How to stay organized: Tips for order, cleanliness, and discipline

Paul Thompson3 said:I’ve been through enough pain and catharsis to tell you—you probably drink to numb the ache or because you feel empty inside. At least, that’s my take. I was never much of a drinker, but I started hitting the bottle because I lost my usual escape—my favorite way to check out. Sometimes it was just pure, unbearable boredom or having too much damn time on my hands.
I’d get drunk and wander the streets alone, living out some low-budget noir adventure.
Eventually, I didn't even bother leaving the house; I’d just grab a liter of wine and knock it back in an afternoon. It became my "new normal"—drinking a bottle almost every single day. I actually started getting into it, learning about different labels and finding favorites. There were nights I’d sit with a bottle and browse this forum—it was actually pretty great for a while. But then it hit me: I’d been doing this for ages, and I could feel the alcohol calling my name. It didn't matter what the drink was anymore—as long as it was booze. That’s how most chronic drinkers start, I'm sure. I hated that realization, so I quit. Now, sitting down with a bottle isn't fun anymore; it’s lost its charm and usually feels pointless. I don't have any alcoholics in my family, so I guess I got lucky in that regard.

So, let's cut to the chase, Miškica. I know it sounds cynical—if booze is all you have, then without it, you have nothing—and a better life doesn't just build itself.

I know a young couple who are heavy drinkers; we’ve never talked about it directly, but it’s obvious they come from some seriously messed up backgrounds.
And I won't even get into my impression of the woman—she’s completely unhinged. I doubt there’s any help for her right now, because every time I see her, she’s showing up with two liters of cheap beer or some bottom-shelf wine. I feel for her and wish I could help just by talking, but you can't really have a conversation with someone in that state.

Anyway, I just wanted to say: don't be afraid. Every bit of pain passes eventually. Suffering itself is meaningless unless we let it be a teacher to make us better people. That’s the core of our experience on Earth—we’re just tiny pieces of a puzzle that might be so beautiful it transcends our ability to even understand beauty.

Paul Thompson3;56941604 said:

Look, as long as you aren't totally hooked, you can probably swing a drink every now and then when things get heavy—provided it doesn't just drag you right back into the cycle.

True... but honestly, I'm just done. Not feeling it anymore. 🙂

What are you, a doctor, a nurse, or just some winemaker? 😁 ?

I’ve gone and become a doctor and a nurse too, I guess. Leaving the winery business to the pros. 😁
Got two jobs. Which one you want? 😁
Used to work at a state psych ward back in the day. I remember rolling in hungover from the night before just to lead support groups for alcoholics looking for rehab. 🤣 🤣
Spit it out. 🙂

Life’s always gonna throw curveballs. You just gotta take it on the chin. Being a decent human being is exhausting, honestly. Once you accept that and actually get your ego under control, things get a hell of a lot easier. Some people deal with emotional baggage, some deal with physical pain, others are stuck with both. Then you've got folks grinding their lives away just to keep the family afloat. Life has this sick way of knowing exactly how to push your buttons and break you down.

Yeah. Exactly.

darkcanyon10 said:There is no choice. Exactly. Your body just runs on autopilot, repeating what it knows.
Saying it's not about the suffering? Yeah, right. It definitely is.
How to find that strength?
Hard. Heh... heh.
Slowly.
Hour by hour. Day by day.
Through discipline. Realizing you have the power to choose, instead of blaming some natural curse or genetic flaw. You have to commit your time to what you actually want to fix. And it’s damn hard to spend time tackling the stuff that offers instant hits of dopamine, rather than just sinking into the "easy route" because you can't handle delaying satisfaction.

Pray for the strength to get through it.

mistyseal11 said:back to post no#1

Come on, man, just drop the schedules—just give me the hourly breakdowns.
Play the part of the drill sergeant, the captain, or the general if you have to...

Is it seriously that hard? 🤔 ....I honestly didn't think it would be such a massive struggle in this day and age to map out a daily or weekly plan for someone who's actually motivated to move and get things done, but they just flat-out don't know where to start or where to go...

Jack Smith5 said:I don't follow. Are you honestly asking for someone else to write your daily and weekly schedule for you?🤦

Sure, you could do that, but then you're living by someone else's whims instead of your own. You need ambition first—you need an actual goal to aim for before a schedule even makes sense.

You could draft something vague, but that doesn't really solve anything.

