Hello comrades and welcome to the third improvement megathread of August! 
As usual, some discussion ideas:
- Do you want to share something you've done in the previous week? Everything counts, nothing is too small.
- Do you have any plans or goals for the following week?
- Do you have any streaks? For example, "sober for one day." Feel free to post your streak every day in this thread.
- If you don't have a continuous streak, did you manage to abstain from something for a day or more?
- Did you come across some useful information or resource that might help others?
Poster caption: "We are building Socialism"
Good luck with your goals! 
roll call
@SeventyTwoTrillion@hexbear.net
@TraschcanOfIdeology@hexbear.net
@LGOrcStreetSamurai@hexbear.net
@Tomorrow_Farewell@hexbear.net
If anybody else wants to be added to the roll call, just let me know
@moonlake@hexbear.net remains the one true leftist with this roll call.
I've uninstalled the addicting idle games from my phone and haven't broken in and reinstalled them since Tuesday. Hopefully I'm able to keep that up for a while.
I've made a rule for myself that, every time I sit down at my computer, I have to write at least one sentence in my masters thesis before doing anything else. It seems to be causing me to get at least a bit of work done, although nothing ever feels like it's happening fast enough.
Two books that helped me write my master's thesis:
-
Umberto Eco - How to Write a Thesis
-
Paul Silvia - How to Write a Lot
They are both short and concise so they won't add to your reading list. I'm certain they are both available for download on Library Genesis.
I was also using the pomodoro method, which is when you focus on one thing for 25 minutes without any distractions and then take a break for 5 minutes. It really works, I wouldn't be able to write my thesis without it. There are some pomodoro timers online that are easy to use.
Good luck!
And of course check out this banger
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
-
I've started eating a fruit salad every day, highly recommended. I'm currently on vacation
so my plan for the next week is to play videogames and cuddle my pets. The sigma grindset will continue two weeks from now. Until then I just want to relax 
Keep feeling like shit because my situation is still shit. I managed to go for walks all days except 2, and my sleep schedule is further improved by an hour or so. Gave up on some things that weren’t working, and got started on some things I’ve been postponing.
Sounds like you're making steady progress in spite of the circumstances and that's the most important thing
just learned this thread exists! reposting from the general megathread: i need to quit solo drinking at home. i need to actually try to do it this time. maybe it would lead into mostly giving up drinking period, but for right now quitting social drinks is just too big of an ask so im starting here. any sober comrades want to chime in with tips? even though i'm not going full sober (yet if ever), i'm sure many of the same tactics apply.
My thing is going to be one drink a week as my short term goal. Usually it’s wine which is something that is even enjoyed by people in blue zones.
However, I still fully intend to quit drinking altogether one day, it’s a huge tax. Same reason I quit soda.
one a week sounds super reasonable/achievable! pulling for ya comrade.
I have a new bench PR of 200. I have 25 lbs left and then I’ll go on a cut. My short term goal is to be a twunk and I hope a 225 bench means I have the muscle mass of one. Then comes the easier part of shaving off fat.
What I've been doing:
I continue to study math and software-related stuff, but I had to renege on some of my plans I set here a week ago due to some actually good things happening.
I succeeded at my goals regarding physical exercise last week. Light exercise, three days out of seven last week in order to make this less unbearable for me.
I have been studying particular hanzi, including how to write them. I did not have a convenient way of studying how to write them, which hindered my ability to remember and distinguish them later. Since my last attempt, Duolingo has introduced relevant features, which is rather helpful. I have been learning to write them by hand, practising with at least 5 characters every day.
Plans for this week:
Keep re-learning math stuff. I nominate topology and graph theory as my subjects to focus on this week.
I nominate databases and database-related stuff as my focus for this week.
Keep up with the physical exercise. Engage in it at least once this week.
Streaks:
Still touching grass every day.
Duolingo Putonghua 35-day streak after a couple of years of pause.
Resources for others:
I can be your resource if you have math questions. I can also find you actual math resources and textbooks.
-
Do you want to share something you've done in the previous week? Everything counts, nothing is too small.
- I have been journaling. A lot of my real life friends have moved or have become a bit inaccessible the last several months (marriages, new jobs, having kids, that sort of stuff nothin' bad) and I'm finding myself needing a place to vent and doing in written form in a notebook has helped me a lot. I have been journaling since February and I think it's a must for anyone trying to improve themselves, and I think it's a double must for the fellas. Not on some gender wars shit, but I do think in general dudes tend to have fewer outlets for safely venting and a journal is truly one of the safest places to do it. I also use it to track my goals, daydream, and generally get thoughts out. It's one of the tools I think any self-improving leftist should have in their utility belt of self-improvement.
-
Do you have any plans or goals for the following week?
- My big goal this week is to increase my daily programming and game development from 70 minutes sessions to 80 minutes sessions. Rather than trying make a big jump, I want to make a small incremental increase. Just like with lifting weights, going up 10 minutes and getting the most out of those 80 minutes is probably a better way to sustainable get to even deeper and longer working sessions in the long term. I'm very much not where I want to be in my creative output but I'm just telling myself slow and steady, build the habit of doing it every day first and then build upon that doing it longer and more intense every day in the future.
-
Do you have any streaks? For example, "sober for one day." Feel free to post your streak every day in this thread.
- Mostly just reading a book everyday. I'm reading some sci-fi classics, currently working through a ton of the American cyberpunk classics but also reading physical mangas and comics. Personally, I think building the habit of reading physical works (both big brain heavy stuff and lighter fun stuff) is just good for me and helps be less of a passive consumer. Reading isn't exactly punk rock, but it feels like it in this modern age of everything big clips and screenshots.
-
Did you come across some useful information or resource that might help others?
- Not really, but I just want all the hexbear commie leftist internet dweebs to be in good cheer. The world is burning and it's probably going to get far worse before it gets better, however I think if we are really about this better future shit we gotta embrace that and figure how to get through together. We aren't alone and better future is possible if we work for it today. That's a big takeaway for me in this self-improvement thing.
I agree completely about journaling, I've been journaling daily for years. I would say it's the most important habit that I ever developed. I also agree that it's essential for dudes because we are trained to suffer stoically and never talk about our problems, especially concerning emotional and mental health.
If you're into podcasts, check out Overdue, it's a great podcast about books. The hosts are very nice and have good politics.
-
