I’m looking for personal rules one might live by which adhere to a specific criteria outlined below, following an example.
I have a personal rule I’ve been following which is “No looking at screens in the bed where I sleep” I find this to be an extremely helpful and successful rule despite being someone who struggles to impose rules on myself.
I think one main reason it’s successful for me is there aren’t really any meaningful tradeoffs I’m making. If I’m feeling a need/compulsion to comfortably self soothe on my phone I can use another piece of furniture.
This rule doesn’t ever result in bargaining with myself until I concede to breaking the rule, even at my lowest I’m easily appeased, just so long as it’s in a slightly different location (even on the floor next to my bed).
It requires very little of my memory. It’s simple enough to remember not to use screens in bed. Doesn’t require remembering to actively do something. Doesn’t require me to stop doing something I’m in the midst of (at least at this point). If I remember not to leave screens within reach of the bed, that’s an added redundancy (but not essential).
I’ve found this extremely helpful for my sleep as well as for my ease of getting out of bed in the morning.
Basically the rule should have essentially no meaningful tradeoffs, while still being helpful.
Even something like “brushing teeth in the morning” would be pushing it according to these requirements. Willing myself to prioritize a couple minutes of unpleasant sensory experience brushing my teeth in the morning is a tradeoff I’m willing to make, but there’s still lots of tradeoffs and requires equipment etc.
I’m looking for things that are easy to convince myself/remember to adhere to even when I’m at my very worst.
Ideally it would be relatively universal but I’d also be interested in habits/rules which are more conditional on other lifestyle choices, impediments, environments, etc.
[Question] Benefitial habits/personal rules with very minimal tradeoffs?
I’m looking for personal rules one might live by which adhere to a specific criteria outlined below, following an example.
I have a personal rule I’ve been following which is “No looking at screens in the bed where I sleep” I find this to be an extremely helpful and successful rule despite being someone who struggles to impose rules on myself.
I think one main reason it’s successful for me is there aren’t really any meaningful tradeoffs I’m making. If I’m feeling a need/compulsion to comfortably self soothe on my phone I can use another piece of furniture.
This rule doesn’t ever result in bargaining with myself until I concede to breaking the rule, even at my lowest I’m easily appeased, just so long as it’s in a slightly different location (even on the floor next to my bed).
It requires very little of my memory. It’s simple enough to remember not to use screens in bed. Doesn’t require remembering to actively do something. Doesn’t require me to stop doing something I’m in the midst of (at least at this point). If I remember not to leave screens within reach of the bed, that’s an added redundancy (but not essential).
I’ve found this extremely helpful for my sleep as well as for my ease of getting out of bed in the morning.
Basically the rule should have essentially no meaningful tradeoffs, while still being helpful.
Even something like “brushing teeth in the morning” would be pushing it according to these requirements. Willing myself to prioritize a couple minutes of unpleasant sensory experience brushing my teeth in the morning is a tradeoff I’m willing to make, but there’s still lots of tradeoffs and requires equipment etc.
I’m looking for things that are easy to convince myself/remember to adhere to even when I’m at my very worst.
Ideally it would be relatively universal but I’d also be interested in habits/rules which are more conditional on other lifestyle choices, impediments, environments, etc.
Anyone feel free to answer.