November 23Nov 23 Author Sunday 23rdDay 6: No GamingDay 3: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 16 minutes)Day 9: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 4: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallPlayed violin for 60 minutesDrank a fruit protein smoothieAvoided chips, ate nuts and banana instead1 Thing I Could Do BetterGo for a 30 minute walk in the afternoon when it's sunny, or trick myself into just walking to the letterboxFree WritingToday I woke up at 10 a.m., feeling refreshed. I had coffee and lunch while reviewing my languages on Anki. I then played violin for an hour. The rest of the time I read and watched a movie with my parents.Yin: 2 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction)Yan: 4 days (Optimism, hope, happiness)
November 25Nov 25 Author Tuesday 25thDay 8: No GamingDay 1: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 16 minutes)Day 11: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 6: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallPlayed violin for 60 minutesWorked out upper body with dumbbells and body weight for ~20 minutesMeditated 15 minutes1 Thing I Could Do BetterDo some static stretches after working out so I don't get grandpa muscles / bonesFree WritingI debated between reinstalling games or not but then I reminded myself that even 'non-addictive' games are like chaser drugs. As Cam said, the more you game, the more you want to game, the more your brain wants to game; so the more you game. I noticed a common pattern where I would quit, tell myself, "Oh it's not that addictive." Then I would get bored and start playing more addictive games and more exciting games. However, I did not end up reinstalling that game thankfully. And I feel like I enjoy playing the violin a lot more. I might play again tonight just for 30 minutes extra.Yin: 2 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction)Yan: 6 days (Optimism, hope, happiness)
November 27Nov 27 Author Thursday 27thDay 10: No GamingDay 3: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 16 minutes)Day 13: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 8: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallPlayed violin for 25 minutesWorked out upper body at gym for 20 minutesMeditated 15 minutes1 Thing I Could Do Better Rewatch Cam's "about to relapse" moduleFree WritingI've been feeling quite good recently when I wake up early and spend time with my family.Yin: 2 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction)Yan: 8 days (Optimism, hope, happiness)
November 28Nov 28 21 hours ago, allanjchiang said:Day 10: No GamingThose are the hardest days in the beginning. If you feel any withdrawal symptoms, It's arguably natural. Stay strong, it is now up to your willpower and remaining your why. But the longer you go with it it becomes relatively more second nature, as far as my experience goes.
November 28Nov 28 Author 3 hours ago, Yan said:Those are the hardest days in the beginning. If you feel any withdrawal symptoms, It's arguably natural. Stay strong, it is now up to your willpower and remaining your why. But the longer you go with it it becomes relatively more second nature, as far as my experience goes.Thank you for sharing your experience. This helps a lot.
November 28Nov 28 Author Friday 28thDay 11: No GamingDay 4: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 16 minutes)Day 14: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 9: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallPlayed violin for 60 minutesWorked out full body with dumbbells and body weight for ~20 minutesMeditated 15 minutes1 Thing I Could Do BetterStop seeking validation from strangers on the internetFree WritingHad some delicious tofu todayYin: 2 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction)Yan: 9 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) Edited November 28Nov 28 by allanjchiang
November 29Nov 29 Author Saturday 29thDay 12: No GamingDay 5: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 4 minutes)Day 15: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 10: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallTaught my first violin lesson for 30 minutesDrank healthy fruit protein smoothieMeditated 4 minutes1 Thing I Could Do BetterAlways do research before buying things, don't blindly trust salespeopleFree WritingToday I taught my first violin lesson. I blanked out at times but I got through it in the end. I'm not sure if I want to continue teaching because I didn't really feel much even though the student was quite agreeable. I'm not sure how I'd handle more disagreeable students but I guess I can always choose my own clients, the benefit of being your own boss. I feel like I'm so exhausted after teaching that I don't want to practice the violin myself. My own violin teacher said,"As a teacher, you won't like it when your students don't practice."Then again, I practiced more than I have ever these past two weeks. Hopefully, I won't make a habit of not practicing and pick it up again tomorrow. But that's what I always say,"Tomorrow." As some people say, if you're not doing it today, you're probably not doing it tomorrow. So I might just pick it up today.Yin: 2 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction)Yan: 10 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 29_11_2025 Edited November 29Nov 29 by allanjchiang
November 30Nov 30 Author Sunday 30thDay 13: No GamingDay 6: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 10 minutes)Day 16: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 11: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallWoke up early despite no appointments or obligationsStudied languages for 21 minutesMeditated 10 minutes first thing in the morning using a "wake up" guided meditation1 Thing I Could Do BetterPut the things I want to do in Google Calendar and show up for my own appointments without any need to be perfect, just working lightly and just showing up is enough.Free WritingI want to start cooking for myself again as it gave me quite a sense of enjoyment and accomplishment. It's healthier too.Yin: 3 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 30_11_2025Yan: 10 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 29_11_2025
