Everyday Systems

From http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com ... agent.html

In Michael Lewis' recent profile of the president, Obama admitted that he heavily depends on routines, such as only wearing gray or blue suits. This, Obama claims, helps "focus your decision-making energy" and prevents "going through the day distracted by trivia." Maria Popova hears an echo of William James' 1887 treatise Habit:

The more of the details of our daily life we can hand over to the effortless custody of automatism, the more our higher powers of mind will be set free for their own proper work. There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision, and for whom the lighting of every cigar, the drinking of every cup, the time of rising and going to bed every day, and the beginning of every bit of work, are subjects of express volitional deliberation.

The No S habits are far easier than learning the rules and restrictions of other diets/ways of eating. When someone asks me if I want more (seconds), automatically the rule pops into my mind that I am not going to have seconds. I like the automation, building habit. My problem is sweets, so even though I know better... the decision to say no isn't always automatic. Trying to get there. Actually, I'm doing fairly well. I just moved back to a former position where I can walk a lot and I'm packing my own breakfast and lunch.

I really cannot imagine trying to figure out my calorie intake or how many points my meal is and how many I have left for the day. I know it works for some people, but I love the ease of No S.