Is Reading Worth It?

 

Reading Worth It?  Good question BUT before we deep dive into that, allow me to share this memory recall.  Many times in my past flights, in fact 99.99% of my flights, once we're airborne, WHEN the plane is at its cruising altitude and WHEN the cabin lights have been turned off, and WHEN a majority of the passengers are either already deep asleep OR trying to catch a sleep, my seat [Oh yes, most of the time, I'm seated @Coach except for the few times WHEN I enjoyed my business trip entitlement] is often one of a literal handful with the pinlights turned ON.  Even as I'm oblivious of the othe handful of lighted seats, I'll admit that WHAT keeps my seat lighted all throughout my flights is all because of READING📗📙📘

BUT as I am NO expert to pitch and push everyone to spend more time READING [given their own priorities], allow me to share a research from the University of Sussex WHICH showed that by spending at least six minutes of READING, stress levels were reduced by 68 percent.  And the researchers added that READING works better and faster than other methods like listening to music OR taking a short walk💥💥💥

More studies supported that recent research as there are many reasons for the profound stress relieving effect of READING, amongst others:

• It allows our mind to concentrate on the words [and pull the reader away from anxious thoughts]
• It creates the effect of suspending reality wherein WHEN we read, it tends to alleviate tensions even deep in our heart and muscles

One of the most quotable quotes I always hear is 'AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY'.  Can I match that with this:  A BOOK A WEEK [or a month] CAN KEEP THE GRIM REAPER AT BAY.  NOT to appear as a bookworm OR even as one who's intellectually obsessed, I stumbled across a study way back almost a decade back [2016 in fact] WHICH found out that READING for at least 30 minutes a day extended the lifespan by an average of two years [for those respondent-readers]💚💛💜

Our takeaway:  Allow me to qualify that a no nonsense READING involves READING through serious content as opposed to browsing OR even skimming [because WHILE the latter is a form of READING, at times, the READING quality gets compromised [I'll tag it as LOST!!!]  because the key objective in skimming is to get the gist or the main idea of a content.  And obviously you could miss a word OR two WHICH could be tangible and material enough.  Dude, my simple ASK is this:  WOULD you be willing to shave off [INITIALLY] 10 to 15 minutes of your social media screen time and divert it to meaningful READING [YES, even e-Books is very much fine!!!]😀😀😀

It's All About Setting EXPECTATIONS

 

Multiple studies have shown that the most common cause of frustrations in life is that failure to meet the EXPECTATIONS.  WHETHER that's a possible job offer, a financial windfall, a gift OR bonus, frustration arises WHEN neither of these all will even come into fruition.  Last week I was exchanging notes with a senior boss from Sun Life of Canada and he admitted that's he's too frank to a fault because WHEN he wants to promote someone, he'll confide it to the person even if CAN'T guarantee that the promotion will be approved.  YES, it's ALL ABOUT SETTING EXPECTATIONS💚💛💜

I remember, @ our workplace, I really ensured that I would remain tight-lipped UNLESS and UNTIL I am cocksure that a specific outcome OR result will materialize, if at all.  WHERE there was a 1% probability of NOT happening, I am averse to falsely raising expectations because that's the worst FAUX PAS I can ever commit.  True, SETTING EXPECTATIONS is beneficial to our life BUT again, it has to be realistic.  POSITIVE self-talk, practising gratitude and letting go are just a few ways you can focus on improving one's life and well-being.  YES, SELF-EXPECTATIONS can provide clarity, direction and accountability and those EXPECTATIONS should be realistic and focus on one's long-term goals.  YES, it can be hard to navigate expectations BUT there's NO other way BUT worm our way through that jigzaw puzzle of a road maze that will continue to challenge us down the road💥💥💥

Thing is, the NOT so obvious downside of SELF-EXPECTATIONS is that they can lead to avoidance , confusion OR worst, even fear.  And without POSITIVE ways to set and maintain EXPECTATIONS, we may expect experience obstacles that may prevent us from accomplishing a pre-set goal.  And WHILE the EXPECTATIONS can be hard to manage at times, one can be set up for SUCCESS!!!

