/improve/ - Self Improvement

>>2429

Nice man, for 6 months that's a lot of progress. of all the things you did this

>ditched most forms of escapism including fapping

Is what will help you the most. I don't do gaming or anime/manga as excessively as I used to but it's just worlds of good. It's addicting to self insert into these worlds that are not your own. It's why I avoid non-fiction books as well. They make you put off your own life for theirs. I think of it like a perverted form of parasitism for the mind. I have a yearly goal list but no real time limits. I started mid 2014 and It's good for one time goals but not so good for things that you have to work at consistently. Here's are some in no particular order.

1. Caught up on school, currently kicking the shit out of my procrastination habit. loving it. 2.5 years to go though.

2. Got a certification for work, going after the level 2 version of it at the end of may

3. Got my health in order(lasik, root canal/cavities taken care of,doctor checkups), i now go regularly for cleanings etc

4. Got into guns, took some classes, looking to get into IDPA competitions

5. Paid off my car last year about $16k. JUST before the oil crash. I'm still saving a bit of money but for the most part I'm just in survival mode.

You're beating the shit out of me healthwise. I started the couch to 5k and myfitnesspal but I was never good with repetitive fitness shit. I did do boxing for about a year though, was badass but because of my lasik I'm not going back.

I'm looking to try rock sports. I've found a few gyms around the area I'm interested in going to. I'm a bit nervous, i'm not as introverted as I used to be but something like this is still pretty out there in my mind. I also have a theme which is escape. I'm setting up all the pieces so that if I ever need to leave dodge I can do it without worry. I have all my govt paperwork ready to go, applied for my passport a month back, and i'm building up my escape fund, which includes my education investments.

Other than that, I've been able to self study for my work and for myself, read up on metallurgy and stuff. For all the years I never did jack and pissed away my time and was a wreck, now that I'm actually doing a lot with my life I've never felt more at peace.

>>2430

>You're beating the shit out of me healthwise. I started the couch to 5k and myfitnesspal but I was never good with repetitive fitness shit.

Running is the only thing that calms my mind as of late, so it's easy for me to stick with it. It works beautifully if you're in one of those moods.

>I did do boxing for about a year though, was badass but because of my lasik I'm not going back.

Wait wait wait. What's with lasik and boxing? Because that's exactly what I had in m-

>The flap created during LASIK has been shown to be extremely durable but there is the concern that a violent blow could tear the flap from its location.

Well, fuck me sideways. Thanks a lot, knowing this I'll weigh my options more carefully. Oh and rock sports are actually really fun and good for your health, you should do it. I've only tried once and when I went home my arms were on fire, but other than that it was really nice.

>>2431

>It works beautifully if you're in one of those moods.

It really does. I like it a lot it's just that I can't stick to programs at all. It's why I liked boxing a lot. It's just something I did was a cool as fuck hobby/sport to do.

>What's with lasik and boxing?….Well, fuck me sideways.

LOL, yeah, that's why i don't even want to go back. If you get hit in the face and the glove catches you just right it will fucking tear off. So basically no contact sports. PRK supposedly is better if you do want to do it since ther is no flap made but I heard more negatives with PRK which is why I did lasik instead.

>I've only tried once and when I went home my arms were on fire but other than that it was really nice.

That's really good to hear. Like I said I'm a bit shy, so I'm trying to gather up some courage to go. Did it the same way when I got into guns. No one in my family is into them. I was breaking ground in that regard. I went to a range after a couple of failed attempts and just flat out told the guys I didn't know anything about them and if they could show me how to use them etc. Were really cool and all. Got my CHL and took some more classes since.

I used to weightlift too but I got rid of them after sustaining a L5-S1 injury. Plus my ideal body has changed a whole lot from what I used to want. Running and bodyweights will take care of it. Plus since I travel for work sometimes it's much easier to keep up with. I'm digging rock climbing or at least the idea because of how brutal it is. Functional strength if nothing else right?

What job are you looking at getting, are you still in school?

>>2432

Oh and forgot to mention, how do you like your lasik? Ever had any trouble or nasty side effect?

>>2433

>I never achieved anything so I've got nothing to lose, right?

That's basically what got me to change man. Exactly that same line of thought. I've tasted failure so many times with procrastination and cowardice, I was curious to see what succeeding felt like. That's probably what drives me the most.

I say go for it. People are afraid of what they don't know. That's what confidence really is IMO, experience and knowledge. The more you do in life the more confident you become.

>I secretly wish I could go back to school but not so sure about it.

I failled out of CC when I graduated high school. I worked for about 2 and a half years without any intention of going back when I found something that truly interested me. In that regard I say keep looking at schools but don't jump in until you know positively that what you're doing is the right thing. In fact, your gut will be screaming it.

As for lasik. It's hands down the best decision I made in 2014 bar none. I had 20/400 vision. I was to the point where I wasn't going to be eligible anymore. Did it because I hated being dependent on glasses.

I have 20/20 now and it's just something that I see the results of every day and it's incredible. The surgery was about 15 minutes for both eyes, did it saturday was back to work monday by the second week it was 97% good to go. It's been about 7 months since and other than eye drying out some times it's been a blast. It's just one of those things that is worth every penny.