Based on how you're talking, it sounds like you're unemployed. That’s a significant hurdle because if you aren't working, you either haven't found your footing yet or you haven't managed to land a job where you actually want to be.
It's an even bigger issue if you don't even know what kind of work you'd want to do.

So, you need to decide what you want from life first. Then, you either head back to school or dive straight into making it happen.

Once that's set, the schedule tends to organize itself.

If you're looking for a way to manage your downtime, you still need to have interests—hobbies or activities, whether they're indoors or outdoors.

For example:
6:20 AM wake up
6:40 AM get ready for work
7:00–3:00 PM at the office
3:00–4:00 PM grab a coffee or a beer
4:00–5:00 PM eat a massive meal
5:00–7:00 PM unwind with TV or a laptop
7:00–9:00 PM go for a walk, a drive, hang out, spend time with family, hit a restaurant, a library, a museum, or the movies, maybe do some shopping...

On the weekends, plan a little road trip—maybe head up to the Catskills if you're near New York, or over to the Berkshires, or catch a car race, or just do something you can share with someone else, since things are always better in pairs.

Grab a drink in the evening if you have a crew, or if you have a family, just have a relaxing dinner together.

Sundays are for coffee out, lunch at home, and then just chilling out with whatever relaxes you before prepping for the work week on Sunday night.

It wouldn't hurt to have a little plot of land somewhere to grow something—fruit, vegetables, a vineyard, whatever brings you joy. It takes up plenty of time and gives life purpose. Depending on how much effort you put in, it can be a daily hobby or something you tend to once a week or month.

Jack Smith5 said:I don't follow. Are you honestly asking for someone else to write your daily and weekly schedule for you?🤦

Sure, you could do that, but then you're living by someone else's whims instead of your own. You need ambition first—you need an actual goal to aim for before a schedule even makes sense.

You could draft something vague, but that doesn't really solve anything.

Based on how you're talking, it sounds like you're unemployed. That’s a significant hurdle because if you aren't working, you either haven't found your footing yet or you haven't managed to land a job where you actually want to be.
It's an even bigger issue if you don't even know what kind of work you'd want to do.

So, you need to decide what you want from life first. Then, you either head back to school or dive straight into making it happen.

Once that's set, the schedule tends to organize itself.

If you're looking for a way to manage your downtime, you still need to have interests—hobbies or activities, whether they're indoors or outdoors.

For example:
6:20 AM wake up
6:40 AM get ready for work
7:00–3:00 PM at the office
3:00–4:00 PM grab a coffee or a beer
4:00–5:00 PM eat a massive meal
5:00–7:00 PM unwind with TV or a laptop
7:00–9:00 PM go for a walk, a drive, hang out, spend time with family, hit a restaurant, a library, a museum, or the movies, maybe do some shopping...

On the weekends, plan a little road trip—maybe head up to the Catskills if you're near New York, or over to the Berkshires, or catch a car race, or just do something you can share with someone else, since things are always better in pairs.

Grab a drink in the evening if you have a crew, or if you have a family, just have a relaxing dinner together.

Sundays are for coffee out, lunch at home, and then just chilling out with whatever relaxes you before prepping for the work week on Sunday night.

It wouldn't hurt to have a little plot of land somewhere to grow something—fruit, vegetables, a vineyard, whatever brings you joy. It takes up plenty of time and gives life purpose. Depending on how much effort you put in, it can be a daily hobby or something you tend to once a week or month.

Jack Smith5 said:I don't follow. Are you honestly asking for someone else to write your daily and weekly schedule for you?🤦

Sure, you could do that, but then you're living by someone else's whims instead of your own. You need ambition first—you need an actual goal to aim for before a schedule even makes sense.

You could draft something vague, but that doesn't really solve anything.

Based on how you're talking, it sounds like you're unemployed. That’s a significant hurdle because if you aren't working, you either haven't found your footing yet or you haven't managed to land a job where you actually want to be.
It's an even bigger issue if you don't even know what kind of work you'd want to do.

So, you need to decide what you want from life first. Then, you either head back to school or dive straight into making it happen.

Once that's set, the schedule tends to organize itself.

If you're looking for a way to manage your downtime, you still need to have interests—hobbies or activities, whether they're indoors or outdoors.

