Help Yourself

[Gustav 6,468]

There's been some talk about mental health and everything around the forums lately (notably from people like @PatrikLaine and @thadthrasher) and I'd like to put something out there.

 

I didn't exactly use Tuesday all that productively. I fell behind on work in the worst way possible--barely starting something and then sitting there until way too late at night doing literally nothing because I couldn't convince myself to go do things for some reason. Then yesterday hit and I decided to take the initiative to do things--not only catching up on what I didn't do Tuesday but working ahead a bit and getting more time to myself today.

 

This might not seem very significant, but I'm an awful procrastinator and I have, many times, fallen into the trap of having way too much to do pile up simply because I've been too lazy to do anything until the last minute. Just working ahead a bit yesterday probably saved me from at least two days of stress, and when that kind of thing piles up it can be awful for someone. I'm very familiar with that last bit as I've probably been in my worst-ever mental state near the end of a few semesters.

 

So my point here is this: get ready for a challenge. Go out there today and do something that serves you well. Whether it's eating healthy or exercising, taking care of something that's been on your to-do list for a while, confronting a difficult situation...just do it today rather than waiting on it forever. And once you've done that, post what you've done here and be proud of it. The point isn't necessarily just to do something pleasant or fun--though it certainly can be!--but rather to do something that improves your life.

 

Helping yourself isn't selfish. In fact, it puts you in a place where you're more ready and able to contribute to the world, therefore helping others as well if you're so inclined. So go do it!

[Garsh 1,195]

22 minutes ago, GustavMattias said:

So my point here is this: get ready for a challenge. Go out there today and do something that serves you well. Whether it's eating healthy or exercising, taking care of something that's been on your to-do list for a while, confronting a difficult situation...just do it today rather than waiting on it forever. And once you've done that, post what you've done here and be proud of it. The point isn't necessarily just to do something pleasant or fun--though it certainly can be!--but rather to do something that improves your life.

 

Helping yourself isn't selfish. In fact, it puts you in a place where you're more ready and able to contribute to the world, therefore helping others as well if you're so inclined. So go do it!

 

I like all of Gustav's post but this bit reminded me of a reddit post I saw once and often think about when I am struggling with being productive in some aspect of my life. I think they are both touching on the same thing and wanted to share.   Here is a link to the original comment, and I will post the meat of his post below.  I hope it can help people like it has helped me.

 

Rule numero uno - There are no more zero days. What's a zero day? A zero day is when you don't do a single fucking thing towards whatever dream or goal or want or whatever that you got going on. No more zeros. I'm not saying you gotta bust an essay out everyday, that's not the point. The point I'm trying to make is that you have to make yourself, promise yourself, that the new SYSTEM you live in is a NON-ZERO system. Didnt' do anything all fucking day and it's 11:58 PM? Write one sentence. One pushup. Read one page of that chapter. One. Because one is non zero. You feel me? When you're in the super vortex of being bummed your pattern of behaviour is keeping the vortex goin, that's what you're used to. Turning into productivity ultimate master of the universe doesn't happen from the vortex. It happens from a massive string of CONSISTENT NON ZEROS. That's rule number one. Do not forget.

 

