happiness goal #1 – Try rising early.

This is part of a series of posts, where I attempt to transform my life by following advice from two very good blog posts, Handbook for Life: 52 Tips for Happiness and Productivity, and 39 Ways to Live, and Not Merely Exist. Also, my own personal goals for happiness.

Introduction:
Well, I’ve been pretty uneven in my sleeping habits, to say the least. On some nights, I’ll sleep very little (or not at all). Other nights, way into the afternoon, This obviously needs to change. I’ve read somewhere that problems with sleep worsen symptoms of bipolar disorder and anxiety (I know this is a very serious consequence from firsthand experience).

With this goal, I’m not so much concerned with waking up early as I am with:
1) sleeping properly, every night, for a healthy interval (6 to 8 hours).
2) sleeping at approx. the same time every night, sometime between 12A to 2A.

Another, related goal is that I’d like to see the sunrise and sunset everyday…

Anyway, I’m going to chart my progress in this post.

12/10
slept for 12 or 13 hours last night. really. I just didn’t want to get out of bed, worrying about the comp arch exam I have to study for, and knowing that I’ll probably need to drive over to Austin over night… I’m completely and overwhelmingly unprepared, and I don’t know how that compares to my severe lack of motivation to study?

Alan Watts

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[videos]

TED Talks – What Makes Us Happy?

If you haven’t heard of TED, it’s an annual, invitation-only conference where amazing people come forward to give speeches about all sorts of interesting and insightful topics. The website posts a new video everyday. I highly recommend checking it out.

I just found a youtube channel with complete Ted Talks videos (usually, the TED website only shows snippets from the presentations), and it’s definitely worth bookmarking – http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDtalksDirector

In this post, I will explore TED Talks on the subject of happiness, and what we can learn from them. I invite you to watch all the videos below, and to leave some comments…

Dan Gilbert asks, Why are we happy?

Martin Seligman on Positive Psychology

52 Proven Stress Reducers

This handout used to be available on the American Lung Association website and on the Texas Women’s University Counseling Center website, but those links are now broken. That’s unfortunate, because it’s really good advice! So, for your benefit, here is the handout in its entirety:

52 PROVEN STRESS REDUCERS 1. Get up fifteen minutes earlier in the morning. The inevitable morning mishaps will be less stressful. 2. Prepare for the morning the evening before. Set the breakfast table. Make lunches. Put out the clothes you plan to wear, etc. 3. Don’t rely on your memory. Write down appointment times, when to pick up the laundry, when library books are due, etc. (“The palest ink is better than the most retentive memory.”- Old Chinese Proverb) 4. Do nothing you have to lie about later. 5. Make copies of all keys. Bury a house key in a secret spot in the garden. Carry a duplicate car key in your wallet, apart from your key ring. 6. Practice preventive maintenance. Your car, appliances, home and relationships will be less likely to break down “at the worst possible moment.” 7. Be prepared to wait. A paperback book can make a wait in a post office line almost pleasant. 8. Procrastination is stressful. Whatever you want to do tomorrow, do today; whatever you want to do today, do it now. 9. Plan ahead. Don’t let the gas tank get below onequarter full, keep a well- stocked “emergency shelf” of home staples, don’t wait until you’re down to your last bus token or postage stamp to buy more, etc. 10. Don’t put up with something that doesn’t work right. If your alarm clock wallet, shoe laces, windshield wipers-whatever-are a constant aggravation, get them fixed or get new ones. 11. Allow 15 minutes of extra time to get to appointments. Plan to arrive at an airport one hour before domestic departures. 12. Eliminate (or restrict) the amount of caffeine in your diet. 13. Always set up contingency plans, “just in case.” (“If for some reason either of us is delayed, here’s what we’ll do…” Or, “If we get split up in the shopping center, here’s where we’ll meet.”) 14. Relax your standards. The world will not end if the grass doesn’t get mowed this weekend. 15. Pollyanna-Power! For every one thing that goes wrong, there are probably 10 or 50 or 100 blessings. Count ‘em! 16. Ask questions. Taking a few moments to repeat back the directions that someone expects of you, etc., can save hours. (The old “the hurrieder I go, the behinder I get” idea.) 17. Say “No!” Saying no to extra projects, social activities and invitations you know you don’t have the time or energy for takes practice, self-respect and a belief that everyone, everyday, needs quiet time to relax and to be alone. 18. Unplug your phone. Want to take a long bath, meditate, sleep or read without interruption? Drum up the courage to temporarily disconnect. (The possibility of there being a terrible emergency in the next hour or so is almost nil.) 19. Turn “needs” into preferences. Our basic physical needs translate into food, water, and keeping warm. Everything else is a preference. Don’t get attached to preferences. 20. Simplify, simplify, simplify. 21. Make friends with nonworriers. Chronic worrywarts are contagious. 22. Take many stretch breaks when you sit a lot. 23. If you can’t find quiet at home, wear earplugs. 24. Get enough sleep. Set your alarm for bedtime. 25. Organize! A place for everything and everything in its place. Losing things is stressful. 26. Monitor your body for stress signs. If your stomach muscles are knotted and your breathing is shallow, relax your muscles and take some deep, slow breaths. 27. Write your thoughts and feelings down on paper. It can help you clarify and give you a renewed perspective. 28. Do this yoga exercise when you need to relax: Inhale through your nose to the count of eight. Pucker your lips and exhale slowly to the count of 16. Concentrate on the long sighing sound and feel the tension dissolve. Repeat 10 times. 29. Visualize success before any experience you fear. Take time to go over every part of the event in your mind. Imagine how great you will look, and how well you will present yourself. 30. If the stress of deadlines gets in the way of doing a job, use diversion. Take your mind off the task and you will focus better when you’re on task. 31. Talk out your problems with a friend. It helps to relieve confusion. 32. Avoid people and places that don’t fit your personal needs and desires. If you hate politics, don’t spend time with politically excited people. 33. Learn to live one day at a time. 34. Everyday, do something you really enjoy. 35. Add an ounce of love to everything you do. 36. Take a bath or shower to relieve tension. 37. Do a favor for someone every day. 38. Focus on understanding rather than on being under stood, on loving rather than on being loved. 39. Looking good makes you feel better. 40. Take more time between tasks to relax. Schedule a realistic day. 41. Be flexible. Some things are not worth perfection. 42. Stop negative self-talk: “I’m too fat, too old, etc…” 43. Change pace on weekends. If your week was slow, be active. If you felt nothing was accomplished during the week, do a weekend project. 44. “Worry about the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves.” Pay attention to the details in front of you. 45. Do one thing at a time. When you are working on one thing, don’t think about everything else you have to do. 46. Allow time every day for privacy, quiet and thinking. 47. Do unpleasant tasks early and enjoy the rest of the day. 48. Delegate responsibility to capable people. 49. Take lunch breaks. Get away from your work in body and in mind. 50. Count to 1,000, not 10, before you say something that could make matters worse. 51. Forgive people and events. Accept that we live in an imperfect world. 52. Have an optimistic view of the world. Most people do the best they can.

