i get really frustrated when i am unwell as an autistic person because my interoception is so bad that i can’t tell whether i’m physically unwell or i’m just burnt out or unhappy or what is actually wrong
My friend @SahilBloom has this framework I've stolen that has been really impactful for my life.
He calls it "The Character Alarm Method."
Here's how it works:
I. Break down the components of your ideal day - First, take a step back from your daily schedule. It’s filled with inertia. If you could refresh it and start from scratch, what would the day look like?
II. Come up with a “character” for each component - Take each component you come up with to the extreme. What are the characteristics that would make each component an out of the park success?
III. Set an alarm for each character - Take each character and ascribe it to a time. Ask yourself what are the times of the day, you want to “flip the switch” on a character.
When I did this exercise, here was my output:
I. Components of My Ideal Day:
- Physical Exercise
- Professional Excellence
- Family Quality Time
- Mental Exercise
II. My Names for Each Component:
- Physical Exercise – Morning Ninja
- Professional Excellence – Work Horse
- Family Quality Time – Husband of the Year
- Mental Exercise – Zen Master
III. My Times for Each Character:
- Morning Ninja – 5 AM
- Work Horse – 7 AM
- Husband of the Year – 6 PM
- Zen Master – 10 PM
All great things in life come from compounding. They are small, daily consistent habits that make minimal impact on an individual day and massive impact on an extended timeframe. Setting daily alarms has had a Pavlovian effect on me - it’s a short “buzz” that subtly reinforces a reflection loop.
Am I missing the “Husband of the Year” alarm every day? Am I snoozing the “Morning Ninja” alarm? Am I making space for myself during my “Zen Master” time? Am I productive during “Work Horse” time?
Your life is in your control. You set the pace and determine the journey.
This is a simple framework to help steer your ship to its rightful destination.