You might be curious, DID I WALK THE TALK?  YES dude, allow me to share my below 2-cents:

• Determine EXPECTATIONS early on
• Develop that 'LET GO' mindset
• Hone your POSITIVE 'self talk'
• Give yourself TIME [NOT constantly pressed]
• Focus on WHAT you accomplished
• YES, APPRECIATE what you have
• YES, develop that self-confidence

Our takeaway:  As EXPECTATIONS could be coming from all possible quarters, it is imperative that we are able to discern as to FROM WHERE that EXPECTATION is coming from.  If it is from your immediate family, that should carry the heaviest weight.  WHETHER their EXPECTATIONS are on-track OR NOT, you have to give it the importance for validation.  WHATEVER endeavor you're engaged now, IT'S ALL ABOUT SETTING EXPECTATIONS😁😁😁

Never Belittle Those TINY-WHINY-LITTLE Habits!

 

These days, we are all enamored with either the BIGNESS or the 'BIG-TIMEness' of things in life.   BUT in today's fast-paced world we live in, it seems much easier to focus solely on the significant outcomes and milestones, results WHICH you can even showcase and shout to the whole world as an achievement.  Promotions, new car, new applicances, OH YES, even the latest iPhone17-18-19 name it.  BUT in reality and more quite often, it's those small-small seemingly insignificant actions that truly shape our lives and careers.  WHICH reminds me of this not-so-old quote:  HOW YOU DO ANYTHING IS HOW YOU DO EVERYTHING.  ,Never Belittle Those TINY-WHINY-LITTLE Habits💚💛💜

Despite our own vulnerabilities to tons and tons of illnesses and traps in life, paramount amongst all is our mental health because if it is NOT in a good place, WHO CAN't be feeling scary OR helpless?  Poor mental health can be brought on by a significant life event such as a loss, a breakup, OR even an unwanted OR unexpected changes in circumstances.  Other times, there may be NO obvious reason at all.  And WHEN that happens, indeed it can be hard to know HOW to make ourselves feel better, as we DON'T know WHAT could be causing the problem.  And WHEN we feel bad, we may even stop taking care of ourselves [ouch] and WHAT happens next, that leads to that dreaded vicious cycle that remains damn hard to break free from.  YESirrrrreee, making small life CHANGES can lead to a drastic [and positive] impact to our mental health [EVEN IF they appear insigificant at first]!!!

I heard this quite a few times.  WHEN we feel low, exercise might be the last thing on your mind.  And summoning our energy to move WHEN we feel depressed, OR CONVINCING yourself to go outside WHEN you feel anxious can be incredibly hard.  HOWEVER, experts tell us that exercise has been proven time and time again to be one of the most effective tools to improve our mental health💥💥💥

YES, many of us [and I'm one of them in the past] are guilty of being negative towards ourselves from time to time.  Oh Oh, NEGATIVE self-talk can really increase one's anxiety, depression and even lower our self-esteem.  Identifying WHEN we are being NEGATIVE to our own self and putting a more POSITIVE spin on things can indeed do wonders for our mental health.  Telling ourselves that we're feeling low will NEVER get better😌😌😌

Our takeaway:  Much as we have tons and tons of TINY-WHINY-LITTLE habits to consider, WHATEVER it is that may bring joy and happiness that would allow our mind to focus on something other than HOW we're feeling, YES go for it, DON'T ever have second-thoughts about it.  True it may be sometimes doubly hard to motivate our own selves to do things that would make us happy especially WHEN we tend to hit rock bottom.  BUT experts cousel us to try it, to do it because it can do wonders to our mental health.  In the shortest words possible, we are encouraged to really make time for ourselves and for the things we love.  Thing is, NEVER BELITTLE THOSE TINY-WHINY-LITTLE habits!!!

That Power Of Focus!

 

Have you ever sat down to work on something important and 15 to 20 minutes later, you're checking your phone?  OR rearranging your desk?  OR in that deep YouTube rabbit hole?  YES YES yowww, it happens to all of us, I was in that 'rabbit hole' many times in the past, all becauss FOCUS is damn slippery.  THAT POWER OF FOCUS.  we would normally start the day with the good intentions to finish off this task, to run that errand, to discuss with your spouse/partner your financial priorities and so on UNTIL distractions would steal our energy way before we even realize it, whew!@#$%?

