Thank you! I’m definitely finding myself less perpetually-aggravated without clothes and garbage strewn about everywhere. As for a plan, I’m gonna take baby-steps in several areas (one big problem of mine is becoming very inspired and motivated to self-improve, then biting off more than I can chew):
- If I find myself mindlessly clicking about FaceBook (beyond responding to family posts), switch to reading about Dhamma here or elsewhere.
- I may get back into counting calories to lose weight again (much less slowly than before so I don’t end up feeling starved and binging!) but until then I’ll slowly hack away at the bad habits I’ve developed during my depression storm, like leaving baked potatoes to snack on which are delicious and filling even without adding anything!
- Reduce caffeine consumption (another bad habit I’d picked up when I had no willpower): if I get sleepy during the day, drink a cup of unsweetened tea instead of free Starbucks black coffee. (My job does have its perks. :P ) Also, no more energy drinks! Nobody needs >1000mg in their system — that’s enough to send someone with heart issues to the emergency room.
- I’ll take your music suggestion: about 1-2 hours before bed, either shut the music off or switch to something calming like contemporary, classical, or soundscapes. (Especially if I find fast & catchy tunes playing on repeat in my head.)
- Forge the habit of doing Scooby’s Rotisserie Core Workout while breakfast is cooking. (On the kitchen floor! :D )
- Some other stuff I’m forgetting.
As for the Abhidhamma section, so far I’ve mostly just re-read the first few pages with a wrinkled forehead, despite it all sounding so cool and interesting. One of these days I may understand the words I’m reading. :) Maybe I ought to stick to Living Dhamma for the time being.