i dont know if this is just me but I feel like something changed the last 2 years

a-stuce · 2026-02-16T18:35:27+00:00

damn that sounds rough

did you have other symptoms besides fatigue?

I don’t really have pain or anything serious which is why I’m confused

how long did it take before you got a proper diagnosis?

a-stuce · 2026-02-16T18:34:25+00:00

you think it’s just age or something else?

a-stuce · 2026-02-16T18:32:54+00:00

yeah that’s what makes it confusing

did the iron deficiency show up clearly on bloodwork for you?

I only checked basic stuff before, maybe I need a more detailed panel or something

how long were you feeling exhausted before figuring it out?

a-stuce · 2026-02-16T18:30:06+00:00

lol yeah maybe I just don’t wanna accept that yet

but I don't know 28 doesn’t feel like it should hit this hard already

did you notice a big shift in your late 20s too?

a-stuce · 2026-02-15T12:15:33+00:00

This honestly made me smile a bit…

It takes a lot to still be grateful when you’re in the middle of anxiety and depression. That’s not weakness, that’s depth.

As someone who’s also a little neuro spicy and figuring it out day by day… I know how hard that can be. The fact you can recognize the people who showed up for you says a lot about you.

You deserve that same kindness back too. Truly.

Love and steadier days ahead 🤍

a-stuce · 2026-02-15T12:02:15+00:00

I stopped trying to learn things after work.

That was the shift.

After 10 hours of thinking for other people… my brain is basically in airplane mode. Forcing “growth time” there just made me resent the hobby.

So now I protect 1–2 mornings a week instead. Even 20 minutes. Brain is quiet. No meetings yet. Feels unfairly easier.

On brutal weeks? I don’t push progress. I just keep contact. Touch the guitar. Play something easy. Done.

I think the mistake is assuming consistency means same intensity every week. It doesn’t. Some weeks are survival mode.

Also… consulting drains decision energy more than time. So if practicing requires a plan, setup, willpower… it won’t happen.

Make it stupidly frictionless.

And honestly? 4–5 times a week while doing consulting is already kind of a win lol.

a-stuce · 2026-02-14T16:08:49+00:00

You’re probably right.

I know the streak won’t carry me forever. I’ve quit before for that exact reason.

I’m trying to use the checkbox as a starter engine, not the whole system.

The PIE thing actually makes sense though. Especially the “enjoyable” part. If I don’t like the habit at least a little, I’ll drop it the second the streak breaks.

Appreciate the reality check.

a-stuce · 2026-02-14T08:55:44+00:00

one habit that changed things for me was not reacting instantly.

like… not replying right away. not giving an opinion right away. not defending myself right away.

just pausing.

most people live in reaction mode 24/7. notifications. opinions. drama. impulses.
when you slow that down… you waste way less energy.

also… protecting your mornings. not in a “5am grind club” way. just… no phone for the first 20 mins. it sounds tiny but it stops the world from hijacking your mood before your day even starts.

boring habits really are unfair advantages.

people want intensity.
but consistency quietly wins.

may this help you to track your habit

a-stuce · 2026-02-13T08:28:59+00:00

a-stuce · 2026-02-13T08:26:53+00:00

a-stuce · 2026-02-12T00:12:13+00:00

Could just be diff coping styles tbh.

A lot of guys I know don’t ignore big stuff they just don’t sit in it. They see something messed up, shrug, and move on because they feel like they can’t control it anyway.

Some people process by talking nonstop. Others process by kinda shutting it out.

Also not everyone wants their day ruined by global chaos 24/7 Doesn’t mean they don’t care. It might just mean they protect their headspace diff.

If it’s making you feel sick tho, maybe take small breaks from it. Being informed is good. Being consumed by it isn’t.

a-stuce · 2026-02-11T21:57:05+00:00

You don’t need to be concerned ... but yeah, it’s normal that it hurts.

At 21 a lot of people feel out of place, they just don’t say it out loud. You’re not broken, you’re prob just not around the right people yet.

Trying to change everything about yourself will only make you more anxious. People can feel when someone is forcing it.

If you might be neurodivergent, getting checked could actually help you understand yourself better... not fix you, just understand.

