> ... I would just have a rule which I had to follow. I don't mean to be a downer, but to prevent anxiety I try not to be so strict with myself. A process can

> ... I would just have a rule which I had to follow. I don't mean to be a downer, but to prevent anxiety I try not to be so strict with myself. A process can be freeing at first, but eventually the idea can seep in that I'm missing out, wasting precious time on earth, or that I'm "trapped". Nothing triggers a panic attack quite like depersonalization/derealization. I try to question whether my motivations are covering up fear. I don't want to be so afraid of decision fatigue that it locks me into even more misery. Anyway it's for that reason that I treat processes as recommendations instead of rules. At the crossroads, I'd prefer visualizing a blue star or green checkmark projected onto the turn. Like a GPS, I'm totally free to ignore it and force it to recalculate the route. Now it's a fun adventure when I deviate instead of "breaking the rules". e.g. "You broke the rule! Now something bad will happen!" vs "I wonder what's new since the last time I came this way" Huge difference.