I keep repeating small routines even when I know they don’t really matter. Things like checking the lock, arranging something a certain way, or going back to redo a step because it didn’t feel “right.” I’m aware nothing bad is likely to happen if I stop, but the urge still nags at me until I give in.
It can take up more time than I expect, especially when I’m tired or stressed. The relief after doing it is usually brief, then another little routine pops up. I’m trying to notice the urge without automatically acting on it, but that’s been harder than I thought. Does anyone else get stuck in this kind of loop?
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That “not quite right” feeling can be surprisingly convincing, even when I know logically that nothing is wrong. I’ve found that trying to get complete certainty usually keeps the loop going.
One thing that helped me was setting a tiny limit before starting, like checking the lock once and then leaving even if the urge stayed. I’d remind myself, “This feels unfinished, but I don’t need to fix the feeling.” The discomfort usually faded faster than I expected. It was rough at first, especially when tired, so I started practicing with the least stressful routines.
The “redoing a step because it doesn’t feel right” part gets me. I can know perfectly well that nothing changed, but my brain still treats that uneasy feeling like a problem that needs solving. The brief relief afterward can make the habit even harder to resist.
I’ve had better luck delaying the routine for a minute rather than demanding that I stop completely. Sometimes I leave the discomfort there while doing something else, and it loses a little of its grip. Does the urge tend to be strongest with certain routines, or mostly when you’re already worn out?
@Laura_Horne, the “redo it until it feels right” part can be so sneaky. I’ve had moments where I knew the first attempt was fine, but the uneasy feeling made it seem unfinished anyway. Giving in helped for a few seconds, then made the next urge feel even more convincing.
I’ve been trying to pause before repeating anything and label it as an urge, not a problem I have to solve. Sometimes I’ll wait just long enough to finish what I’m doing, even if the discomfort is still there. It’s harder when I’m tired, though. Do you notice whether the checking or arranging gets worse at a particular time of day?