If there's a recurring miss I would hear OR bear witness over and over again, it's the misconception that FOCUS is all about will power.  BUT it's NOT dude.  Instead, FOCUS is a skill, period.  And like any skill, you've got to hone it, make it sharp and later sharper as long as you consistently practice and execute it alongside a disciplined mindset.  NOW you might challenge me, questioning WHY I'm making a mountain out of a molehill WHEN it comes to FOCUS💥💥💥

The harsh reality in our global village is that we live in communities that train us to lose FOCUS.  In the bluntest terms, circumstances SET US UP to lose FOCUS.  Those smartphone notifications, endless scrolling, and a culture that rewards 'BUSYNESS" over 'PRODUCTIVITY" makes it almost impossible for us to deep-dive and get engrossed in a meaningful task OR work from end-to-end with hardly any distractions.  BUT looking back, I realized I did reap tons and tons of benefits arising out of being FOCUSED LIKE:

• LIKE that breakthrough idea that arose out of my stillness
• LIKE that project completion I made it by ignoring the world
• LIKE decisions I made WHEN I slowed down & had clarify

Truth is, our FOCUS-related problems are NOT that earth-shaking and it ISN'T because we lack ideas.  Instead, our legitimate problem is that we rarely protect our FOCUS long enough to bring them in life.  And frankly, much as we are aware HOW to avert OR pre-empt those distractions, we even become complicit [i'll call it GUILTY] to quickly succumb when distractions pop-up.  HOW can we fix things if we become a part of the problem INSTEAD being part of the solution???

Our takeaway:  The ramifications and consequences of our loss of FOCUS can't be understated, to rattle off its key impact areas:

• Ending up struggling to complete one's task
• Being prone to commit [avoidable] mistakes
• Ending up with LOW QUALITY kind of work
• That lack of energy would eventually lead one to tiredness & fatigue, a double-whammy at that!!!

Why Do We Procrastinate, SERIOUSLY!

 

Let's start off our light blog today with a giveaway question:  WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU DID PROCRASTINATE?  If I may guess, if it's NOT yesterday, it's last week OR within the last month?  YES, that's a blockbuster as we seem to keep breaking records in terms of PROCRASTINATION.  BUT before we whack ourselves, WHY DON'T we pause for a while and seriously ponder as to WHY DO WE PROCRASTINATE, SERIOUSLY???

NOT to defend the guilty parties [and that includes me a few times in the past], many PROCRASTINATORS know that that behavior [of PROCRASTINATING] really hurts them BUT they nevertheless keep doing it even though they want to stop.  There you go.  Many of us have that earnest desire to right the wrong BUT experts advise that before we take action, let's answer these perplexing questions:  WHY DO I PROCRASTINATE EVEN THOUGH I'M AWARE IT'S WRONG???

Experts tell us that answering these questions is a MUST-DO because in order for us to overcome PROCRASTINATION, it helps to understand WHAT causes it in the first place?  And the most common result of multiple studies tell us that we PROCRASTINATE because our DRIVE TO DELAY is irrationally stronger than that DRIVE TO ACT.  And this happens WHEN their self-control and motivation are weakened by issues LIKE exhaustion, and are opposed by issues LIKE fear.  YES, the DRIVE TO ACT represents HOW strongly we can push ourselves💙💛💚

Sometimes, a person's self-control can be influenced by HOW tired he is WHILE his motivation can be influenced by HOW long they will have to wait before they are rewarded for taking action.  And issues LIKE exhaustion and far-future outcomes can indeed interfere with our self-control and motivation and consequently reduce our own self-drive to act as can many other issues LIKE depression, ADHD, and even low self-efficacy.  And conversely, that DRIVE TO DELAY represents HOW strongly people feel pushed to avoid taking action at the moment✅✅✅

Our takeaway:  Much as PROCRASTINATION is NOT so-simple  to have a final fix, it makes sense we pin down the most common root causes LIKE:

• PRIORITIZATION of our short-term mood😡
• TASK AVERSIVENESS - because a task is boring
• ANXIETY & FEAR - afraid to be criticized???
• FEELING OVERWHELMED - that's all in the mind!
• PERFECTIONISM - that's bull____ !@#$%?
• LOW MOTIVATION - dude, got to arrest that skid!

Is Playing SAFE RISKIER Than Taking Risks?