December 2Dec 2 Author Tuesday 2ndDay 15: No GamingDay 8: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 10 minutes)Day 18: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 13: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallComposed for 25 minutesDrank tea instead of coffeeSocialized with peer support worker1 Thing I Could Do BetterSpend time on things that energize me rather than drain me.Free WritingToday I had a conversation with a religious guy but I feel like it's draining because I'm not religious myself. Maybe I could be more assertive and just tell him that I don't like talking about religion.Yin: 4 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 30_11_2025Yan: 10 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 29_11_2025
December 3Dec 3 Author Wednesday 3rdDay 16: No GamingDay 9: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 4 minutes)Day 19: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 14: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallComposed for 25 minutesDrew anatomy for 25 minutesStudied Chinese for 25 minutes1 Thing I Could Do BetterI was going to reinstall games and I had every reason to. But the deal breaker was the fact that I wouldn't be able to moderate only playing one hour a day. The more you game, the more you want to game, the more your brain wants to game so the more you game. After the '1 hour limit', I wouldn't be able to go back to doing the activities with more delayed gratification. I would definitely go over 1 hour. Therefore, it's kind of like wireheading in Nicky Case's AI Safety long form post.Free WritingThe more you game, the more you want to game, the more your brain wants to game so the more you game. I'm still at it. Keeping the streak.Yin: 4 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 30_11_2025Yan: 11 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 3_12_2025
December 4Dec 4 Author Thursday 4thDay 17: No GamingDay 10: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 4 minutes)Day 20: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 0: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallComposed for 25 minutesStudied 3 new Chinese wordsHad a conversation with a mental health nurse1 Thing I Could Do BetterDon't do anything too stimulating within at least 2 hours of bedtime. I woke up 6 times last night lol, my sleep was extraordinarily fragmented so I woke up late this morning.Free WritingComposing is fun. I thought it'd be boring because I finished one piece but the new motifs I made were quite cool.Yin: 4 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 30_11_2025Yan: 12 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 4_12_2025
December 6Dec 6 Author Saturday 6thDay 19: No GamingDay 1: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 4 minutes)Day 1: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 1: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallStudied coding for 50 minutesHad greek yoghurt without sugar with some frozen mixed berriesWoke up earlier today1 Thing I Could Do BetterGo for a walkFree WritingYin: 4 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 30_11_2025Yan: 14 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 6_12_2025
December 7Dec 7 Author Sunday 7thDay 20/90: No GamingDay 2/90: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 4 minutes)Day 2/90: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 2/90: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallStudied pedagogy for 25 minutesStudied composing / singing for 25 minutesDrank a healthy protein fruit smoothie1 Thing I Could Do BetterHelp dad with the smoothieFree WritingI feel like lapsing but will keep going.Yin: 5 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 7_12_2025Yan: 14 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 6_12_2025
December 8Dec 8 Author Monday 8thDay 21/90: No GamingDay 3/90: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 15 minutes)Day 3/90: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 3/90: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallWent to the tailorWoke up early for psychologist appointment, didn't hit snoozeAvoided potato chips again1 Thing I Could Do BetterMaybe focus more on one area rather than spreading out my attention too muchFree WritingI feel like lapsing but will keep going.Yin: 6 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 8_12_2025Yan: 14 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 6_12_2025
Monday at 10:41 PM5 days On 12/3/2025 at 4:28 AM, allanjchiang said:Wednesday 3rdDay 16: No GamingDay 9: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 4 minutes)Day 19: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 14: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallComposed for 25 minutesDrew anatomy for 25 minutesStudied Chinese for 25 minutes1 Thing I Could Do BetterI was going to reinstall games and I had every reason to. But the deal breaker was the fact that I wouldn't be able to moderate only playing one hour a day. The more you game, the more you want to game, the more your brain wants to game so the more you game. After the '1 hour limit', I wouldn't be able to go back to doing the activities with more delayed gratification. I would definitely go over 1 hour. Therefore, it's kind of like wireheading in Nicky Case's AI Safety long form post.Free WritingThe more you game, the more you want to game, the more your brain wants to game so the more you game. I'm still at it. Keeping the streak.Yin: 4 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 30_11_2025Yan: 11 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 3_12_2025Yes and don't forget you'll be thinking about that game once you come off it as well, it's never just 1 hour because you have to take both the conscious and subconscious mind in account as you'll think about it for a certain period of the day and your subconscious will also think of it and try to work things out without you purposefully thinking about it (if that makes sense).This video is always a fantastic reminder and goes deeper into the above:
