The 30-Day Test
The first principle is you must not fool yourself -- and you are the easiest person to fool.
-- Richard Feynman
If you self-medicate with drugs or alcohol then you're going to have a story wrapped around your usage.
My story is beer helps me fall asleep. It's easy, and wonderful, to knock myself out with a couple of beers. Across 2017, I noticed a habit forming.
As two beers became four, I remembered Doc Evans' video about alcohol and health. I also sensed that my reason for drinking was weak.
So I decided to make changes, for 30 days:
wake up 30 minutes earlier (5:30am is my new normal)
ditch the beer
pay attention
Similarly my earplug usage was up to 100+ hours per week and a sense of panic would arise when I found myself without plugs. I'd been using plugs for years and they helped, greatly, with not lashing out in the face of my kids' whining.
How'd it work out?
I lost 8 pounds.
The earplug adjustment happened so quickly I forgot I needed them.
I haven't forgotten about beer.
We often have habits that hold us back and forever seems daunting.
30-days was:
...long enough to expose my faulty thinking
and
...short enough to get me to start.
One final sleep tip, I lie beside my son for 15 minutes when he goes to bed.
No agenda.
Just breathe.
Our favorite part of the day