For example:
6:20 AM wake up
6:40 AM get ready for work
7:00–3:00 PM at the office
3:00–4:00 PM grab a coffee or a beer
4:00–5:00 PM eat a massive meal
5:00–7:00 PM unwind with TV or a laptop
7:00–9:00 PM go for a walk, a drive, hang out, spend time with family, hit a restaurant, a library, a museum, or the movies, maybe do some shopping...

On the weekends, plan a little road trip—maybe head up to the Catskills if you're near New York, or over to the Berkshires, or catch a car race, or just do something you can share with someone else, since things are always better in pairs.

Grab a drink in the evening if you have a crew, or if you have a family, just have a relaxing dinner together.

Sundays are for coffee out, lunch at home, and then just chilling out with whatever relaxes you before prepping for the work week on Sunday night.

It wouldn't hurt to have a little plot of land somewhere to grow something—fruit, vegetables, a vineyard, whatever brings you joy. It takes up plenty of time and gives life purpose. Depending on how much effort you put in, it can be a daily hobby or something you tend to once a week or month.

Jack Smith5 said:I don't follow. Are you honestly asking for someone else to write your daily and weekly schedule for you?🤦

Sure, you could do that, but then you're living by someone else's whims instead of your own. You need ambition first—you need an actual goal to aim for before a schedule even makes sense.

You could draft something vague, but that doesn't really solve anything.

Based on how you're talking, it sounds like you're unemployed. That’s a significant hurdle because if you aren't working, you either haven't found your footing yet or you haven't managed to land a job where you actually want to be.
It's an even bigger issue if you don't even know what kind of work you'd want to do.

So, you need to decide what you want from life first. Then, you either head back to school or dive straight into making it happen.

Once that's set, the schedule tends to organize itself.

If you're looking for a way to manage your downtime, you still need to have interests—hobbies or activities, whether they're indoors or outdoors.

For example:
6:20 AM wake up
6:40 AM get ready for work
7:00–3:00 PM at the office
3:00–4:00 PM grab a coffee or a beer
4:00–5:00 PM eat a massive meal
5:00–7:00 PM unwind with TV or a laptop
7:00–9:00 PM go for a walk, a drive, hang out, spend time with family, hit a restaurant, a library, a museum, or the movies, maybe do some shopping...

On the weekends, plan a little road trip—maybe head up to the Catskills if you're near New York, or over to the Berkshires, or catch a car race, or just do something you can share with someone else, since things are always better in pairs.

Grab a drink in the evening if you have a crew, or if you have a family, just have a relaxing dinner together.

Sundays are for coffee out, lunch at home, and then just chilling out with whatever relaxes you before prepping for the work week on Sunday night.

It wouldn't hurt to have a little plot of land somewhere to grow something—fruit, vegetables, a vineyard, whatever brings you joy. It takes up plenty of time and gives life purpose. Depending on how much effort you put in, it can be a daily hobby or something you tend to once a week or month.

Jack Smith5 said:You still haven't answered my question. What exactly do you think someone is going to provide you here? Are they supposed to just hand you a purpose or solve the mystery of your existence on a silver platter?
If that's what you're looking for, you're being incredibly naive. Nobody can do that for you. You have to build your own meaning from scratch, and once you actually figure out what that is, then—and only then—does your daily schedule start to make any sense.
Anyway, good luck with the rest of this thread.

mistyseal11 said:It’s not that someone told me; I just KNOW I can be anything I want to be.
The question is, what do I actually want?

- I want to be six feet under.

Mission accomplished!
=========

That’s why this thread is simple-as-is .... there’s no point overthinking or racking my brain. Just get it done. Why? Because it’s on the schedule. That’s the only thing that keeps me grounded. No philosophy required. Damn schedules. Even Google won't give me my actual schedule; it just gives me vague suggestions... nothing concrete.
I probably need to break into a military base and swipe the captain's master schedule.

Anyway, one thing's for sure:
- I know exactly what I'm doing at 10:00 PM.

Robert Reyes4 said:Alright, I haven't read the whole thread, so I might end up asking something you've already covered.
First off, what do you do for a living?
But fine, until you figure that out, the first goal you can set—before you even know what your other goals are—is to work on your physical and mental sharpness.
Once you eventually settle on a goal, you'll be better equipped to handle it. That means getting some exercise and learning something new.
Second, since you clearly aren't in the best headspace right now, look for things—anything, really—that make you feel slightly better.
Make even tiny changes that might shift your perspective.

