Wow, we must have been siblings in another life because I so identify with you!
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Originally Posted by AspiringAuthor
I do not have addictions, but I am +1 on the importance of sleep-wake cycle, and I go to bed between 8-9PM on most nights. I also am a completely changed person in terms of punctuality - whereas before I would continually be running late, now I make it a point to be exactly on time. Before, I did not even know the pleasures of calling somebody exactly when it was agreed - if I said I would call at 4:30PM I would call at 4:30 and not at 4:29 or 4:31. Of course I make use of Google Calendar for it but Google Calendar does not call or go places for me - it just helps me with organization and reminders.
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Me too, I am almost obsessively on time, nearly always early by a few because being late gives me anxiety-in the old days I was late a lot.
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There is a lot to be said for reducing the number of decisions you make about mundane matters ("minimizing decision-making fatigue"), which in turn allows to focus on more important decisions and longer term planning, as well as on enjoying life in the moment without always thinking about choosing what your next step is
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This is like an a-ha moment for me. Never heard of decision making fatigue but that is the perfect description of what you and I try to do for ourselves.
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I do laundry every other Saturday. I see my psychiatrist every other Saturday (on alternating Saturdays with laundry).
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I need to work on this I never seem to get the laundry done.
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On Saturdays I cook enough soup to last a week.
Eggs for breakfast plus some variation in vegetables.
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I do something similar because I cook for my family- I call it cook once eat twice.
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Spreadsheet with finances reconciled once a month, shortly after my American Express statement is posted and can be downloaded as a .CSV file.
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We actually have a register book which is like a large check register in notebook form. My husband balances the books every night.
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Making sure you put "money" in different "bank accounts" - I have learned it from somebody.
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Again agreed. We have two checking accounts and a credit union account.
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In your position you probably will soon be ready to volunteer somewhere helping others with recovery, which will be deeply gratifying for you, so routinizing such volunteering
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Yes! I work with other addicts and alcoholics beyond just meetings. I take the women's prison commitment sometimes and its very humbling. Plus I do meetings.
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If you have extra time, you can try adult coloring, letting your thoughts take you anywhere they wish while you trace intricate design and select colors that appeal. I have read newspaper clippings that reported that the brain responds to this activity in the same way it does to meditation.
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I love coloring, I have two adult books- "chill the f**k out and calm the f**k down. Both are filled with adult phrases and I find them funny.
Thanks for sharing this. It makes me happy to know that I am on the right path because others are like me too!