Monday, March 19, 2012

Guilty Pleasures

I am always trying various self-improvement kicks, making lists or resolutions of things I need to do to be a better person. Sometimes this means I become overwhelmed by guilt and the hopelessness of it all, since becoming the person I want to be is probably literally not possible. But most of the time it's a useful trait.

There are several things that I do that I am aware are not good for me, yet I have no real interest in giving them up. I feel bad about this, but not bad enough to do anything. I think this is the definition of "guilty pleasure".

This list includes:
1. Gummy candy. I eat some almost every day, even though eating so much sugar (or rather, nasty high fructose corn syrup) is not really a good idea for my teeth, body or weight loss plans. You know it's bad when the store owner makes fun of you for your candy habit. B suggests I start telling him it's for little R: maybe once she gets a few more teeth this will be believable?

2. Caffeine. I have serious heartburn problems and recurrent insomnia, but oh do I love my coffee. I even put "Give up caffeine" on my 101 in 1001 list, but honestly that was kind of a lie. I really don't want to give up caffeine. Right now I only have 1 or 2 cups/day (usually one), and even that fills me with regret. I would really prefer to channel Balzac, who drank pots a day, if I could physically stand it.

3. Surfing the Internet. The internet is immensely useful (communication, paying bills, etc.). But it is also my biggest time-waster. I have spent hours before following one link after another, on brain-rotting topics like celebrity gossip (Celebrities Without Makeup!) or weight loss surgery (I don't need this, I just like reading about it for some bizarre, probably psychologically disturbing reason). My 101 in 1001 list also has this on it to give up, another thing I don't really want to do.

Maybe someday my willpower will improve and these bad habits will become ancient history. For now, though, it seems as if they are here to stay.

4 comments:

  1. I think we all need some guilty pleasures, but I totally push the boundaries of it sometimes. It's hard when I stay at home all day and the internet is just...HERE, and what else do I do? Getting out of the house more often has really really helped that for me, but it's still out of control.

    And yeah, I have a major sweet tooth and feel like I need a sweet after almost every meal. I've tried recently to switch to a clementine after eating to see if it works, and it definitely helps! The tangy sweetness is definitely satisfying.

    Maybe alter the 101 list a bit to say "cut back on" those things? Giving them up entirely sounds like it wouldn't make you as happy!

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    1. You know, I think you're completely right. I changed the 101 list. New "disciplinary" goals:
      Go to bed by midnight, for two weeks
      One hour or less of Internet use per day, for two weeks
      Make my bed first thing in the morning, for two weeks
      Create a daily/weekly schedule, and stick to it

      I also changed the cut out sweets goal to something a little less drastic.

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  2. I have a gummy obsession. Especially gummy bears. It's a known fact to almost everyone around me too - because when I'm not having a good day or a really good day, those around me bring my gummy bears. once a coworker brought me a gummy snake that was at least 2 feet long. It was amazing! :)

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    1. I actually hate big gummies because then the balance of outside hard gummy and inside squishy gummy is off. It's like peppermint patties: only the fun-size ones are good.

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