Making Rules...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
March 19, 2009 6:24am CST
Do you ever find yourself making little rules for yourself?
I bought a Gazelle a few months back. It’s kind of like a treadmill but instead of walking and putting a strain on your knees and ankles, you swing your legs. I’ve used it a few times but I have a horrible time sticking to it and motivating myself. Yesterday I made a little rule with myself that I have to do 2 minutes on it either before or after I eat anything. I picked 2 minutes b/c that’s as much as I can do right now without it hurting. Next week I’ll make it 3 minutes, the week after 4, ect. There isn’t really a reason for it other than I need to exercise and since I have to eat every 3 hours, it’s a great way to do it. I usually end up with 6-7 small meals through the day so that adds up to a total of 12-14 minutes worth of exercise throughout the day.
I have little rules like this for lots of different things. I noticed that I do it so much that I don’t even realize I do it anymore. It’s like dishes…they have to be done in a certain order…plates, cups, silverware, bowls, big dishes and then pans. They also have to be stacked a certain way. I wondered how many other ppl are like this.
Do you make little rules with your yourself or have to do things a certain way? Will you re-do something if it’s not done the way you need it done? Do you think this is just how some ppl are or some kind of mental problem?
[b]**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~[/b]
12 people like this
36 responses
@elitess (5070)
• Ipswich, England
19 Mar 09
Hi there Twoey. I think all of us set our own rules, or principles that we try to respect or follow during our life.
I have a few minor ones like
- try to keep my weight constant at 80 kg (and i usually manage that - i have about 2-3 extra to give down right now)
- never ever eat fornetti again - it is extra bad on weight
- try to save money so i can do something useful to them.
- i usually try to go on foot up to the subway from home (in general i pass through a park) and that means about 30 minutes of exercise walking through cleaner air.
I think i have many minor rules just like you do.
2 people like this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
19 Mar 09
LOL So I'm not the only one, huh? I've never heard of fornetti, what is it? I've been trying to avoid things like bread, sugar, meat and processed foods. They seem to be harder on my stomach.
[b]**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~[/b]
3 people like this
@elitess (5070)
• Ipswich, England
19 Mar 09
I too don't eat to much bread myself as it goes deep on my stomach as well.
Forneti is a franchise brand worldwide that sells different kind of patisserie products that make you fatter (in my case, they are far worse than the junk food from McDonalds or KFC).
2 people like this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
19 Mar 09
Hi twoey68! I think what you are doing is great! I think it is really a great idea to start in small steps, then make another step and take another one until you reach the goal. I do the same thing my friend. I do make and follow those little rules. Personally, I try to take smaller steps myslef, steps that are practical for me to accomplish..then will aim for another step that will take me nearer to my goal until the time that I have already reached my goal.
Take care and blessings to you!
lovelots..faith
2 people like this
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
19 Mar 09
I do and some of them are weird, hubby said at least.
Your rules are not weird though. I mean you need to discipline yourself when it comes to health regiment anyway. even if you attend a gym or have an instructor, you still need to have that discipline at home. about how you sort things in the kitchen well that's your kitchen that's how you want to do it. I don't have rules there but mainly because hubby likes to eat and cook so if there is any rule I'd rather he apply it or else I would hear complaints.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
19 Mar 09
well, if it's a mental problem i have it to. my sons & friends think i'm over organized. lol. i like things done like i like them done. if they aren't i fix them. i live alone [guess that's not surprising lol] but i always heard if you are going to do something do it right & i try.
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
19 Mar 09
It's excellent that you've come up with an excercise plan that sounds like it's done in a way that you can stick with it. So many people overdo new plans and can't stick with them because they didn't set realistic goals. Good job & way to go!
I'm the same way with dishes, only I usually do the cups first. I don't know if it's a rule, so much as a habit. From repeatedly doing these tasks, we have found the most efficient way to get them done. It only makes sense to keep doing them that way, right? I know that I get pretty rigid for how I like things done. For example...the dishes...when other family members do them, they do them in different orders. We end up with spotty glasses and dishes, and yes, I usually redo them. I can't stand spots...lol.
