I have an addictive personality. It is because of this that I don't have many addictions. Throughout my life, I've been addicted to many things. It's simply how I operate- I find something, and latch onto it, spending as much time as I can on it. Whether it be a branch of psychology or a video game, I will spend most of my available time doing something in relation to it. It wasn't until about two years ago that I realized that this blind behavior was taking me away from things I actually want to do. I began trying to distinguish between 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' obsessions, and tried to take them all in moderation. I tell you this because my task for today was to cut out addictions, and I didn't want to seem like a pretentious bastard by saying I don't have any. The combination of hard work and the date (the fact that it's just after new year's, and therefor those pesky resolutions haven't faded into failure yet) are the only reasons the accomplishment of actually finding an addiction is an issue for me.
I wrote down a list of the things that take up most of my time. Apart from classes and homework, the other two things were chilling out with friends, and doing various things on the computer. I decided that friends were more healthy, and the computer was less, so I cut out all recreational computer use for the day.
It wasn't long before I almost slipped back into my old habit of just checking my email, and then, because I have my computer open anyways, doing twenty or so other things as well. I caught myself though, and actually talked with people instead. Here is a list of things I did in place of doing crap on the computer:
Hung out with friends
Read part of a book
Did some homework
Ate some food
Filled up my water bottle
Just kinda walked around the dorm
While not all of these things are say, productive, I believe the first three are better alternatives, and I would argue that the last one is quite productive as it gave me time to think (something very important in a busy schedule- it's amazing how little time I have for just thinking).
Honestly, it didn't make a dramatic difference in my life. But it certainly didn't hurt, and it was nice to read and chill with people.
Why I Do Such Things
As the sameness of my work and environment closed in on my mind and soul, feeding the now formidable flames of my cynicism and disaffection, I knew something had to be done. Something life-changing. The answer? This Book Will Change Your Life. Written by the intentionally obscure authors Ben and Henrik, this book is a 365 step guide to truly living. Each day I am assigned a task from this book- anything from trying a new fruit to bailing a stranger out of jail, or navigating an entire day without the sense of touch. I will hand deliver my emails for a day, pick up a hitch-hiker, get into a fight, and learn ballet. Hellen Keller says "Life is a daring adventure, or nothing." I plan to make it the former... (to read more, click here)
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