 

For the longest time, we were taught and trained that we should always PLAY SAFE.  To further turn the waters murkier, we are reminded a zillion times of RISKS.  And a typical exclamatory statement is:  DON'T TAKE RISKs!  Seriously?  On the other hand, those living a free-wheeling life would blurt out:  NO RISK, NO GLORY.  You may then ask me, WHAT'S YOUR TAKE?  WHY is it when at times, PLAYING SAFE IS RISKIER THAN TAKING RISK?  This will be a wild and rowdy discussion BUT I like this thread then💚💛💜

WHILE I CAN'T claim to be an expert on this topic, I do have my fair share of experiences WHICH will guide me to share my 2-cents.  Firstly, if I look back, had I PLAYED SAFE, surely I am NOT as WHAT I am today.  NOT to blow my horn OR beat my chest, I can exclaim categorically that I would have tagged myself today as an utter failure IF I PLAYED SAFE all along through the years.  On the other hand, allow me to qualify that I am risk-averse, I took RISKS in a calculated approach and I DIDN'T take RISKS like when you go to the Las Vegas Casinos to splurge all your hard-earned monies😌😌😌

Thing is, WHEN the most risky thing to do is to PLAY SAFE, you've got to be bold and take some calculated risks.  Oh yes, the cost of living keeps going up north with spikes here and there, the value of my local currency remains volative, the situation in the Middle East between Israel and Iran is a powder keg that can ignite World War III and on that note, there is that constant threat of oil price increases💥💥💥

In the business landscape, we'll always hear 'LOW INVESTMENT, LOW RETURNs' BUT from an investor perspective, what matters is NOT the investment BUT the risks up front.  Are they risk averse OR will they throw and roll with the dice?  YES, a direct line can be drawn between RISKS and investing.  As a businessman/investor, it is your call and no one else's.  And that is NO different from the risks we face in life❎❎❎

Our takeaway:  I remember a colleague I once worked with.  He was sharp, well-spoken and absolutely dependable.  If you were his supervisor, you DIDN'T have to literally watch him 'over the shoulder' because he'll deliver the goods at the right time.  YET, after ten years in the company, he was still in that same role.  NO promotions, NO big projects, NO real recognition, WHILE others leapfrogged ahead.  WHY?  Is it because PLAYING SAFE IS RISKIER THAN TAKING RISKS?  That's very true, dude😡😡😡

The ALL-In ALL-Power of Words

 

Supposed, WORDS are WORDS and we should NOT even be bothered about it.  BUT seriously, the ALL-In ALL-POWER of WORDS is way too strong as it can be the catalyst for the best outcomes for both the POSITIVE and NEGATIVE words that get spewed out.  And admittedly, till to date, I always embrace that need to articulate the best possible POSITIVE words if I am genuinely happy with the service I received📗📙📘

Few days ago WHEN I was booking the rooms we needed @Conrad, the online bookings went through lightning quick BUT to my shock, the dates showed the current date [and NOT the dates we needed which was a week later].  Since both room bookings were completed via the 'advanced purchase' mode,  I was literally scampering that that error be rectified ASAP before my paid $$$$$ dissipated in thin air.  In a few minutes I was on the Conrad hotline, a call center agent attended to my urgent need for help BUT I observed that maybe I CAN'T feel that sense of urgency.  So, I hanged up the call and called the hotline again.  That time around, the call center agent did WHAT needed to be done, by cancelling the erroneous booking and initiating the new correct booking on my behalf.  Being satisfied, I asked for the name details of the agent whom I called a 'SUPERMAN' as I wanted to commend him✅✅✅

Enough of that hotel booking though.  A month back, I was at the local hospital fixing everything ob behalf my brother prior to his discharge.  And WHEN I was so impressed with the customer-centricity of one hospital staff, I intentionally went to the Customer Service Office [whose personnel reacted nervously WHEN I stepped in, thinking that I'll file a complaint] only to heave a sigh of relief WHEN I said I want to commend a specific hospital personnel that time😊😊😊

In short, we should NOT be stingy with WORDS WHEN it is to articulate our commendation and appreciation for someone BUT WHAT needs more caution is WHEN and IF we have that tendency for callousness with WORDS especially WHEN the receiving party of those WORDS DON'T really deserve its severity and harshness.  Moreover, WORDS are more often likened to those times way prior to the invention of computers and today's technology where tools and apps always offer that 'UNDO' function.  NOT in WORDS though because once it gets spewed, the impact will reverberate faster than you would even anticipate.  NO thanks to the power of WORDS❎❎❎

