My Bad Habits

[Blake]

Hey, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who posted in my last topic about a professor. He's doesn't have a bad personality. He's actually pretty easy to get along with (he just likes to talk a lot, so let him steer the conversation ). But I did appreciate the comments.

Anyhow, I have MANY terrible habits and it sounds like it's going to take a bad toll on me.


I haven't done homework basically since I started this semester at all.
I haven't really studied since I started the semester at all.
I'm late for morning classes on a regular basis.
I missed several classes since the semester has started.
I don't quite eat healthy.
Last week and this week when I tried to cut back on work hours I was swamped with tutoring.
And my priorities are absolutely backwards: computer > junk food > good food > work > school
I haven't made any friends to hang out with after school/class, but I made many friends that I see and talk to in school and work.
I'm not old enough to go out drinking since that seems to be the easiest way to make friends.


And I'll admit at times I do feel down because I feel lonely and such. I also feel down when I don't do the work I'm supposed to do. But at the same time I'm not taking any initiative to actually get things done the way they should be.

After so many years the school/work/video games thing isn't working. Not that it ever was successful anyway.

So how do I want to solve this? Go into the Air Force Reserves/Guard.

I have probably been sitting in my house for about 1/3 of my entire life for God's sakes. I think I'm just being lazy and am taking advantage of being lazy and that's where my many bad habits lie as you can see.

I think it would be good to actually go and get myself some discipline through the Military. I think it will help me get in better habits, be physically healthy(and hopefully attractive), and maybe even have some pride in myself.

One of my friends recently went into the Navy and I'm dieing to find out how he's doing. I think he's in some delayed entry program or something and will be going to A-School to get his education. I think he at least will feel much more badass than he has ever felt for being a soldier instead of a civilian.

Now I won't get the same effect as him but I think if I get physically stronger maybe I won't look all scrawny and geeky that I currently am. Maybe I'll actually develop courage to get into a relationship. I need some kind of close friend or relationship to keep myself going.



I think the biggest problem here is I'm am suffering from some kind of isolation. The only people I see outside of school are my mom, my mom's boyfriend, and my dog. I need to find someone else to hang out with and study and such or something I think to get my motivation.

So again I think the Air Force might help steer me in a direction to become a better person, otherwise I think I'll still be the same way that I am. I feel I need to go out in the world all by myself and start to fix my own problems instead of dragging others into it.



So anyhow, if you read this I'll be grateful. I don't want people to feel sorry for me in this vent, because this is something that CAN be changed. What I need though is advice.

Has any of your family enlisted in the military?
How was it before and after?
Do you think it's worthwhile?

If not what are some solutions to help myself get confidence in myself?
What can I do to meet people and have fun outside of the virtual world?
How do I get into better working habits?
How can I manage time for school, work, and homework while fully awake and alert?

[Booyakasha]

Well, one group of my cousins, two of the five went into the Army. The one who's my age (my exact age--less than five hours between us) was in the Army for...call it five years. (He entered in Winter 00/01, and got out just in time to make me go see 'X-Men 3' with him.) His tour took him to Germany, then down to Iraq for a couple years, and then back up to Germany. I don't know overmuch about his experiences--he told me he never saw any combat, so that's a plus. We wrote back and forth a few times--a lot of the time, he was just bored, I guess. More than once he told me he couldn't find anything good to read (he doesn't know Arabic or German), so I'd send him care packages of books and magazines. I wouldn't say the experience has changed him a great deal--he's still the same cat I knew growing up. As he explained it to me, the big reason he enlisted in the first place was because his parents don't really make all that much, and he wanted to save them having to pay his way through college (which is noble--totally bonkers, but noble).

I never even considered the military for myself. It's not for me. I know enough about myself to know this.

By the way, Blake, I know how you feel. Sometimes I get into the same slump about school and everything. Eventually I just snap out of it--I'll wake up on time, look at the clock, and say to myself, 'You know what? Screw this--I'm getting back in the saddle, damn it.' The active approach, I guess you'd call it (or maybe the "Boo gets back up after having knocked himself unconscious and continues slamming his head against the wall until it crumbles to dust" approach--whatever floats your boat and finds your lost remote, I say).

[Speed]

You have to do whats cool for you man, make your own decisions. and when you gotta blow off some steam your E-homies will be there for you

[Tales of CuccoLady]

I can't say I ever had or will have experience in the army, but I'll tell you one thing-- you should do what you think is best for YOU.

I know you've probably heard the 'school is important' speech fifty gazillion times, so I won't repeat it. I'm just gonna say that, so far, just from my high school experiences (not much. I'm speaking with wisdom I don't have here) some people have more drive than others.

I guess the thing to do is to find the way to discover that drive. I know I, for one, have been steadily losing it ever since I entered HS.

All I can say is that YOU know yourself best, and YOU alone know how to make yourself do well.

It's definitely good that you're trying to take the initiative, though. You can do it~! *E-hi-5*

[User Name]

Your habits follow in line with a ton of mine. A few I'm working on is eating healthier and actually doing my homework. To do this, all I can suggest is setting up a routine for yourself. Set aside an hour for homework. Instead of reaching for that junk food when you get home, reach for some carrots. I'm kind of being a hyprocrite here, but I'm trying to fix this as well. It takes time, but with concentration and no cheating, it can be done. Good luck with everything.

[Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds]

Schooling doesn't hold very high priority to me- I'm definitely not the person to be giving advice on how to dedicate yourself to it. If you're interested in what you're doing, it will be important enough to you that you will apply yourself. If it's not, then I would wonder why you're doing it. School isn't the only way to get a good job, or be paid well. On that same note, I've worked "normal" jobs for the past four years, and made plenty of money to do what makes me happy, including travel around the world, and I'm not in debt from school. *shrug*

To make friends, you need to find people with similar interests as yourself. Do you like art? Take a fun arts and crafts class, or try something new like pottery or glass painting. You could join a casual sports team or club (and no, not just ball-related ones, there's indoor rock climbing, lasertag, hiking, anything active- and it will make you feel good!). You can do drama/acting or join a creative writing class, mostly as these things aren't focused on the learning aspect so much as they're about improving skills you enjoy and sharing the experience with other people. Oh, and drinking isn't a good way to meet people

If the Army is something you're comfortable with, then that's your choice. It can be a great experience for some people, though I personally find military distasteful. I learnt confidence and disipline from iceskating lessons and ballet class, as well as meeting people.