From Zero to Hero (Week 3)
It was the best week. It was the worst week.
Third episode of this challenge I launched in December.
If you want to read the first two editions.
You’ll find them here.
Once again, I’d like to tell you that it was a perfect week. Where I did all my routines one after the other. But the truth is, I exploded in mid-air this week.
Only two workouts
Several days of 5-hour sleep
Correct diet
I had planned a chill December of work. I wanted to take care of myself.
But I’ve been lucky enough to have several new customers. The kind of contract where it’s hard to say no. I had to carry out several services in a hurry, and I hate working in urgency.
Which makes for an odd balance sheet.
A great week professionally.
A terrible week personally.
Every time I have some extra workload… my personal life takes a serious hit. I spend hours working. Then I’m “exhausted”.
I feel like I understand where the machine jams. Always the same pattern.
An extra workload
Impossible to do what I had planned to do
Exhaustion
Impossible to continue good habits
When I get home, I want to unplug my brain, disconnect from the real world and rest.
Even writing has been difficult this week. I don’t know how these big CEO pull off everything they do in a week.
They’re athletic, rich, take care of their families, have time to travel, go out…
I only work for myself and I feel like I never have any time.
But do I really have no “time”?
A few days ago I started tracking what I do every day. I was tired of “running out” of time all the time.
Checking the data on my phone, I was shocked.
Checking the details, I felt ashamed.
It’s not that I don’t have “time”. It’s that it’s swallowed up in totally useless activities. Short videos, mobile video games, various apps… The time I spend every day on these apps is indecent. Spoiler, it’s more than 3 hours. Per day.
So yes, I have time, but as long as I don’t get to the root of this screen addiction, I’ll never be able to live the life I dream of. I’ll never be able to become the person I want to be. I’m the thief of my future.
We need to put words to the problems that are eating away at us. Or we’ll never be able to solve them.
I have a screen issue. It doesn’t help that my work is exclusively online. I’m always on a phone or PC for work. It’s like an alcoholic working in a wine cellar.
But I can’t stop working. Because I love it. But mostly because I’m not (yet lol) a millionaire.
So it’s time for the big uninstall operation:
Uninstalling all apps not related to my work
Uninstalling food delivery apps (Better to cook)
Uninstalling videogames on my phone
No longer leave my phone in the room when I’m working (I was already starting to do this)
Block all notifications
Going one step further. Forbid myself to play anything or scroll any procrastination apps if my daily to-do list isn’t finished.
And a new rule.
NO MORE SCREENS AFTER 10 PM.
I’m going to read, rest, whatever as long as a screen is not involved. After 10 o’clock, that’s when I have the most toxic behavior. Playing games. Watching movies. Getting lost on a video platform. I also have trouble falling asleep and it’s ruining my sleep.
I’ll give it a try. Then you have to be brave enough to be disciplined and respect your own rules.
The solution, if there is one, is to
Become aware of your problems
Better organize your life
Do what needs to be done
We can do all the calculations we want.
In the end, life is math.
We are only the sum of our habits.
In the last 10 years, that’s 3650 trials.
3650 chances to do something.
To improve. Or… regress.
We’re just the sum of that long string of years.
The dark circles under my eyes are a sign of sleep deprivation.
The extra weight, the marks of my lack of training.
My lack of energy, the marks of my bad routines.
No coincidence. Only the results of my own decisions.
I’m finishing this e-mail.
Then, gym.
Then, I’ll write tomorrow’s e-mail.
No scrolling. No videogames.
Every day is a new chance.
I’m not a hero yet, but I’m still on my way.
I’ve got 14 days left to make December a month to remember.
It’s a matter of choice.
Mine.
It's really strange, but in the last two weeks, I've tried to forget to take my phone to work. I get dressed, I head out the door, and then have to go back and get it. It's not that it's really neccessary, it's just the only way to get hold of my family if something breaks.
At home, I leave it on the desk, and ignore it.
Like you, I watch things I don't need to, mainly on Amazon.
I still need to get outside and exercise, and eat better.
I need to find some time to cook, before going to work.
I need to exercise. But I haven't done it.
I'll admit it, I'm lazy.
The more we try to be productive, the less we are being productive. I find.