I, am trying to understand if I have habits. My definition of a habit is: “Something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it” from the Harvard Dictionary

And It might look weird written here, but, I am not certain I have Habits. The most classic example is “Brush your teeth every night and morning”, but I don’t see myself naturally going to do it and most of the time I forget this and can’t seem to do it everytime a lot. So I can’t take that as an example of a Habit.

I eat everyday. But I don’t naturally go unconsciously eat every day. I forget every morning to eat, which makes me hungry at 12h, and at night I go est because I feel in my belly I need food, or because my Girlfriend is angry I didn’t eat yet very late because she asks me almost daily.

Hell I adore coffe, but in the morning I can just fully not think about doing a coffee. And I do take a coffee almost daily but because I think about all my pack of coffees that I putted behind my monitor with my grinder. It’s not a “natural thing I go do”? Because I can forget it if there is no joy stimuli for a coffee.

Ok last thing. I try to go swimming, but it’s because my girlfriend reminds me I really wanted to delete my belly, or because I think about my ideal me being more in shape and less tired everyday (which I’ve seen results on that part before stopping for no reason 2 weeks). When I go to the swimming pool, I put my stuff in the same area of Lockers, not always the same but the same area because I won’t forget. And I then go put my towel near the exit of the pool to dry myself when getting out of the water. Are those two things habits, or are those things logical choices that make sense in the current situation and I am overthinking this?

This is the longest question ever, but yeah, what’s a Habit I think, I’ve been running the question in my head for a few weeks now

  • Tadpole
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    8 months ago

    Habits can be really hard. I really struggle with them as part of my ADHD. I could have written this post myself.

    It might be worth considering an ADHD assessment. ADHD and autism commonly occur together

    • Aussiemandeus
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      8 months ago

      Every day I get closer to booking an appointment with a dr to discuss ADHD and Autism, for years people around me and in professional worlds have said I exhibit lots of the symptoms.

      Then I Rea’s things like this and think maybe I really do.

      Although I’ve made it to 30 without a problem I think.

      • Tadpole
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        8 months ago

        I sought a diagnosis because I wasn’t able to function in daily life. I genuinely believe that I would have become homeless because of my inability to get and keep a job. I was really struggling, and getting diagnosed and treated for it has changed my life in fundamental ways. It allowed me to access supports that were otherwise unavailable to me.

        I still have problems with executive dysfunction and memory and those sorts of things, but I can actually function and have a life now.

        In saying that, you don’t have to have problems of that severity to justify seeking a diagnosis. If you think you might have ADHD and you think you might benefit from treatment, I encourage you to explore your options. It might end up changing your life for the better even if you think you’ve done alright for yourself so far.

        It can be rather expensive though. Whether you think it is worth the cost will be up to you. I spent around 10% of my savings at the time to get diagnosed, and I am so glad that I did.

        • Aussiemandeus
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          8 months ago

          My biggest problem in life is anything outside work. Going to the shops, Drs appointments, cleaning etc all insurmountable chores. They’re not even that big. Which drives me mad.

          Along with the stupid amounts of money I spend hobby hopping.

          I used to work away on a mine site for one month then get one week off and that was a simple life, routine and work. Now I live in town work a regularish job life has become hard.

          • Tadpole
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            8 months ago

            That sounds incredibly frustrating. It’s like suffering twice; once because you don’t get the benefits of having the thing done, and again because you start beating yourself up for not being able to do the thing.

            I feel very lucky that I had a close friend who was willing to do all the admin work to help me get diagnosed. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do it all by myself.

            • Aussiemandeus
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              8 months ago

              Yeah this reminds me I need to send an email to cancel a gym membership from my old gym. Save myself 20 dollars a week. Just need to send an email. I’m doing it right now

    • Kyoyeou (Ki jəʊ juː)@slrpnk.netOP
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      8 months ago

      Thank you, I’m actually awaiting to go back to my country and have the time to see someone to finally get the answer, while I wait I’m left with questions I try to answer for myself

      • Tadpole
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        8 months ago

        I do think the pool stuff would count as a habit. Do you have to make the decision to put your stuff in those locations? Or do you just do it, as if you’ve already made the decision?

        • Kyoyeou (Ki jəʊ juː)@slrpnk.netOP
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          8 months ago

          I do think about the fact it makes sense to out it at the same place to find it easier, then from that I without thinking but it where it was last time