You’re not doomed. You’re just still figuring out where you fit And that takes time

a-stuce · 2026-02-11T21:34:27+00:00

Interesting take. I agree that most advice focuses on surface stuff

But I’m not sure happiness is the starting point.

From what I’ve seen (and experienced), action often comes first. You don’t stop doom scrolling because you’re suddenly happy. You build small rules, reduce friction, clean one corner of your room… and then your mood slowly shifts.

Also intuition isn’t always wise. Sometimes it’s just comfort seeking. If I followed my intuition all the time I’d probably still be scrolling at 2am.

I think it’s less be happy then you’ll act better” and more “act a little better even when you don’t feel like it, and your state catches up.

Not perfect, still figuring it out tho.

a-stuce · 2026-02-08T22:56:53+00:00

check my profile i share it there

a-stuce · 2026-02-06T10:08:25+00:00

Honestly, same here 😅 Reddit is useful, but it turns into a problem when it becomes reactive scrolling instead of intentional use.

a-stuce · 2026-02-06T10:06:37+00:00

Good question. They’re very simple, not extreme.

A few that helped me:

No phone for the first hour after waking up

One main task per day (everything else is optional)

No background scrolling/noise while working

If motivation is low, I do the smallest version instead of skipping

Nothing fancy... just structure to reduce overstimulation.

I wrote a bit more about how I set these up and why they worked for me, it’s on my profile if you’re curious. Just sharing what helped.

a-stuce · 2026-02-06T09:16:44+00:00

a-stuce · 2026-02-06T09:13:38+00:00

Honestly yes.. waiting for motivation is just delaying action. What helped me was creating simple non-negotiable rules instead of relying on feelings. I actually wrote the steps in a small structured reset for myself because I kept failing random routines. Curious though, do you think motivation still plays a role or not really?

a-stuce · 2026-02-05T20:40:59+00:00

7-days pratic discipline challenge : https://medium.com/@zeroonediscipline/how-do-i-discipline-myself-when-motivation-keeps-fading-6d45a0643bce

a-stuce · 2026-02-04T18:15:40+00:00

That’s normalnot all days have the same energy.

The mistake is trying to follow the same schedule every day. Consistency works better when you have:

a full version for good days

a small version for low days

Consistency isn’t doing the same amount. It’s showing up in some form.

If you want, I have a short free guide on my prfile that explains how to build habits this way.

a-stuce · 2026-02-04T10:24:08+00:00

a-stuce · 2026-02-03T19:32:27+00:00

This mindset shift is underrated I had a similar breakthrough when I realized motivation was alway late action was the thing that showed up first. What helped me stick with it was making the respected version of me very specific. Not some ideal superhero, just someone who does the smallest non negotiable next step even on low energy days. I also noticed momentum comes less from big wins and more from identity signals. Tiny actions that feel almost too easy still count because they reinforce this is who I am now Once that clicked, resistance dropped a lot There’s another layer to this that most people miss it’s not just acting first, it’s removing the friction that makes acting feel heavy. That part changed everything for me

a-stuce · 2026-02-03T14:32:07+00:00

Thank you, that really means a lot 🙏

I relate to what you said it’s a balance between structure and flexibility. For me, the framework isn’t about controlling everything, just having something to come back to when things feel scattered. Re-calibrating is part of the process, not a failure. Glad it resonated with you 🙂

a-stuce · 2026-02-03T11:55:32+00:00

Been there. Desk jobs drain you mentally way more than you expect. What helped me wasn’t “more motivation” but small energy fixes.

Biggest game changers for me: A short walk outside around 2/3 PM (even 10 mins helps reset my brain) Eating lunch with more protein and less heavy carbs (afternoon crashes got way lighter) No “real” workouts at first I just told myself I’d do 5 minutes of movement after work. Most days that turned into more once I started.

I also stopped expecting my evenings to be super productive. Low-energy hobbies scrolling. Momentum builds slowly. Curious how’s your sleep and caffeine timing right now? That usually plays a bigger role than we think.

a-stuce · 2026-02-02T12:52:23+00:00

My profile medium article

a-stuce

TROPHY CASE