practice relaxation techniques daily. I get up at 7am (rather than midday ) now. Slowly replacing procrastination tendencies with more meaningful activities like writing, etc.

But I think most things that are related to habit are pyrrhic victories and very much 2 steps forward 1 step back over a period of months and months, particularly if the root of those habits lie in character or psychological wounds. (They're also natural changes based upon certain realisations, rather than forced.) One of the big things I've learned about people in life is that they change very slowly. You can fight that process and get frustrated with yourself, or work adaptively with it and remind yourself of how well you're doing when you lapse from the plan.

P.S. In my experience, cuddle buddy is a bit of a trap. Seems nice at first but is predicated upon strong boundaries which are hard to have when intimate. It isn't pleasant if you get emotionally attached or sexually attracted to that person.

Add a good multivitamin (like AOR Ortho-Core or Life Extension Mix) and selegiline (1.25mg/day sublingually). After a few days, you'll probably have less cravings and will wake up at a time that's natural/good. If engineering/forcing when you get up, I say it should be right after sun rise. Not needing an alarm clock (ie, having to be at work/school by a certain time) is great, as you don't have to get up until fully rested.

You can alternate/cycle P21 and N-acetyl semax amidate (+ N-acetyl selank if it causes anxiety) for a cognition boost. You could also look into water fasting, as it is a lazy way to clear cravings and toxins before switching to a better diet.

 

[Perfectly Normal Beast]

I used to be a young productivity obsessed fellow

there is yet hope for us all

 

[Puffy]

Add a good multivitamin (like AOR Ortho-Core or Life Extension Mix) and selegiline (1.25mg/day sublingually). After a few days, you'll probably have less cravings and will wake up at a time that's natural/good. If engineering/forcing when you get up, I say it should be right after sun rise. Not needing an alarm clock (ie, having to be at work/school by a certain time) is great, as you don't have to get up until fully rested.

You can alternate/cycle P21 and N-acetyl semax amidate (+ N-acetyl selank if it causes anxiety) for a cognition boost. You could also look into water fasting, as it is a lazy way to clear cravings and toxins before switching to a better diet.

Thanks for the recommendations. I'm hesitant to experiment with drugs at the moment but will keep it in mind. I'm ectomorphic and find I lose too much weight with water-fasting but maybe a few days as an experiment wouldn't hurt.

 

[QuickTwist]

I find the closer I get to a routine in my life, the more that this correlates with being productive.

 

[QuickTwist]

Also, I've been more motivated since my dose of Strattera was increased to 40 mg.

 

[baccheion]

Thanks for the recommendations. I'm hesitant to experiment with drugs at the moment but will keep it in mind. I'm ectomorphic and find I lose too much weight with water-fasting but maybe a few days as an experiment wouldn't hurt.

The ones I mentioned are very safe and without side effects. Even 3-5 days of water fasting can be beneficial, and can be followed by intermittent fasting (eating within the same 8-hour window each day).

 

[Absurdity]

Assuming this is somewhat serious, what happened afterwards? Did you become a complete slob, and/or renounce the cult of productivity?

Mostly renounced the cult, not solely due to the effects of occupational burnout, but that certainly helped. I stretched myself too thin for too long and then started to wear down, psychologically and physically. Some slobbery has ensued I guess. Seems to come with the territory.

I think most of the OP's list is fine and good but some of the stuff is weird. I guess my beef is less with the cult of "productivity" than the cult of self-improvement. Why do you have to read every day for 20 minutes? Why do you have to learn instruments and languages? Do you want to or are they a means to some kind of end? Are you trying to become some idealized person? What are the qualities of that person and how did you arrive at them? If you're not sure, then maybe someone planted them there.

I think meditation is good but I don't have any expectations for myself in terms of how often I should practice it. The general orientation toward being present, seeing things as ephemeral, accepting that which cannot be changed, etc. seems to be one of the things meditation aims towards and is the thing I try to help keep in mind throughout the day.

And I generally think that self acceptance is a more important thing for me and try to strive toward than self improvement. I still want to learn and do new things, but not because I feel I have to and not without the anxiety and disappointment that comes with the general ethos of self-improvement.

 

[peoplesuck]

This thread died when I had what seemed to be a heart attack (chest pain spreading down my arm, complete fatigue) idk if you can induce a heart attack from lack of sleep and physical exertion, but if you can, I did it.
Im going to start doing these things again, in a more manageable fashion, I really enjoyed the pain of running and pushing myself, but its not an option atm.
everything fell apart when I couldnt exercise, I needed it.
As I said, I basically poisoned myself with vitamins, beat me body to the point of daily fatigue ( I had shin splints for over a month, always running a mile every morning). This experiment went well, if a few things were different It might of been sustainable. I would like to get back into the mindset of actually enjoying doing things, simply because it was miserable.

The point of most of this, is to have something to show for your time, while also growing as a person. Choosing things that will last, and give you a sense of fulfillment along with skills. also deep down I just have to do things the most difficult way
when I was doing these things, I was feeling the best I had ever felt. I was learning more, exercising more, feeling better...so im going to aim for that again.