Another Resolution

My continued lackluster performance in my journey of self-improvement has prompted me to analyze the obstacles that keep me from reaching my full potential.  I think the most prevalent obstacle is my lack of self-control.  I have decided that I am addicted to entertainment.  There's no single culprit that I can blame because I'm certain if I eliminated any one element I would make up for it with one of the others.  I would just vow to refrain from overindulging in these activities, but I've tried that.  As pathetic as it is, I can't help myself.  Because of this, I'm treating my overindulgence as an addiction.  I think it will best help me resolve the problem.  So first and foremost, I'm admitting that I have this problem and that I cannot control it on my own.

My second step is to eliminate my indulgences so that I cannot continue to abuse them as I do.  I'm not saying that I won't allow myself to ever enjoy these things again, but not until I'm satisfied with the life I'm living.  I have to remove these things from my life so that I can get to a better place.  Here's my list in order of importance:

• Netflix (and other television)
• Video-games (especially online games like League of Legends or Halo)
• Internet entertainment (YouTube, DeviantArt, Webcomics, net-surfing)
• Beer, wine, and rum

Not so long when I write it out, but these things have been consuming my time.  Flushing my life down the toilet.  I plan on reducing my Netflix account to the lowest DVD plan they have.  No Instant.  This won't save me much money-wise, but it will help me to control my urges.  I plan on reducing my internet to the most affordable plan.  This actually will save me a pretty penny and it will make playing online games painfully frustrating, virtually preventing me from playing them.  YouTube will also be difficult to become hooked on with lower speed internet, but I will simply have to exercise some fierce will-power to prevent myself from these temptations.  Lastly, I'm swearing off alcohol for a time.  Yeah, I'm going to be that guy.  I don't have a problem with alcohol, but I'm afraid that without the other pleasures I'm denying myself, I could easily seeing myself picking up a habit.

Instead of doing the above things, I'm going to fill my time with healthy habits and entertainment that I'm not prone to overindulge in.  I'll describe some of my new healthy hobbies in a post tomorrow.