Why count the days?

Good strategy

 

Different things work for different people. Don't expect there to be too many universal rules.
For some people, the day counter is an effective marker of progress. Watching the number of days increase between relapses is encouraging that some healing is taking place. It's a concrete way to set goals as well (hence the very common 90 day challenge).
Keep in mind that your personal experience is not everyone else's experience. If your own mindset works for you, great. For some people, the counter is of great value, which is why it's here. It's a tool that you can choose to use or not.

 

There’s some truth to that imo.I mean it makes sense, why the hell should we count the days of a lifestyle? But the thing is that changing your lifestyle is not an overnight process, it takes time.The road to success is not a straight line, it’s filled with ups and downs, challenges, obstacles, set backs and defeats.No one has ever mastered NoFap on the first streak without relapsing, let’s be real.Therefore, I think counting the days is useful and motivates people to stay the fucking course (at least that’s what it did for me).

 

totally agree

 

Whatever works for you, we are all trying to do a good thing. I totally agree that everyday is day 1 and I worry that I’ll get complacent as the number goes up but for me I want to see where I’m going and 90 days is my marker.

 

does anyone have a link to a paper or study (from science or medical professional, not just a blog or post from some random person) that presents any scientific evidence that counting days is beneficial.

I doubt there is any evidence that says it hurts, but intuitively counting days seems to give the cravings/urges/addictions too much power over you, too much focus on it.

Not exactly the same thing, but using an extreme analogy for effect.....If I wanted to stop thinking about a girl that dumped me, would I put a picture of her on my wall, with a counter of how many days since I have seen her? No, the best way to forget about here is to find a new relationship.

Instead of focusing on and counting the days since porn, maybe use that mental focus to find new activities that will rewire the very neural pathways that help make you crave it so much.

 

Yeah I now have no idea how long it is since I stopped smoking. It's something like 6 months, but it simply has no power over me now.
The trick for me was to develop a system that led to ceasing smoking, and I guess I am attempting a similar thing with PMO.