If only I had all this free time. Though, I guess I've had periods like this before.

mistyseal11 said:Alright, so what would you even do if you actually had all that extra time on your hands!?
What have you been doing lately?

(And let's not talk about the "O" part of the equation... we all know that's just code for cooling down eggs)

Btw, something just hit me.
Would you guys be ashamed to write out your own daily or weekly schedule here?

edit: except for darkcanyon10, who totally gets the point of this thread
and Paul Thompson3, who’s too busy dealing with deer sightings and doctor appointments because of his crazy schedule

Jack Smith5 said:Run along the riverbank in nothing but a T-shirt during the winter, or wrap yourself in a heavy parka when it’s sweltering in the summer.
6:00–7:00 AM: Hit the shower and work on some muscle relaxation at the same time—blast yourself with hot water in the winter and ice-cold water in the summer.
7:00–7:30 AM: Eat a massive breakfast. Go heavy on the fats and the homemade stuff: bacon, sausage, eggs, cheese, whole milk, plenty of grease.
7:30–8:00 AM: Coffee break.
8:00–10:00 AM: Just lounge around. Mess with the computer, watch TV, or flip through some magazines.
10:00 AM–12:00 PM: Meet up with someone on a whim.
12:00–12:30 PM: Pick up groceries for a healthy lunch—think hearty stews paired with home-cooked meat, and try to skip the bread or keep it to a minimum.
12:30–2:00 PM: Cook lunch and eat.
2:00–2:30 PM: Another coffee.
2:30–5:00 PM: Take a nap, or go back to the TV, the computer, or a book.
5:00–8:00 PM: Work on your book, play some video games, code, or whatever hobby you have that doesn't involve stressing out about life.
8:00–10:00 PM: Catch up with someone for a movie or some other activity you both actually enjoy.

Nobody can write a schedule for you.
In fact, why don't you try writing one for me? I'd love to see how you'd come up with it just so I have something to laugh at.

Jack Smith5 said:Run along the riverbank in nothing but a T-shirt during the winter, or wrap yourself in a heavy parka when it’s sweltering in the summer.
6:00–7:00 AM: Hit the shower and work on some muscle relaxation at the same time—blast yourself with hot water in the winter and ice-cold water in the summer.
7:00–7:30 AM: Eat a massive breakfast. Go heavy on the fats and the homemade stuff: bacon, sausage, eggs, cheese, whole milk, plenty of grease.
7:30–8:00 AM: Coffee break.
8:00–10:00 AM: Just lounge around. Mess with the computer, watch TV, or flip through some magazines.
10:00 AM–12:00 PM: Meet up with someone on a whim.
12:00–12:30 PM: Pick up groceries for a healthy lunch—think hearty stews paired with home-cooked meat, and try to skip the bread or keep it to a minimum.
12:30–2:00 PM: Cook lunch and eat.
2:00–2:30 PM: Another coffee.
2:30–5:00 PM: Take a nap, or go back to the TV, the computer, or a book.
5:00–8:00 PM: Work on your book, play some video games, code, or whatever hobby you have that doesn't involve stressing out about life.
8:00–10:00 PM: Catch up with someone for a movie or some other activity you both actually enjoy.

Nobody can write a schedule for you.
In fact, why don't you try writing one for me? I'd love to see how you'd come up with it just so I have something to laugh at.

Jack Smith5 said:Run along the riverbank in nothing but a T-shirt during the winter, or wrap yourself in a heavy parka when it’s sweltering in the summer.
6:00–7:00 AM: Hit the shower and work on some muscle relaxation at the same time—blast yourself with hot water in the winter and ice-cold water in the summer.
7:00–7:30 AM: Eat a massive breakfast. Go heavy on the fats and the homemade stuff: bacon, sausage, eggs, cheese, whole milk, plenty of grease.
7:30–8:00 AM: Coffee break.
8:00–10:00 AM: Just lounge around. Mess with the computer, watch TV, or flip through some magazines.
10:00 AM–12:00 PM: Meet up with someone on a whim.
12:00–12:30 PM: Pick up groceries for a healthy lunch—think hearty stews paired with home-cooked meat, and try to skip the bread or keep it to a minimum.
12:30–2:00 PM: Cook lunch and eat.
2:00–2:30 PM: Another coffee.
2:30–5:00 PM: Take a nap, or go back to the TV, the computer, or a book.
5:00–8:00 PM: Work on your book, play some video games, code, or whatever hobby you have that doesn't involve stressing out about life.
8:00–10:00 PM: Catch up with someone for a movie or some other activity you both actually enjoy.

