I don’t remember where it was I read it – I think it may have been a novel I’ve since otherwise forgotten – but somewhere I came across the magical power of rubber bands, for which I am forever grateful.

The magical rubber band trick is simply this: wear a rubber band around your wrist and thwack it when you want to do whatever it is you know you shouldn’t: buy the doughnut, call the guy, smoke the cigarette. Conversely, you can use it to jolt yourself out of procrastination and complacency: Start your homework NOW <thwack>!  Get to the gym NOW!

Even better is when you use the band to shift the focus of your thoughts. Thinking of him again? Stop that! <Thwack!>  Feeling lonely? <Thwack!> Stop that, too.

Yes, it takes a certain amount of discipline to pull the band in the first place; but oddly enough, your conscience is more than willing to take over, and on this one, it usually wins.  I don’t know why.

And for the fashion sensitive, a reminder: it doesn’t have to be a desktop rubber band: one of those silver-bauble-beaded elastic bracelets will more than do the job. Give it a try.

Let me know how well it works for you.