Challenge to Live Strictly on Myself
*This blog is originally written in Japanese and translated using ChatGPT. For my friend who knows Japanese, please read the original:
I like the smell of a damp city before a typhoon.
I also like the sound of rain hitting the glass window.
Usually, we often block out our surroundings with earphones, don't we?
I also watch YouTube a lot during my commute or when I go home. I want to say that I use that time efficiently, but in reality, I waste time and mental energy to the point where I forget what I was actually watching.
So from now on, I want to distance myself from my smartphone as much as possible and detach my brain from dopamine supply.
Beginning
Instead of that, please listen to my recent worries.
Actually, I had plans from morning till night this weekend, which means if I wanted to publish a blog on Sunday, I had to write it on weekdays.
But on weekdays, it's difficult for me to concentrate and find a quiet place to write the blog after work, so I decided to write it in the morning before work.
However, despite setting an alarm for 6 o'clock every day, I ended up oversleeping and rushing to work every time.
And now it's Friday. Fortunately, a typhoon is coming, and my weekend plans got canceled, so I have time to write the blog by Sunday.
If the typhoon hadn't come, I don't know how the blog would have turned out. My own sleepiness is frightening.
At this point, I thought, why can't I wake up in the morning? And if I dig deeper, why can't I control myself?
This time, I thought about self-control for my future self.
I want to tighten my focus for my own growth.
Humans are creatures who want to take it easy
In the first place, humans have evolved from animals and live to survive. So, thinking ahead is not in line with our nature as evolved beings. But if you want to climb up in this society, you have to make an effort and raise your own level. The process is painful, and the brain tries to escape from it. If you follow that instinct, you won't become the person you want to be. Therefore, self-control is difficult, but it's something that must be done.
Here, I listed three things that can make self-management a little easier.
Let's try taking these three actions and seriously work on self-control.
Theme: Tips for Self-Control
1. Change the environment around you
Various studies have shown that changing your environment can increase productivity. There are also research results that being in a new environment leads to motivation. I realized that I could concentrate on work at a cafe since I started my blog. Since then, I've written most of my blogs at cafes. Going out of the house allows you to switch your mindset. From now on, when I want to concentrate on work, I want to use a cafe.
2. Create situations where you have to do what you need to do
Although I said I couldn't wake up early, in reality, I used to go to the gym early in the morning for about three months. At that time, I participated in gym classes, and since the classes were from 7 o'clock, I had to wake up at 6 o'clock three times a week. Although it was physically challenging, the mental strength to fulfill that obligation won. So, if there's something you want to do but haven't been able to do for a long time, creating a situation where you have to do it will reduce the struggle of willpower. Making promises with friends or creating a mandatory system, for example, can be effective. When I declared that I would write a blog every Sunday, I made time and continued to write the blog every week. So, here I declare. I promise to wake up early and study every day next week. You, who are reading this blog, are witnesses. Please wait for the answers in next week's blog.
3. Don't forget your motivation
Why don't I make an effort? It's because playing now seems more enjoyable. I used to think that watching TV and YouTube in front of me was more fun than anything else. I get distracted by social media and news on my smartphone and forget what kind of life I want to live and what I want to achieve.
Two weeks ago, I watched a speech video by Makona-san and heard many words that resonated with me. I wanted to work hard. But I don't even remember watching the video before writing this blog. By putting my goals in a visible place and reminding myself of them every day, I can make an effort.
Conclusion
In this world where smartphones and entertainment are prevalent, it's challenging to focus on what we need to do. As AI advances, people who cannot exercise self-control will be gradually eliminated. To avoid that, we have to be strict with ourselves.
I am a person with weak willpower, so I might still face setbacks in the future. If you have similar thoughts, let's strive together. With friends, even difficult things can be shared and turned into something enjoyable.
It's tough to make an effort. I can't help but sigh even though it hasn't started yet.
During such difficult times, I'll write about things that uplift my spirits!
I'll introduce two things that I bought on my trip two weeks ago and turned out to be great!
First, the Little Mermaid tumbler!
It's so cute that I feel like I'm drinking more water now!
And, acrylic stand of Ansta's Tsukinaga Leo!
It's an embarrassing story, but I bought an acrylic stand for the first time in my life. I've wanted an acrylic stand for a long time, so I'm happy that I was able to buy one! It's really great!
That's it for this week! Looking forward to next week's blog!
See you next week~