Breaking the addiction... part 2

Last week I wrote about how passive entertainment addicts you and a better way to get entertained is the active entertainment through hobbies, games and playing.

Even with all those things, I was not really able to overcome the addiction and this week too. The funny thing is that I watched more Netflix over the weekend than I studied over the whole week!

But as we know breaking the addiction is not just based on the decision. 

In reality we can only break a habit with something else. It is a habit and it gives some rewards for doing that thing. 

A habit has three things - a cue, a routine and a reward. 

For e.g the cue is feeling bored or wanting relaxation. And the routine is watching Netflix. The reward is the sense of satisfaction, thrill and other stuff released with the emotional highs created by the movie or tv show. 

So the way to break this cycle is to change the routine. We will still get a cue of feeling bored or wanting relaxation. We have to do something else which will give us the thrills. Play can replace it to certain extent but realize that it cannot really replace it fully. Here is where we need the environment to encourage it - with no TVs, phones or tablets nearby. Also have a decided game or hobby material ready so that we can dive right into it and overcome the laziness to set it up. And next whenever you fail to do so, try again till you get habituated to the new routine. 

So onward I go towards overcoming that addiction and replacing it with a better one...  

Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God would say,
You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?
-Edgar Guest

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/have-you-earned-your-tomorrow-by-edgar-albert-guest