Its a highly personal decision though, never forget that. There are complications like anything else. Find several doctors around your area, get an evaluation from them all and read at what can go wrong. It sucks but this way you can go without remorse. Don't cheap out either, this is one thing you don't want to bargain shop for. Look for quality and see about people's reviews for the doctor. In the end you do have to have a YOLO mentality. The success rate is something like 96% which is phenomenal but it's still your eyes.

All in all, I don't regret it.

My improvement has been mostly mental. I now have a clear vision of what I want to do and what I want to be.

I am constantly looking for ways to become more productive and improve my approach and I think shit's working out.

I think this is going to be my good year.

>>2440

Keep at it, save money, get edumacated. You'll make it. Plus 22 you're super young. Think of life as a 24 hours clock and you''re around 7:30 am in the morning.

>>2443

Get something to log your achievements like I do with the yearly goal lists. Shit's nice to look back at where you once were and how far you've come.

I've been raising my GPA for this final semester, I've raised it by 1 from around Feburary

Learning some knife skills has been doing well, im at about 3 months in, though it will be a while

This is a longer one, but in the past year i've been able to upgrade my position twice

Abysmal. I'm behind in school. Out of work. Passport was rejected. Haven't studied for my cert. I feel like giving up.

2 weeks: no thoughts of suicide

can't think of anything else, but it is some improvement at least.

>>2612

never mind

OP here, can't really start boxing until I get a medical permit, which won't come until I take a couple more medical exams. Shit will take at least ten more days, meanwhile I relapsed into videogames.

It helps that I can't binge for hours, as I start feeling absolutely horrible after just a couple hours, but eh.

T+0 months: quit my job as a dishwasher, stopped smoking weed, and moved back home to get back on track for school

T+3 months: started taking courses to make up high school credits

T+6 months: got on track in terms of good habits, started cleaning my room and taking care of hygeine

T+1 year: wrote my first moderate sized computer program since high school

T+1.5 years: started my first semester for computer engineering at a pretty good college, got a new job

T+2 years: completed my first major robotics project

T+2.5 years: completed my first year of college on the dean's list, noticing that I'm not a slob anymore, starting my second major computer program

It's slow going guys, but I think I'm going to make it.

>>2680

Holy fuck dude, that's awesome. Keep at it. How old are you btw? What's your endgame? Is your motivation increased so far? Is things gong to plan?

I'm going back to school myself after being a long time out, I have an OP in the front page and shit seems fucking scary as fuck man. I'm questioning myself if I'm insane for even thinking to go back to this shit.

>>2682

>Ditching someone over political views

Wew, you dodged a bullet.

>>2681

Wow, thanks, really didn't think it was that much. I'm 23 now. Feels like I'm running out of time. No particular end goal in mind. Just trying to form habits and a life after years of mental problems.

>>2681

Oh, and good luck man. It's never too late until you're dead.

>>2691

>Feels like I'm running out of time

Same, I'm 22. It's like like when you're 19 and you haven't crossed that threshold of 20 you feel invincible. Even then I didn't realize it until I was 21 and I didn't have the full decade until I was 30 anymore. Now I only have 8 years. You can do a lot in 8 years don't get me wrong but man time flies.

I mean, look at the calendar right now. It's already may. Didn't 2015 start like 2 weeks ago?

>>2693

You can use that. Time can be a great motivator, but it can also be very stressful. Try to not let it bother you anymore once you're well on your way and keep the momentum up.

>>2694

Also, I was 20 or 21 when I started this. I'm really frustrated that I couldn't start school until recently. I'm so fucking happy I took that step then and not now though.

>>2694

>>2695

Oh hell yeah, you better believe I'm trying to work my ass off. I may have come off as pessimistic but that's just because the education side of my /improve/ments is going to take a long time. I expected it but when you actually calculate the costs down to the hundreds of dollars and map out classes it's still a tough pill to swallow.

Everywhere else, I've hit the ground running Well, it's more like a leisurely jog but the pace is there and I'm not stopping. Well, one thing did slow me down and it was the fucking oil crash. But I'm hanging on. I've said it before here but I'm biding my time while the eye of the storm passes this summer. I have quite a few things lined up in the meantime to keep me occupied.

It's exactly as you say. Starting was INCREDIBLY hard. But once you get it in motion, the wheels just self lubricate and your achievements begin piling up and the momentum just keeps pushing you forward.

It's a fucking amazing feeling to see the culmination of your work ages after when you set the wheels in motion.

>>2429

Good job so far, dude. Keep it up!

Here's my situation at the moment:

1. Socializing & getting out of the house more. Trying not to waste my time doing nothing.

2. Picked up playing tennis again after a while. Never really had the motivation to before.

3. Keeping a positive mindset. I used to be so pessimistic. That shit is tiring, yo.

4. Scheduled to see a therapist about my anxiety & other junk. Put it off for long enough.

I'm hoping to get back into a fitness routine, but I'm having trouble pushing myself to do it. I know I can, but it's gonna take a little bit.

So there's that then.

OP here, finally put a patch on my relationship with my mother. Lots of laughing and crying and stuff. She learned about my project and became overjoyed, she now helps me with whatever she's got.

Guess it can be counted as improvement, now at least I have somebody who's tangible that I can talk to.