1. Get up fifteen minutes earlier in the morning. The inevitable morning mishaps will be less stressful. 2. Prepare for the morning the evening before. Set the breakfast table. Make lunches. Put out the clothes you plan to wear, etc. 3. Don’t rely on your memory. Write down appointment times, when to pick up the laundry, when library books are due, etc. (“The palest ink is better than the most retentive memory.”- Old Chinese Proverb) 4. Do nothing you have to lie about later. 5. Make copies of all keys. Bury a house key in a secret spot in the garden. Carry a duplicate car key in your wallet, apart from your key ring. 6. Practice preventive maintenance. Your car, appliances, home and relationships will be less likely to break down “at the worst possible moment.” 7. Be prepared to wait. A paperback book can make a wait in a post office line almost pleasant. 8. Procrastination is stressful. Whatever you want to do tomorrow, do today; whatever you want to do today, do it now. 9. Plan ahead. Don’t let the gas tank get below onequarter full, keep a well- stocked “emergency shelf” of home staples, don’t wait until you’re down to your last bus token or postage stamp to buy more, etc. 10. Don’t put up with something that doesn’t work right. If your alarm clock wallet, shoe laces, windshield wipers-whatever-are a constant aggravation, get them fixed or get new ones. 11. Allow 15 minutes of extra time to get to appointments. Plan to arrive at an airport one hour before domestic departures. 12. Eliminate (or restrict) the amount of caffeine in your diet. 13. Always set up contingency plans, “just in case.” (“If for some reason either of us is delayed, here’s what we’ll do…” Or, “If we get split up in the shopping center, here’s where we’ll meet.”) 14. Relax your standards. The world will not end if the grass doesn’t get mowed this weekend. 15. Pollyanna-Power! For every one thing that goes wrong, there are probably 10 or 50 or 100 blessings. Count ‘em! 16. Ask questions. Taking a few moments to repeat back the directions that someone expects of you, etc., can save hours. (The old “the hurrieder I go, the behinder I get” idea.) 17. Say “No!” Saying no to extra projects, social activities and invitations you know you don’t have the time or energy for takes practice, self-respect and a belief that everyone, everyday, needs quiet time to relax and to be alone. 18. Unplug your phone. Want to take a long bath, meditate, sleep or read without interruption? Drum up the courage to temporarily disconnect. (The possibility of there being a terrible emergency in the next hour or so is almost nil.) 19. Turn “needs” into preferences. Our basic physical needs translate into food, water, and keeping warm. Everything else is a preference. Don’t get attached to preferences. 20. Simplify, simplify, simplify. 21. Make friends with nonworriers. Chronic worrywarts are contagious. 22. Take many stretch breaks when you sit a lot.

