River: How do you stop being dumb?

[mdlbear]

Yesterday morning I left to take the Y.D. to school without putting on my glasses. Not the first time, either. My current prescription is mild enough that I can occasionally get away with this, but still... Dumb.

By permission, (from pocketnaomi someone who can claim attribution in a comment if she wants; I forgot to ask), we have this intriguing question:

What do you do when you're being dumb and you know it and that doesn't seem to have any effect on whether you keep doing it or not?

To which I will sheepishly add:

What if the dumb thing is not doing, or putting off, something that you really need to do?

I'll go first...

In a few cases I've been successful at making a habit of doing the good thing, or replacing a bad habit with a good one. The procrastination is harder to deal with; even to-do lists only help for some things.

It's hard to persuade the people around me that I really need to be nagged, and that I wouldn't be embarassed or hurt if they tell me I'm doing something stupid. Sometimes a good code phrase helps, like "Basingstoke".

Comments

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

I think I'm the one he's quoting; I don't mind it being attributed.

[mdlbear]

You are; thanks.

[tibicina.livejournal.com]

I've never found a really good answer to either of those. Sometimes I succeed, but it's not consistant. Though if I can get someone else to help me with something I'm not doing, or remind me without making me feel bad that makes it a lot easier. (e.g. I've been known to take job applications into my therapy session and fill them out there with the help of my therapist.)

[bookwyrm172006.livejournal.com]

I agree. I have this problem a lot. Bad habits are easier to get over; I mentally slap myself in the face and then take me in hand and get to replacing the habit with a better one, but procrastination kills me. I find if I can get someone else who has to do it too to do it with me (whatever "it" is, from doing homework to getting out and socializing with people) it helps, but not always.