Youtube app away from my phone
Black-and-white filter
No audiobooks in the mornings (+ evenings)
Pillowcase over the Mac from 7pm-11am (unless recording or editing podcasts). Small screens only.
Also, a friend sent me a link to this podcast episode about sleep:
In it, they talk about the importance of a Regular Sleep Schedule. That in and of itself—the value of a regular sleep schedule—is a well-known fact. But HOW it is so important is sometimes skipped over.
Dr. Gina Poe explains that the first 90 minutes of sleep are crucial. If you don’t have a regular sleep schedule, basically your body isn’t “in sync” during those 90 minutes. The cells aren’t prepared to receive the benefits of sleep.
In other words, having a regular sleep schedule is like making a regular appointment with all the cells in your body so that when the big event happens (the first 90 minutes of sleep), you all know when to show up and do what you do best. Sort of like a film crew… but you film every day. On a regular schedule.
Whereas, if there is no schedule… everyone shows up haphazardly, or not at all.
ANOTHER thing they talk about in this episode is that, if possible, it’s better to sleep without an alarm clock.
So I am trying to have a regular sleep schedule AND remove the alarm clock altogether. In the past few nights, I woke up several times each night—but was able to fall asleep again just fine. The four distraction-reducing steps definitely help—especially the pillowcase over the Mac! It’s amazing how simple my mind is. Out of sight, out of mind. I mean, the Mac is still right there on my desk, but I don’t perceive it as such; it is some rectangular thing inside the pillowcase! And I don’t think further than that!
Also, noise reduction, definitely helps.
Also, the black-and-white filter makes my phone infinitely less interesting. I am even doing Duolingo without the pretty colors. I am growing used to that.
And as to Youtube—not having the app definitely helps, but the B&W filter makes my phone just uninteresting in general, so I think that plays a big role too. I don’t feel compelled to watch Youtube all the time.
Another benefit from all this: I also refresh less—on every feed. Frankly, there is nothing that requires multiple refreshes per day; I don’t live that busy of a life. So, my refreshing was almost 100% pointless, and yet I was doing it. Now, not so much anymore. Phone less interesting; refreshing less likely.
In short: good progress.
#life
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