I’m getting on an airplane. As I get to the airport, my mind starts to sizzle like extra fatty bacon in a scorching cast iron pan. I wonder if anyone can see the smoke spewing from my ears. Did I forget anything? Do I have my passport? What is the exchange rate?  Money at the airport or wait until I land?  Where are my noise-cancelling pods?  Is my bag too big? What are the legal dimensions? Too much information. Chill, bro. I sit down, one, two, three, three, two, one. Why is everyone looking at me?

I need to shut off all my horrifying phone data.  I am monitoring four issues with various apps. First is Garmin for sleep and my activities – how many consecutive 10k days for steps and  workouts. I’m also tracking my sober days (I am Sober) and my calorie intake (MyFitnessPal), especially since I’m on a high fibre diet for a gut condition.  Too much information.

The data barrage is driving me nuts. I need some information for my diverticulitis monitoring – how many days since my last gut attack. My daily activity streak on Garmin tells me how long it’s been since my last attack. On that lovely summer day, I couldn’t get out of bed, so no activity for me, not even a walk, but I’ve ran or walked every day since. I also need to track my diet – how much fibre am I getting per day?  Hence a calorie / nutrition counter.

My new year goal – stop the counting – no more sleep, diet, activity or sober information. I am so done.  I can’t believe I am sitting here afraid to turn the shit off. What is the point to all this? For the next thirty days, minimal data. Here’s the plan.

First kill the sleep data (double barrel shotgun please). What’s the point? Garmin sleep data does more harm than good. I switch to battery saver at night which shuts down all sleep data because the basic mode doesn’t monitor heart rate. I go back to regular mode after I wake.  I tell ya, Garmin was ruining my sleep. Oh no I didn’t get a 100. Frustration. Can’t sleep. No more sleep score. Not accurate anyway.

No more calorie counter. I know my fibre intake (more beans please) – I see it bathed in toilet water every morning. Do I need to count every day?  Nope. I won’t know if my diet change is effective until I get past three months. I’m at 100 days now.

Sober shit – how many days since my last drink. I had a minor indiscretion three weeks ago. It was very depressing to reset to zero.  I’m not there. I am not a loser.  I’m on a path and a very good one. Stop counting. Just be sober. I’ve removed the app and live day to day (as I should).

I’d say chuck the watch for 30 days, but we are going to Mexico, and I will need it in case I want to run (distance, plus map) and I need it for time (and weather is nice). Remember the days when your watch just told time (All hail Timex). I swear that wrist killer is causing more stress than is necessary. Ok, I’m doing it now.  Watch off.  Battery saver. No sleep data. Sober counter gone, app deleted. No more calorie count. Ahhhhh…

Note – 30 days since I wrote this and guess what? I’m still alive.