Our takeaway:  BTW, those impactful WORDS DON'T just happen verbally.  These days WHEN almost everyone has an email account, those emails have trapped and significantly cause damage to more relationships than ever, regardless if those are professional OR personal emails.  Sadly, many times I was seated at the 'front seat' witnessing harsh exchanges of words via email and I commiserate with both the offending party and the offended one because they both got trapped in those emails.  WHAT was lost between them is the consciousness and awareness HOW WORDS can get out-of-hand to even cause damage to both professional and personal relationships.  YES, that's all because of the ALL-in ALL-POWER of WORDS dude😡😡😡

That 'BLONDE JOKE'!

 

I thought POSITIVITY will be our thread today, so let's start it with this BLONDE JOKE:  A blonde was flying from London to Venice on a 4-engine jet and for this story, the trip was estimated to take 4 hours.  Then, pilot announces that one engine is NOT working and flight time will now be 5 hours.  Later on, pilot announces a second engine is down and flight time will be 6 hours.  30 minutes later, he gets to the intercom to announce the 3rd engine is down and the flight will now take 7 hours.  THEN, blonde turns to the passenger next to her and says:  IF THE 4TH ENGINE QUITS, WE'LL BE UP HERE ALL NIGHT!@#$%?

YES BUT of course that was a joke no less.  BUT seriously, IF only our POSITIVITY borders the POSITIVITY of that blonde onboard the 4-engine jet, then we would be swarming with lots of POSITIVITY in life.  Thing is, the upsides of POSITIVITY CAN'T just be swept under the carpet as it enhances our resilience, it reduces stress & leads to an overall improved well-being and one too many UPSIDEs we CAN'T list here💥💥💥

Ooooops, POSITIVITY DOESN'T always refer to simply smiling and looking cheerful as POSITIVITY is much much more than that as it is more about one's overall perspective in life and their tendency to focus on all that is good in life.  Enough of all the semantics and even definitions as surely everyone has it in the bag,  Instead, let's deep-dive into the traits associated with POSITIVITY instead💚💛💜

• OPTIMISM - THAT willingness to make an effort and take a chance instead of simply giving up
• ACCEPTANCE - THAT act to acknowledge that things don't always turn out how we want them to
• RESILIENCE - THAT spirit to bounce back from an adversity and failure instead of just giving up
• GRATITUDE - THAT active & conscious appreciation of the good things in life
• MINDFULNESS - THAT conscious awareness to enhance our ability to focus
• INTEGRITY - THAT trait of being honorable, righteous & straightforward [and NOT deceitful & self-serving]

Our takeaway:  In a nutshell, these characteristics of a positive mindset may also work in that direction for us to actively adopt optimism, acceptance, resilience, and mindfulness.  Simply put, POSITIVITY is best developed by WALKING THE TALK LIKE:

Getting WHAT you get and NOT pitching a fit

Motivating those around you with a positive word

Looking at an adversity right in the eye and LAUGHIN

Enjoying the unexpected EVEN IF it's NOT WHAT you wanted

Using that POWER of SMILE to reverse the tone of a situation

It's getting back WHEN YOU FALL DOWN [even again & again]

We can go on and on with POSITIVITY but it all boils down to rolling up your sleeves and WALK THE TALK dude😁😁😁

Can We Create That Advantage In Life?

NOT so long ago WHEN I was @Shell, we were one of the first global organizations to create a new corporate function tagged as QUALITY IMPROVEMENT MANAGEMENT.  It was  a trailblazing corporate initiative because it was distinctly differentiated from the traditional old school of thought revolving around Quality Management.  BUT in life, CAN WE CREATE THAT ADVANTAGE IN LIFE???

I remember that Woody Allen one-liner:  80% OF SUCCESS IN LIFE IS JUST SHOWING UP.  And I CAN'T agree less with that.  BUT here's the catch thouugh.  The steep climb could account for that remaining 20% and that becomes a game-changer.  Swinging back to our life, it is a given that most of us WEREN'T born into wealth OR even in a network that propels us to success💚💛💜

Listening from numerous recognized life coaches, one key message that keeps resonated many times is that success often comes down to having that 'RIGHT MINDSET'.  And if we want to gain a COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE, we need to think differently than the average person.  And we need to to be willing to take risks, push ourselves way beyond and outside our own comfort zones, and be consistently committed to LEARN & GROW!!!

