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If character is defined by what we do, I’m in trouble. Yes, I perform some worthwhile, productive services here and there, but so much is spent on time-wasting drivel.  Sometimes I wonder how much better, healthier, and smarter I’d be if I gave up a few of the following….

Spending too much time on Facebook – Between actual friends, virtual friends and all those pages I’ve “liked” – Deepak Chopra, Dr. Oz, Eckert Tolle, Birds of Connecticut, People Who Love Cats, Cats Who Hate People, New Yorker cartoons– I’m constantly checking in.

The strange thing is I agree with every argument against Facebook. It’s a corporate tool. It’s addictive. It’s deceptively seductive and invasive. It’s mind numbing and stupid and silly and… wait.  Eckhart Tolle has a video explaining the true meaning of life?  Must go.  Excuse me.

Eating tons of Chocolate  – I prefer the super dark organic stuff so that makes it okay.  Right?  But a bar a day? Is that safe? And what is it about this stuff that’s so darn good?  I admire people who say they have one square per week although I can’t imagine that monk-like discipline.

I tell myself chocolate contains serotonin, which is mood-altering and makes me feel nice which can only benefit my family and friends and everyone I meet.  So I’m actually helping humanity by eating chocolate? Hey, I like that.

Going to bed most nights to something stupid – Most intelligent people have never heard of the Bravo channel, let alone watch reruns of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” But I can’t help it.

I know. Brain cells wither, I lose IQ points by the second, but my eyelids grow heavy and sleep comes upon me like I just popped an Ambien. Unlike if I watch news or crime shows, which leave me staring at the ceiling.

Playing too much “Words with Friends” – I know this game of online Scrabble is a huge time waster. And I’ve been told I get competitive, which is ridiculous.

It’s just there’s something so satisfying about seeing that “You Won!!” sign and feeling pumped and ready to play again and maybe I’ll get that triple word on the triple letter and c’mon baby, bring it home to mama. (*Cough*. Excuse me).

Sleeping in on weekends.  Maybe it’s the getting older thing, although I know plenty of people my age who jump out of bed at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday to go hiking. Don’t get me wrong, my brain has lots of plans, but my body’s comfortable and warm and needs ten more minutes so I turn over and hit snooze.

I know writers who rise at 5:00 a.m. each morning (weekends included) and write. If I did that, I’d have seventeen novels by now. Why do I give into my lazy side?  Because it feels good?  Is that an acceptable answer?

And that’s my list.  If I gave up even some of these, I no doubt would be a better person. Maybe I’d have a Pulitzer or Nobel Peace Prize or something to show for my time on this earth.  But would I have as much fun?  That’s the rub. The jury’s still out and probably always will be, alas.

Now if you excuse me, I must return to Facebook.

 

What bad habits would you like to tone down?  Comments are always welcome and if you’d like to receive postings by email, just enter your address at the top.  Thanks so much for reading and sharing..

Comments(38)

  1. I am guilty of all five of these as well! Although I do try to limit to two squares of dark chocolate per day. I did give up on all of the Housewives except for NJ (my home state, poorly represented) and the OC (original gangsta housewives). My top priority for the new year is to spend far less time on Facebook, but seeing as how that was my top priority last year… Well, we shall see…

  2. You're in Jersey? We're practically neighbors. Have a wonderful New Years!

  3. Just give up the guilt part and you’ll be fine!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Roxanne, Couldn’t agree more and as I get older (and older and older), that seems easier to do.

    • Liz

    • 7 years ago

    What Roxanne said!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Liz, I’m with all you ladies who say guilt is useless. If anything, we should be imbibing more in life’s pleasures, not less.

  4. HA! Since this is a heritage post, have you been able to make any changes in the almost two years since you wrote it? But it’s a fun post and I love your sense of humor! Pass the chocolate.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Thanks Paula. Yes, I’ve ratcheted way down on Bravo. The dumbed down stuff got too much… even for me. As for the rest (head lowered), I’m afraid I”m as bad as ever.

  5. There certainly could be much worse guilty pleasures! With that reasoning you are doing just fine, kindred spirit.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Thank you Haralee. I’ve heard some guilty pleasures that curl my hair. These are tame by comparison. Hmmm… maybe too tame? Something to ponder.

