Update: 1 week + Lessons

Skip to the end for what I think are useful lessons:

It’s been 7 days now since I swore to start. First two days I jacked off maybe 6 times each day. Third day onward it’s been 3 times per day and today, once. I know this sounds not so great, but it ties in with the lessons I learned.

Because along with the decrease in masturbation, I have intensely improved other areas of my life. I’ve been going to the gym straight for 5 days now, I’ve been getting out of the house. I have taken steps towards talking to people, including women but not just women. Randomly throughout the day I’ve talked to three or four people and I even spent an hour with a stranger after meeting her at an event. Asked her out and it’s a possibility depending on timing, but she seems really cool. My diet has been mostly healthy (a few treats a day, which trust me is a lot better than what I used to be eating). So even though i haven’t reached my goals, I believe I’m well on the way.

LESSONS: some of this may be contrary to what other posters here say, but this is just what has been working for me, maybe it’ll change who knows.

1. Take advantage of motivation- when you got that bit of motivation, whether it’s from a movie you watched or a family members words, or some other third thing, take advantage of that motivation to do something that you normally find extremely challenging. For some it’s the gym. For me personally going to the gym wasn’t too much of a challenge, so I decided to be more outgoing, and it ended up working out!

2. Don’t be too hard on yourself- you don’t have to solve all your problems tonight. Be proud of smaller accomplishments and the path that you’re on. I faced setbacks the first few days with binge eating, but I forgave myself and I want to help myself do better not always be scolding myself because I start to lose confidence. On a related note, confidence comes from a little but if motivation, a little evidence (eg losing .5 pounds), and a lot of faith. Have a lot of faith in yourself please

3. More practical tip- cold turkey is hard especially while juggling multiple bad habits. I would slow down on certain habits and gradually remove more each day or week

4. Sometimes rules are not helpful. For me if I had a rule of 2200 calories and I went over, I’d immediately start binging because why does it matter I already broke the rule. Ironically when I told myself nothing besides that I generally want to be healthier I didn’t end up binging.

5. Things will naturally build on each other. The first day I exercised led to my first day of decreased porn, which led to my eating better, which led to my being more outgoing. It’s honestly very natural to build one habit and turn it into another habit whe you have that momentum.

6. Stay busy. This is specifically for nofap, but I guess in general. When I am bored I tend to do useless stuff like eat junk, watch porn, doom scroll. If you’re busy you don’t have time to do that of course. Not even necessarily going out, but it can be pursuing a new hobby at home, cooking something special, learning a language.