this post was submitted on 06 Apr 2025
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Self Improvement

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A community which focusses on improving yourself. This can be in many different ways - from improving physical health or appearance, to improving mental health, creating better habits, overcoming addictions, etc.

While material circumstances beyond our control do govern much of our daily lives, people do have agency and choices to make, whether that is as "simple" as disciplining yourself to not doomscroll, to as complex as recreating yourself to have many different hobbies and habits.

This is not a place where all we do is talk about improving "productivity" (in a workplace context) and similar terms and harmful lifestyles like "grindset". Self-improvement here is intended to make you a generally better and happier person, as well as a better communist, and any other roles you may have in your life.

Rules and guidelines:

  1. Posts should be about self-improvement. This is obviously a wide category, and can range from advice, to finding resources, to self-posts about needing to improve in a certain area, or how you have improved, and many other things.

  1. Use content warnings when discussing difficult subjects.

  1. Do not make medical decisions solely because of a discussion you have had with any person here (e.g. whether to take or not take medications; diagnoses; etc.) as we do not vet people. All medical problems should be discussed with a real-life medical professional.

  1. Do not post harmful advice here. If this is seen, then please report it and we shall remove it. If you are unsure about whether it's precisely harmful advice or not but feel uneasy about it, please report it anyway.

  1. Do not insult other users and their lifestyles or their habits (unless they ask, I suppose). This is a place for self-improvement. Critique and discussion about a course of action is encouraged over shit-flinging. Don't talk down to people.

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Hello comrades and welcome to the first improvement megathread of April! bonfire I hope that April is going well so far for everyone.


Some discussion ideas:

  • How was your week?
  • Do you have any plans for next week?
  • Do you have some streaks to share?

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[–] Xenomorph@hexbear.net 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Anyone interested in doing accountabilibuddies? I got some clean time under my belt from quitting drinking (a year and a week or two, last I checked) and I'm looking for someone to help me quit vaping. It's a vice I've yet to break and I hate it since it's ruining my health and I'm always broke since I'm buying vapes which have become my adult pacifier anymore. Let me know what y'all think if you're interested!

[–] moonlake@hexbear.net 2 points 6 days ago (2 children)

I can add you to the roll call so that you receive a notification every Sunday at 9pm Moscow Time when a new megathread is posted! You can share your sober streak or struggles with us.

I've heard good things about this book: Easy Way to Quit Smoking

I've read this one and it could be helpful: Atomic Habits

There's also a subreddit: r/QuitVaping

[–] Xenomorph@hexbear.net 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Cool count me in and thanks for the tips! I got some money recently and I'm thinking about buying a combo of the patch and the lozenge off amazon to help with my quit. I will update this thread or future ones when I do quit and if anyone wants to join in.

[–] moonlake@hexbear.net 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I've added you to the roll call! Good luck and keep us updated on your progress solidarity

[–] HexReplyBot@hexbear.net 1 points 6 days ago

A Reddit link was detected in your comment. Here are links to the same location on alternative frontends that protect your privacy.

[–] Moss@hexbear.net 6 points 1 week ago

I ate healthily and exercised all of this week! I haven't completely cut out snacks but I've been subsituting in apples and eating less. I've also been making proper meals and getting in my nutrients and fruit and veg, instead of just frozen shite and fast food. I've been swimming twice this week and am surprised to find myself improving. It wasn't that long ago that swimming 1km tired me out and took 50 minutes, now I can do it in about 40 and still feel good to keep going. I'm only surprised because I haven't been working on cardio or trying to get better at swimming much. I went for a long walk every day too.

[–] moonlake@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago
[–] moonlake@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I've had a good week in terms of sticking to habits, here's what I'm trying to do every day:

  • get early morning sunlight
  • do some stretching
  • do some reading
  • go for a bike ride
  • eat a fruit salad

It's nothing too ambitious but it's nice to have a list and try to do all of them every day

[–] LGOrcStreetSamurai@hexbear.net 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

do some reading

What are you readin' man?

[–] moonlake@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'm currently finishing up "How Not to Diet" by Dr Michael Greger. It's a book about healthy weight loss. He argues that eating a whole-foods plant-based diet is the best diet for weight loss. Plant-based food is generally very low-calorie so you can lose weight while eating more food than on the Standard Amerikkkan Diet. It's also the healthiest diet so it's a no brainer. I had previously read his book "How Not to Die" and it basically changed my life. I recommend both of them. vegan-seitan

Have you been reading something lately?

[–] LGOrcStreetSamurai@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I have been working through the Black Panther reading list

I just finished "The Black Bourgeoisie" (I have also come to realize I need a physical copy of books, I don't like PDF reading. I'm easily distracted). I feel it's important to be more well read on black thinkers as i'm black and I don't think good. I'm really trying to stay away from "explainers" or "video essays" on these sorts of books and trying my best to read them on my own.

I'm also re-rewarding Hellboy which is always good.

[–] moonlake@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I didn't know about that list, thanks for sharing! rat-salute-2 I want to read The Autobiography of Malcolm X, it's on my list. But currently I'm focused on these self-improvement books because first I need to figure out the basic questions like "wtf should I eat"

[–] LGOrcStreetSamurai@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

self-improvement books because first I need to figure out the basic questions like "wtf should I eat"

To be fair it's a REALLY important question. It's corny to say but learning how to take care of yourself is actually a deeply important skill to develop. It's critical to all and any self-improvement endeavor. Learning how to fuel your body and your mind are actually pretty overlooked, and sadly no one really teach you what to eat. I just realized that right now as i typed this up. Damn.

[–] moonlake@hexbear.net 2 points 6 days ago

and sadly no one really teach you what to eat

Not only that, but there is an entire billion dollar food industry whose goal is to create horribly unhealthy but hyperpalatable food (which hijacks your brain's reward system) and make sure that you eat as much of it as possible.

I would argue that choosing what to eat is one of the most important decisions that we make on a daily basis. Your diet affects your overall health, immune system, energy levels, mood, mental health, gut microbiome, lifespan and many other factors. I fixed my diet after reading How Not to Die but I wish I did it 15 years ago.

[–] DragonBallZinn@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago

Strained my lower back on friday and it still hurts, and I also failed my 225 lbs bench attempt. Shit sucks.

[–] Wmill@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago

Got my forklift cert on Friday, now I need to fix my car and then I'll be able to find a job I hope. A simple swap of a radiator I kind of messed up by puncturing the radiator so hoping some epoxy and plastic weilding will fix my fuck up and get me back on the road. Also been taking creatine these past days, hoping it'll help me work out better

[–] Hohsia@hexbear.net 3 points 1 week ago

I think it was better than usual. Had a bit of a realization that most of my depression still comes from living with my folks, still trying to figure out whether that’s because of what other people think about it. Also realizing that god I really fucking hate technology and wish I had somewhere to go outside. It’s a case by case situation of course (your mileage may vary) but most of my friendships have been digital and it’s really fucking sucked. Guess I’m going to get serious about moving out even though I’ll once again be a tenant because god knows I can’t afford a house