La deuxieme regle - yeah i learnt french. its a canadian thing. please excuse the lack of accent graves, but lemme get into rule number 2. BE GRATEFUL TO THE 3 YOU'S. Uh what? 3 me's? That sounds like mumbo jumbo bullshit. News flash, there are three you's homeslice. There's the past you, the present you, and the future you. If you wanna love someone and have someone love you back, you gotta learn to love yourself, and the 3 you's are the key. Be GRATEFUL to the past you for the positive things you've done. And do favours for the future you like you would for your best bro. Feeling like shit today? Stop a second, think of a good decision you made yesterday. Salad and tuna instead of Big Mac? THANK YOU YOUNGER ME. Was yesterday a nonzero day because you wrote 200 words (hey, that's all you could muster)? THANK YOU YOUNGER ME. Saved up some coin over time to buy that sweet thing you wanted? THANK YOU. Second part of the 3 me's is you gotta do your future self a favour, just like you would for your best fucking friend (no best friend? you do now. You got 2. It's future and past you). Tired as hell and can't get off reddit/videogames/interwebs? fuck you present self, this one's for future me, i'm gonna rock out p90x Ab Ripper X for 17 minutes. I'm doing this one for future me. Alarm clock goes off and bed is too comfy? fuck you present self, this one's for my best friend, the future me. I'm up and going for a 5 km run (or 25 meter run, it's gotta be non zero). MAKE SURE YOU THANK YOUR OLD SELF for rocking out at the end of every.single.thing. that makes your life better. The cycle of doing something for someone else (future you) and thanking someone for the good in your life (past you) is key to building gratitude and productivity. Do not doubt me. Over time you should spread the gratitude to others who help you on your path.

 

Rule number 3- don't worry i'm gonna too long didnt' read this bad boy at the bottom (get a pencil and piece of paper to write it down. seriously. you physically need to scratch marks on paper) FORGIVE YOURSELF. I mean it. Maybe you got all the know-how, money, ability, strength and talent to do whatever is you wanna do. But lets say you still didn't do it. Now you're giving yourself shit for not doing what you need to, to be who you want to. Heads up champion, being dissapointed in yourself causes you to be less productive. Tried your best to have a nonzero day yesterday and it failed? so what. I forgive you previous self. I forgive you. But today? Today is a nonzero masterpiece to the best of my ability for future self. This one's for you future homes. Forgiveness man, use it. I forgive you. Say it out loud.

Last rule.

 

Rule number 4, is the easiest and its three words. exercise and books. that's it. Pretty standard advice but when you exercise daily you actually get smarter. when you exercise you get high from endorphins (thanks body). when you exercise you clear your mind. when you exercise you are doing your future self a huge favour. Exercise is a leg on a three legged stool. Feel me? As for books, almost every fucking thing we've all ever thought of, or felt, or gone through, or wanted, or wanted to know how to do, or whatever, has been figured out by someone else. Get some books max. Post to reddit about not caring about yourself? Good first step! (nonzero day, thanks younger me for typing it out) You know what else you could do? Read 7 habits of highly successful people. Read "emotional intelligence". Read "From good to great". Read “thinking fast and slow”. Read books that will help you understand. Read the bodyweight fitness reddit and incorporate it into your workouts. (how's them pullups coming?) Reading is the fucking warp whistle from Super Mario 3. It gets you to the next level that much faster.

 

That’s about it man. There’s so much more when it comes to how to turn nonzero days into hugely nonzero days, but that’s not your mission right now. Your mission is nonzero and forgiveness and favours. You got 36 essays due in 24 minutes and its impossible to pull off? Your past self let you down big time, but hey… I forgive you. Do as much as you can in those 24 minutes and then move on.

I hope I helped a little bit max. I could write about this forever, but I promised myself I would go do a 15 minute run while listening to A. Skillz Beats Working Vol. 3. Gotta jet. One last piece of advice though. Regardless of whether or not reading this for the first time helps make your day better, if you wake up tomorrow, and you can’t remember the 4 rules I just laid out, please, please. Read this again.

Have an awesome fucking day ☺

 

tldr; 1. Nonzero days as much as you can. 2. The three you’s, gratitude and favours. 3. Forgiveness 4. Exercise and books (which is a sneaky way of saying self improvement, both physical, emotional and mental)

 

 

 

[thadthrasher 1,692]

The truth is that we are never able to fully help other people if we are not taking care of ourselves. 
 

1 hour ago, GustavMattias said:

Helping yourself isn't selfish.

This right here speaks so much truth. We have formed a culture that tells you otherwise, but it simply isn't the case. Taking care of yourself is a good thing to do. Now, be careful not to cross over into complete self-absorption. We each need to take care of ourselves SO THAT WE CAN HELP OTHERS!