Nobody can write a schedule for you.
In fact, why don't you try writing one for me? I'd love to see how you'd come up with it just so I have something to laugh at.

Jack Smith5 said:Run along the riverbank in nothing but a T-shirt during the winter, or wrap yourself in a heavy parka when it’s sweltering in the summer.
6:00–7:00 AM: Hit the shower and work on some muscle relaxation at the same time—blast yourself with hot water in the winter and ice-cold water in the summer.
7:00–7:30 AM: Eat a massive breakfast. Go heavy on the fats and the homemade stuff: bacon, sausage, eggs, cheese, whole milk, plenty of grease.
7:30–8:00 AM: Coffee break.
8:00–10:00 AM: Just lounge around. Mess with the computer, watch TV, or flip through some magazines.
10:00 AM–12:00 PM: Meet up with someone on a whim.
12:00–12:30 PM: Pick up groceries for a healthy lunch—think hearty stews paired with home-cooked meat, and try to skip the bread or keep it to a minimum.
12:30–2:00 PM: Cook lunch and eat.
2:00–2:30 PM: Another coffee.
2:30–5:00 PM: Take a nap, or go back to the TV, the computer, or a book.
5:00–8:00 PM: Work on your book, play some video games, code, or whatever hobby you have that doesn't involve stressing out about life.
8:00–10:00 PM: Catch up with someone for a movie or some other activity you both actually enjoy.

Nobody can write a schedule for you.
In fact, why don't you try writing one for me? I'd love to see how you'd come up with it just so I have something to laugh at.

Jack Smith5 said:Run along the riverbank in nothing but a T-shirt during the winter, or wrap yourself in a heavy parka when it’s sweltering in the summer.
6:00–7:00 AM: Hit the shower and work on some muscle relaxation at the same time—blast yourself with hot water in the winter and ice-cold water in the summer.
7:00–7:30 AM: Eat a massive breakfast. Go heavy on the fats and the homemade stuff: bacon, sausage, eggs, cheese, whole milk, plenty of grease.
7:30–8:00 AM: Coffee break.
8:00–10:00 AM: Just lounge around. Mess with the computer, watch TV, or flip through some magazines.
10:00 AM–12:00 PM: Meet up with someone on a whim.
12:00–12:30 PM: Pick up groceries for a healthy lunch—think hearty stews paired with home-cooked meat, and try to skip the bread or keep it to a minimum.
12:30–2:00 PM: Cook lunch and eat.
2:00–2:30 PM: Another coffee.
2:30–5:00 PM: Take a nap, or go back to the TV, the computer, or a book.
5:00–8:00 PM: Work on your book, play some video games, code, or whatever hobby you have that doesn't involve stressing out about life.
8:00–10:00 PM: Catch up with someone for a movie or some other activity you both actually enjoy.

Nobody can write a schedule for you.
In fact, why don't you try writing one for me? I'd love to see how you'd come up with it just so I have something to laugh at.

mistyseal11 said:I usually sleep right through this part.

That’s basically how my whole day goes. I just hit the randomize button on everything when it comes to timing...

I just don't have anyone in my life to actually do anything with, you know? Like, I've got zero people to hang out with or get into any kind of activities with at all.
Maybe I'll catch you guys online sometime...

Man, you hit the nail right on the head with that schedule—you basically read my mind.
I mean, if I had to say something...

Man, maybe you were just messing with me about that schedule... trying to "catch me out" or something... but honestly, it’s this lifestyle that’s absolutely killing me. Just constant coffee shop hopping, getting lost in puzzles, diving into books, comics, movies, and music—it's just too much.

It’s honestly gotten to the point where I haven't even been able to crawl out of bed until 3 in the afternoon... even though I’m hitting the sack by 9 PM every night... because there's just nothing worth doing out there, you know? It's way better to just stay under the covers, watch movies, and get lost in my own head... because man, I dream every single night, and I just keep dreaming.
Man, I don't even know where to start with this, but honestly? Lucid dreaming is an absolute trip—like, a total game-changer for your whole reality. It’s such an incredible experience when you finally realize you’re actually inside the dream while it’s happening! 🙂