I should be studying right now, but everytime I sit to study, I can’t sit there long enough, I want food even though I am not hungry, I want to watch TV/youtube, self-pleasure… etc…

No matter what productive work I want to do, I will try to not do that and do something which gives me momentary pleasure. I want to masturbate, eat lots of food even though I am not hungry while watching TV/Youtube and I don’t seem to be able to break the cycle and it’s destroying me. How can I break the cycle and do something good for a change instead of pleasuring myself in the moment meaninglessly?

  • fine_sandy_bottom@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    15
    ·
    1 year ago

    You need practice at concentrating on your work.

    In the same way you’d work out to build muscle strength, your mind needs regular training to stay in shape.

    Start with sensible, achievable goals and improve over time.

    • intensely_human@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      1 year ago

      Start with tiny goals. Not just achievable but almost trivially achievable.

      Goal 1 could be: wait ten seconds before the next time I open social media

      This is what’s meant by “baby steps”

      • fine_sandy_bottom@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        1 year ago

        Yeah I do this to break my inertia.

        “I’m not actually going to do any work, just clear my desk, then 5 minutes youtube”

        “I’m not actually going to do any work, I’m just going to get my books / laptop out, then do whatever thing for 5 minutes”

        … and so on …