23. If you can’t find quiet at home, wear earplugs. 24. Get enough sleep. Set your alarm for bedtime. 25. Organize! A place for everything and everything in its place. Losing things is stressful. 26. Monitor your body for stress signs. If your stomach muscles are knotted and your breathing is shallow, relax your muscles and take some deep, slow breaths. 27. Write your thoughts and feelings down on paper. It can help you clarify and give you a renewed perspective. 28. Do this yoga exercise when you need to relax: Inhale through your nose to the count of eight. Pucker your lips and exhale slowly to the count of 16. Concentrate on the long sighing sound and feel the tension dissolve. Repeat 10 times. 29. Visualize success before any experience you fear. Take time to go over every part of the event in your mind. Imagine how great you will look, and how well you will present yourself. 30. If the stress of deadlines gets in the way of doing a job, use diversion. Take your mind off the task and you will focus better when you’re on task. 31. Talk out your problems with a friend. It helps to relieve confusion. 32. Avoid people and places that don’t fit your personal needs and desires. If you hate politics, don’t spend time with politically excited people. 33. Learn to live one day at a time. 34. Everyday, do something you really enjoy. 35. Add an ounce of love to everything you do. 36. Take a bath or shower to relieve tension. 37. Do a favor for someone every day. 38. Focus on understanding rather than on being under stood, on loving rather than on being loved. 39. Looking good makes you feel better. 40. Take more time between tasks to relax. Schedule a realistic day. 41. Be flexible. Some things are not worth perfection. 42. Stop negative self-talk: “I’m too fat, too old, etc…” 43. Change pace on weekends. If your week was slow, be active. If you felt nothing was accomplished during the week, do a weekend project. 44. “Worry about the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves.” Pay attention to the details in front of you. 45. Do one thing at a time. When you are working on one thing, don’t think about everything else you have to do. 46. Allow time every day for privacy, quiet and thinking. 47. Do unpleasant tasks early and enjoy the rest of the day. 48. Delegate responsibility to capable people. 49. Take lunch breaks. Get away from your work in body and in mind. 50. Count to 1,000, not 10, before you say something that could make matters worse. 51. Forgive people and events. Accept that we live in an imperfect world. 52. Have an optimistic view of the world. Most people do the best they can.

books that I’d like to read

in an effort to sort of expand myself, I’ve had to make a list of books to read (and a commitment this time). here is a list in categorical fashion:

HAPPINESS
Stumbling on Happiness – I’ve gotten this from the library and I’ve had it lying around forever, so I may as well go ahead and read it this weekend.

happiness resources

here is a list of links or other reference materials pertaining to happiness that I’ve found particularly interesting/useful to think about. I’d like to keep this list for the future, it’s going to always be updated, and perhaps I will use a subset of these links in future writings (or a draft for a book that I’d like to publish sometime in the near future).

http://www.jgc.org/blog/2009/10/alain-de-bottons-six-part-series-on.html – Links to Alain de Botton’s six-episode documentary on happiness from the perception of six philosophers. As a documentary, it’s very skim-the-surface, but it will probably be a good compass to study particular philosophers, philosophies, and perhaps even writings by Botton himself.

Shopenhauer on Love (ep 5) wasn’t particularly useful – sort of a waste of 24 minutes. He was a pessimistic man, who had trouble finding love his whole life. The only ‘consoling’ ideas he has to offer in this video is that love is at the very basis an unconscious biological phenomenon in which we seek to find a mate who will help us to produce a ‘balanced’ offspring. I think it’s important to note that he was before Darwin’s time, so I would not take this as entirely accurate. I don’t in fact find this idea consoling in the least – in fact, I think of love as a uniquely human emotion that, while being a sort of ritual around mating, is a type of symbiotic relationship and consciousness that is far beyond simple notions of sex and biology.

On Personal Identity

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200811/multiple-personalities – First Person Plural – The Atlantic (November 2008)

http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/burda06/burda06_index.html – HOW PEOPLE SEE THEMSELVES by Hubert Burda

http://www.plu.edu/~jensenmk/271ramon.html – Juan Ramon on the self

http://www.kheper.net/topics/meditation/who_are_you.htm – Who Are You? (buddhist perspective)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mthDxnFXs9k – Being No One
Thomas Metzinger is the Director of the Philosophy Group at the Department of Philosophy at Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz. His research focuses on philosophy of mind, especially on consciousness and the nature of the self. In this lecture he develops a representationalist theory of phenomenal self-consciousness. A Foerster Lectures on the Immortality of the Soul presented by the UC Berkeley Graudate Council. Series: UC Berkeley Graduate Council Lectures [2/2005] [Humanities] [Show ID: 9181]

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-time/ – Identity Over Time (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-personal/ – Personal Identity (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/ramachandran07/ramachandran07_index.html – Edge: THE NEUROLOGY OF SELF-AWARENESS by V.S. Ramachandran

http://www.uga.edu/garev/hassan.html – The Way We Have Become: The Surfeit of Seeming by Ihab Hassan

http://www.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/web%20publishing/TreatiseI.iv.vi.htm – David Hume on Personal Identity

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.01/turkle_pr.html – Who Am We? We are moving from modernist calculation toward postmodernist simulation, where the self is a multiple, distributed system. by Shelly Turkle

http://lesswrong.com/lw/qx/timeless_identity/ – Less Wrong: Timeless Identity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatta – The Buddhist notion of not-self

http://deoxy.org/w_self.htm – Self and Other by Alan Watts