The Science of Self-Help

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Dah 1774 & Rudimentary Ego Depletion Recuperation Test

Day 1774 Record Keeping
Day 1746 Fixed Meditation (40 min = 10 gratitude, 10 selfing, 10 vipassana, 10 metta)
Day 1620 Writing (4, 20 min Pomodoros)
Day 1159 Exercise (running HIIT, 12 min, 30s:60s
)
Day 900 Mobility/Stretching (15 min, calf and foot work)
Day 210 Flossing (All teeth)
Day 132 Monday groceries


Ok sleep. Got really down and tired today. But did everything. Raised up to next stage of 8 week progressive HIIT. Failed to get to 17 minutes today, mostly because my calf started tightening up. Did calf mobility and got over it.

Rudimentary Ego Depletion Recuperation Test
Today, using a rudimentary scale of 1-10, I measured whether I could rejuvenate my focus. After my routine, I was at 0, or as close to it as I’ve been in a while. I used several methods for a few minutes to see if I could get it up.

3:51 - 3:54 - Looked at cute pics on reddit on r/aww - got back to 4
3:56 - 3:59 - Watched funny SNL videos - got to a 6
4 - 4:03 - Read off a list of accomplishments - got up to an 8
4:05 - 4:07 - Watched an incredibly heartwarming video of a deaf teen learning to communicate for the first time - 8.5
4:07 - 4:08 - Tried to pretend I was batman reading and thinking about willpower depletion - 9

A few things - it seems as though either getting back up to a 4 is easier (and these strategies have diminishing returns) or that cute pics have a greater rejuvenation value than other activities. I’m curious what the effects would be if I did this in a different order. Also, I wonder how many times you can do this.

In any case, it was remarkable. At 0 I could barely think as I lolled in bed. I couldn’t even think about doing anything. In 17 minutes I had a lot of focus and energy, even though I was still physically tired. Ended up going to the store to run errands.