I’m actually having a hard time deciding what kind of superstimuli are having too strong of a detrimental effect on my actions. The reason for this is that some superstimuli also act as a willpower restorer. Take music, for example. Listening to music does not usually get mentioned as a bad habit, but it also is an extremely easy stimuli to access, requires little to no attention or effort to maintain use of, and at least for me, tends to amplify the degree of mind wandering and daydreaming. On the other hand, it is a huge mood booster and increases confidence and determination to complete a lot of other tasks during the day, so in that regard it does seem to be helpful. But I could probably say something similar about many superstimuli, and so I wonder if straight “giving up” would be a less effective strategy than trying to optimize some kind of schedule for usage of each type of superstimulus.
Optimizing a schedule is cognitively demanding and constantly tests your willpower; giving up for 40 days is simple, if not easy. On the other hand, if there’s no part of you that feels worried about music then I wouldn’t give up music in your posiiton. You could try taking up a new habit / hobby instead.
I’m actually having a hard time deciding what kind of superstimuli are having too strong of a detrimental effect on my actions. The reason for this is that some superstimuli also act as a willpower restorer. Take music, for example. Listening to music does not usually get mentioned as a bad habit, but it also is an extremely easy stimuli to access, requires little to no attention or effort to maintain use of, and at least for me, tends to amplify the degree of mind wandering and daydreaming. On the other hand, it is a huge mood booster and increases confidence and determination to complete a lot of other tasks during the day, so in that regard it does seem to be helpful. But I could probably say something similar about many superstimuli, and so I wonder if straight “giving up” would be a less effective strategy than trying to optimize some kind of schedule for usage of each type of superstimulus.
Optimizing a schedule is cognitively demanding and constantly tests your willpower; giving up for 40 days is simple, if not easy. On the other hand, if there’s no part of you that feels worried about music then I wouldn’t give up music in your posiiton. You could try taking up a new habit / hobby instead.