  6. I hear ya on Facebook! I do my best to put time containers around my social media time wasters. OMG. Guilty as charged!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Peggy, Facebook started as a little thing I did because a friend recommended it. I’m sure like many can say, its taken over my life. Its like going to the neighborhood coffee shop several times a day and checking in. Oh well. I’m sure there are worse guilty pleasures out there.

  7. Give up? Maybe being snarky. But otherwise, I live my FB, whiskey, distracting games and chocolate. It’s time to do more not less! Lol

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Ha ha, love your thinking, Jennifer. Especially in these strange days, maybe its time to ratchet up, not take away.

  8. I love your list, Laurie! I am guilty of the first 3 on your list. I have no intension of giving them up anytime soon. Especially chocolate!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Thank you, Nancy. I know I will always have these as my guilty pleasures, although I’ve ratcheted down on Bravo. But chocolate? Words with Friends? Sleeping in on weekends? Can’t see those ever changing. Thanks for reading.

  9. This is a great post and I am so with you on the first and last one – I think I need to write a post about this as well.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Antoinette, We all have our guilty pleasures! I say go for it.

  10. I’ve been bingeing on Anthony Bourdain. There’s something weirdly sexy about him. I discovered him bingeing on CNN to watch the circus. I still love my Facebook and my dark chocolate. When you work from home FB is my way to connect when I can’t be there in person.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Rebecca, I also love Anthony and even wrote about him in this blog. I agree, Facebook has become the world’s office water cooler. We all stand around and talk about stuff. I just need to stay away from it more, way too addicting.

  11. I see a couple of things here that I have no intention of giving up. Life without chocolate just would not be worth living!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Shelley, Sigh. I agree.

    • Pam

    • 7 years ago

    I share a couple of these with you. I have others that I am not ready to admit to at this time. LOL I used to be guilty of the Words with Friends but DD2’s boyfriend kept beating me so I uninstalled it. That’ll teach him. Ha!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Pam, I’m as addicted to WWF as ever. I have now about 6 games going at any given time. Its getting out of hand.

  12. I’m one of those that rise at 5am to write (and to social media!) And yes, dark chocolate is good for you, it lowers blood pressure among other things.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Jennifer, Totally respect you “get-up-early” people. I have several friends like that and wish my body would rouse itself in the early hours. Yay, dark chocolate lowers blood pressure? Yes!

  13. Somehow I’ve escaped all of the ones you’ve listed. While I’d love to sleep past 6:30, my dogs insist I get up so they can go outside. Saturdays I try to go back to sleep but it’s a useless exercise. Grrrr…. And Facebook and Instagram… I’m not good about that either. I’d have a bazillion followers by now if I was. My guilty pleasure is staying up late with a book. Not very productive, but I like it, or like today, preparing to have a college friend over for dinner this evening. Way more fun than Words With Friends. xoxox, Brenda

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Brenda, Staying up with a book is very productive. Much more than mindless television. This post is several years old so happy to report I don’t watch the dumb Bravo shows anymore.

  14. 4 words….Salted caramel dark chocolate…

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Renee,

      Oh. My. God.

  15. I figure I’ve earned my ‘guilty pleasures’! And so have you!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Thank you, Diane. I think we both have!

    • jae

    • 4 years ago

    I wish Words with Friends was more like Scrabble, it’s not but I’m guilty too. I’ll get a notification from my bestie just as I’m about the go to bed and then I’m up for another hour kicking his arse lol

    We need guilty pleasures, they help the medicine of life go down 🙂

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Jae, Couldn’t agree more! Just need to take out the ‘guilty.’

  16. Hahahaha! I just love this post! Hmmm…where would I be without Facebook, Solitaire, puzzles, food in general, and people to visit with? Unhappy! 😉

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Diane, You and me both.

  17. These all sound perfectly reasonable to me. But one of mine is going to bed early so I have to miss WWHL.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Lauren, Thank God I don’t watch that anymore. Now I’m hooked on reruns of “The Office.” LOL.

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