Tuesday at 04:32 AM5 days Author Tuesday 9thDay 22/90: No GamingDay 4/90: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 15 minutes)Day 0/90: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 4/90: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallWoke up early even without an appointment in the morningCooked afternoon tea for myselfStudied AI Safety and Chinese1 Thing I Could Do BetterSpend more time on my concentrated work unitsFree WritingI don't feel like lapsing today.Yin: 6 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 8_12_2025Yan: 15 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 9_12_2025
Wednesday at 01:40 AM4 days Author Wednesday 10thDay 23/90: No GamingDay 5/90: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 15 minutes)Day 1/90: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 5/90: Wake up before 11 a.m.3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallPlayed Table Tennis for 30 minutesComposed for 25 minutesMeditated 15 minutes1 Thing I Could Do BetterGo to the gym more oftenFree WritingToday, I told my religious friend this,"When you talk about religion, I feel frustrated because I pretend I'm someone I'm not."And I felt like I gained more confidence and independence. I feel like it's important to be friends with people who share similar values.Yin: 6 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 8_12_2025Yan: 16 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 10_12_2025
Thursday at 04:52 AM3 days Author Thursday 11thDay 24/90: No GamingDay 6/90: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 4 minutes)Day 2/90: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 0/90: Wake up before 11 a.m.Week 0/12: Go to gym twice a week3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallStudied Chinese through a vlog about Taiwan and wrote down new words.Attended a 1 hour marketing Q&AAir fried my own soy meat1 Thing I Could Do BetterGo to the gym more often (this again I know)Free WritingI don't feel like writing but that probably means I could write more. Today I woke up late because I went to bed at 12 a.m. and couldn't fall asleep until 1:30 a.m. I was overstimulated due to lots of socializing interactions late at night even until bedtime. I will avoid social interactions or anything that keeps me too stimulated in the evenings before bed. I plan to sleep early today and hopefully, I'll fall asleep faster too.Yin: 7 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 11_12_2025 [Overall negative view on the day]Yan: 16 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 10_12_2025 [Overall positive view on the day]
Yesterday at 01:15 AM1 day On 12/11/2025 at 5:52 AM, allanjchiang said:Thursday 11thDay 24/90: No GamingDay 6/90: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 4 minutes)Day 2/90: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 0/90: Wake up before 11 a.m.Week 0/12: Go to gym twice a week3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallStudied Chinese through a vlog about Taiwan and wrote down new words.Attended a 1 hour marketing Q&AAir fried my own soy meat1 Thing I Could Do BetterGo to the gym more often (this again I know)Free WritingI don't feel like writing but that probably means I could write more. Today I woke up late because I went to bed at 12 a.m. and couldn't fall asleep until 1:30 a.m. I was overstimulated due to lots of socializing interactions late at night even until bedtime. I will avoid social interactions or anything that keeps me too stimulated in the evenings before bed. I plan to sleep early today and hopefully, I'll fall asleep faster too.Yin: 7 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 11_12_2025 [Overall negative view on the day]Yan: 16 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 10_12_2025 [Overall positive view on the day]I see you missed Friday's entry. Wanna share what happened? You don't have to.
Yesterday at 10:33 AM1 day Author 9 hours ago, Yan said:I see you missed Friday's entry. Wanna share what happened? You don't have to.Saturday 13thDay 26/90: No GamingDay 0/90: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 4 minutes)Day 4/90: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 0/90: Wake up before 11 a.m.Week 0/12: Go to gym twice a week3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallAttended a Toastmasters meeting and delivered a 2 minute impromptu speech, socialized with a lot of people at the eventDrew for 25 minutes and asked AI for art critiqueDrove myself to the venue which took me around 30 minutes there and back.1 Thing I Could Do BetterRemember to do rehab exercises earlier on in the day rather than before bedFree Writing@Yan I forgot to write yesterday. When I remembered, it was already my bedtime so I decided to skip out on it. Didn't want to lose sleep over it. I almost forgot today too but I couldn't sleep tonight so I decided to wake up and just journal something. Today, I went to Toastmasters a public speaking club and got a lot of approval from the members there. I haven't socialized like this in a while so it made me feel kind of happy that everyone accepted me as I was. Today I delivered an impromptu speech about my mental health and it felt cathartic, releasing all my stories to an audience that accepted me.Yin: 7 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 11_12_2025 [Overall negative view on the day]Yan: 18 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 13_12_2025 [Overall positive view on the day]
13 hours ago13 hr Author Saturday 13thDay 27/90: No GamingDay 1/90: Meditate >3 minutes (Meditated 4 minutes)Day 4/90: Avoid sleeping in the afternoon for over 30 minutesDay 1/90: Wake up before 11 a.m.Week 0/12: Go to gym twice a week3 Things I Did Well, No Matter How SmallWoke up earlier todayTranscribed music for 25 minutes using laptop and pianoDid some language exchange with some Chinese friends on HelloTalk1 Thing I Could Do BetterI could work out today in the afternoon after my nap.Free WritingI should probably replace Yin with Gaming but I'm too lazy to check. I think if I recorded it from the time I started the Respawn program, it would be like 180 days lol. However, if from when I started the 90 day challenge again around a month ago, it would be 0. Unless you include visual novels.Yin: 8 days (darkness, pessimism, addiction) 14_12_2025 [Overall negative view on the day]Yan: 18 days (Optimism, hope, happiness) 13_12_2025 [Overall positive view on the day]
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