1 person likes this
me too..and i can't stick to them 
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
20 Mar 09
Yes I certainly do but we don't call them rules, they are goals, that is what is meant by goal setting. You made a goal to do two minutes before or after eating and you plan to increase it when you reach that goal,
very good you set a realistic goal
and you gave a time frame for doing it,
this is perfect.
I set goals all the time for everything including how much house work I will try to do because I am disabled it isn't always easy to accomplish but I find without goals I barely do what I have to do.
@joyceshookery (2057)
• United States
19 Mar 09
Yes, twoey, I make little rules for myself. The problem is that I rarely follow through with them. I need to exercise instead of sitting around crocheting. I've made a rule to walk for 1/2 hour, then reward myself with crochet. It isn't happening. How can I go off sugar when I keep picking up sweets at the grocery store? I think your Gazelle before or after eating is a great idea. Keep it up, hon. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it's progress, and better than not doing it at all.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
19 Mar 09
I do the same thing! Only with my dishes it's glasses first, then plates, bowls, plastics and silverware with cookware coming last. I think we do it this way because that's logically how they stack well in the drainer.
I've never heard of a Gazelle but I looked it up and it's kind of like an elliptical machine only much less expensive! Good for you, you keep up the good work and you'll feel terrific!
1 person likes this
@camomom (7535)
• United States
20 Mar 09
I know that I do but I can't think of an example right now. I have to do things in a certain order when I shower. Hair, body, rinse, conditioner, face, rinse. I don't feel clean in any other order. If you do it with most of the things in your life, I do think it's a disorder of some kind but if it's only occasional things, it's fine.
@glords (2614)
• United States
20 Mar 09
I think that everyone sets rules for themselves but some people use a different terminology... like standards, or guidelines, or marching to a beat of their own drum... what ever suits them best. The one thing I'm pretty sure about is that everyone has their own way of doing things, and for them it just feels right.
Just curious... do you wash glasses, dishes, pans, and then silverware? Just wondering, because that is how I do the dishes.
Take care.
@messageme (2821)
• United States
20 Mar 09
There are times I will make rules for myself as well. However, I usually end up breaking my own rules.
I am not a very discpline person when it comes to myself. I wish I was much better at it, but I don't think you can really teach yourself something like that. I have poor strong will.
I am not a very discpline person when it comes to myself. I wish I was much better at it, but I don't think you can really teach yourself something like that. I have poor strong will. @JenInTN (27514)
• United States
26 Mar 09
Hi twoey! I do make little rules for myself. I have a cupboard issue..lol..I have to have all the cans organized by what they are. Everything has to be together in it's place. I also do my dishes in order. I'm hoping it's just how we are and not so much the mental problem thing..lol..
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
20 Mar 09
yes, i am the type of person who make little rules for myself too... i am a discipline and perfectionist person... i want everything to be organized and planed nicely and i will feel very angry if anything does not go as the way i want it to be... take care and have a nice day...
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
20 Mar 09
My kitchen is the one area where I have rules and like you one of them is my pattern to washing dishes which is similar to your self imposed rule.
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
20 Mar 09
I make up rules for myself almost every day, and then break them. I have workout dvd's that I haven't even looked at, and so many diet books, and self improvement books I just can't force myself to read. I do manage to do certain things consistently, like always getting the laundry and dishes done, and my bedroom is almost always clean and neat. I think it's just a matter of habit. I've heard it takes about two weeks to establish a habit, so I'm hoping I can at least get one new good habit started this spring. I can usually get into walking outside when the weather is good, so I'm hoping that we'll have some good weather for long enough to get myself going again.
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
20 Mar 09
i do it all the time too!! i think it helps me keep organized and motivated (when im not too stressed to forget about them that is) i dont think its a sign of a mental problem unless it gets to be like an ocd thing but then again im bipolar and saying that lol
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
20 Mar 09
I make rules for myself. I have a certain amount of time I allow myself to take a bath or shower during the week. I can only eat on junk food item a week, and only on Sunday, things like that. I think that the rules I set for myself help me keep my routines.
@Archie0 (5636)
•
20 Mar 09
i dnt like people ruling me neither i lke to make my own rules because it becomes difficult for me to follow them... and i usually dotn follow them then i star feeling bad aout myself knowing that i dint go according to my rules..
so its better that i dont make any rules and regulations