The KEY keyword in the preceding line is LEARN & GROW.  I did bear witness [on a first-hand basis] to gifted people, folks WHO had to exert just a little bit more BUT for them to remain a success for the long haul, they've got to consistently commit to LEARN & GROW.  Any commitment that seems shaky may likely lead one to go off-track.  Another variable I have picked up from professional coaches is having a POSITIVE OUTLOOK and believing in yourself.  Combine that two together, you can make your first attempt to takeoff from the runway✅✅✅

Our takeaway:  Today, I may NOT have the best SUCCESS STORY to peddle BUT on the other hand, I'd be the first one to declare categorically that my own narrative can be tagged in any other way except as a failure.  SO HOW?  Allow me to share my simple set of formulae [till to date]:

• I volunteered for anything - WHILE I volunteered for a cause, I considered the benefits I can derive
• I raised my hand more - YES, I wanted to stand out in a crowd, be recognized, be known
• I never stop learning - YES till to date.  Just last month, I acquired my latest certification [for CONTRACT MANAGEMENT]

CAN WE CREATE THAT ADVANTAGE IN LIFE?  Absolutely dude BUT you've got to invest a lot of yourself into it😗😗😗

Is It That Difficult To BREAK HABITS?

 

Is It That Difficult To BREAK HABITS?  YES, HABITS are HABITS and it is essential that we are able to sift through all the harvested rice, so to speak.  Feeling stuck in a cycle of NEGATIVE OR addictive behaviors is one thing BUT extricating oneself out of that cycle of an evolving and worsening NEGATIVE HABITS is the more important if NOT urgent next thing to take a concrete action📘📙📗

BREAKING BAD HABITS may seem a no-brainer that all it takes is to lift a finger BUT upon lifting that finger, one has to replace that BAD HABIT with a GOOD HABIT.  Keeping it empty OR blank is a void space that may soon be filled with another BAD HABIT, knock on wood.  Frankly, BAD HABITS are unhealthy behaviors we engage in so often that they seem kind of automatic to happen.  And WHILE some habits can be healthy, LIKE brushing your teeth before bed OR buckling your seatbelt in the car, BAD HABITS can often have that NEGATIVE effects on our well-being💢💢💢

BTW, BAD HABITS may seem so petty and trivial LIKE skipping your regular exercise, drinking heavily, smoking OR staying up late in the night [over and over again] to binge-watch Netflix OR Youtube movies OR maybe even just scrolling through social media could all impact one's mental and physical health, increasing stress and even exacerbating symptoms of depression OR anxiety.  BAD HABITS can also take on the form of social behaviors LIKE if you habitually make yourself the focus of every conversation WHICH can annoy those around you and even create divisions within your closest relationships💥💥💥

If one is a people-pleaser, you can keep saying YES and nodding your head for every request even WITHOUT THINKING.  In the end, others may take advantage of one's kindness, impacting one's own welfare.  YES, sometimes the consequences of one's BAD HABITS are obvious LIKE wasting weekends WHILE nursing a hangover after an all-night booze on a Friday night OR struggling financially, no thanks to one's gambling OR online shopping habits❌❌❌

Our takeaway:  Through the years, my key realization is that, to a fault, BAD HABITS can be incredibly persistent and difficult to shake off.  I've seen alcoholics and smokers earnestly exerting all possible efforts to CUT & CUT CLEAN BUT all in vain.  You may have tried to drop an unwanted HABIT only to find yourself sliding back into the same patterns of behavior.  Repeatedly failing in your attempts to change a BAD HABIT can leave you feeling disheartened and worse, feeling hopeless, and worst, utterly frustrated.  BUT no matter HOW long you've had a BAD HABIT, OR HOW automatic a behavior it seems, it remains possible and feasible to make a real and lasting change.  SO HOW?  Experts tell us that rather vainly attempt to cut down a BAD HABIT, find for a GOOD HABIT to replace it.  BUT be careful, a GOOD HABIT is a GOOD HABIT.  If you're a smoker and you want to replace SMOKING with VAPING, you're still OFF-TRACK dude.  BUT is it that difficult to break BAD HABITs?  NOT really, BUT you got to pull the bull by its horns. dude😡😡😡