As promised, another update in my journey toward greater self-discipline.
I am a melancholy.
No that’s not some kind of disease. It’s a personality type! Back in the day (around 370BC), the ancient philosophers figured that your personality was directly connected to your blood type. So they boiled it down to four blood types. (pun intended) Good old Hippocrates came up with these four terms to describe the blood/personality types: Choleric, Sanguine, Phlegmatic, and Melancholy. Do you know what your dominate personality type is?
Due to my melancholy personality I tend toward analytical, moody and creative behaviour. Without oversimplifying, that means that my mood based motivation varies greatly. I find it really easy to get feeling down and therefore non-productive and undisciplined. So here’s the dilemma. How do I keep from getting down? If you have a melancholy personality, how do you keep from getting down?
Today was one of those days. The weather is bad. It’s cloudy, snowing and then changed to rain. I didn’t sleep very well last night so I had my latte this morning to help me be more alert (after I finished my major task of course). Then added to that my wife is away so what’s the point in eating. I don’t like cooking and avoid it at all costs. Even though I didn’t manage to completely beat my mood, I have not been overcome by it either.
Here’s some of the things I do. I would really like to hear what you do.
- Make sure I get enough sleep
- Eat properly and regularly
- Cut down on caffeine especially when I’m starting to feel down
- Exercise consistently
- Get outside more often
- Be a sunseeker
- Hang around positive people
- Be aware of weather changes that affect me
- Regulate my time on the computer
I’ve realized that my personality sometimes works against me but I don’t have to give up. When I realize that I’m starting to get into a low mood, I make sure that the first thing on my todo list is the most undesirable. That way I always accomplish something before I lose motivation. Then I can push through to do things that are more enjoyable.
What can you suggest? Let me know in the comments.