#NoPornovember Challenge: Instead Of Watching Porn, Do 1 Of These 5 Things
Who doesn’t like a personal challenge? Especially when it’s accompanied by awesome rewards.
Many hours of porn consumption happen across the globe because of boredom, or because of an internal sense that every minute of our lives should be filled with something that brings a “high” or stimulates us in some way. And because of COVID-19, more people spent time alone, in isolation in their homes, paving the way for a huge increase in porn consumption this year in 2020.
Porn is incredibly easy to access, and so immediate, that anyone can slip into looking up porn when they don’t have a clear alternative for how to spend an hour or two. In these cases, it’s a relationship of convenience.
For times like those, here are 5 ways to spend an hour instead of habitually clicking on porn. You may find yourself stunned by all the creative and fulfilling ways there are to find a “high” that makes your life richer.
It’s simple. This isn’t a moral argument—it’s simply a doable way to catch a firsthand glimpse of some of the ways ditching porn can improve your life, regardless of your gender.
If you are someone who isn’t completely sold on the idea that porn has a negative effect on your life, accept one of these one-hour challenges and see what happens.
1. Call the person on your mind and go on a date.
Do it. Yes, it is easier and seemingly safer to watch porn. But drowning your hesitancy, insecurity, or fear with cybersex won’t make your need for real relationship disappear.
Life is short—call the guy or girl you’re thinking of, and ask him or her to get coffee, walk downtown, meet you at your favorite local dive, or whatever other clever ideas your unique mind brings to the table (while taking COVID-19 safety precautions into consideration!). Or take out an existing partner. And if they say no? You’re right back to where you started, nothing lost.
Keep in mind, your date is not your substitute porn performer—you’re simply fulfilling each other’s biological need for real connection and emotional intimacy in a way that strangers on a screen never will.
With porn, you’ll exit the hour with the same loneliness you logged on with. Go on a date—worst case, you leave with an awkward hour to add to your collection of hilarious stories. Chances are, you might leave with confidence and possibly a connection that will grow. Real love is worth the risk.
2. Go to the gym or take a walk.
If you’re the athletic type, try a workout you’ve never done before. If you always hit the gym, go running in your neighborhood or a park nearby. Or try an exercise you have secretly wished you could do but never tried, like push-ups.
…defy your own expectations of yourself and try something active and outside. Go on a long walk. Or go to the gym, be brave, and figure out how to use some of those machines. And who knows? You may find a winner.
Your body—and your mind—will be strengthened by the hour of pushing yourself. Exercise gives a feel-good dopamine rush that’s good for you and doesn’t come back to drag you down the way a porn-induced dopamine rush does.
3. Read an article about something that intrigues you.
There are tons of traveling and adventure blogs that cover every experience, culture, and place out there. Like Adventure Journal, complete with the “historical badass” section about people in history who made inroads in the field of adventuring. Or Alistair Humphreys’ blog about living adventurously. Or E-tramping, with posts about travel-worthy countries no one ever talks about. Prep for some post-COVID-19 travel and get excited for what’s out there.
There are blogs about advice from really old books (the recent post about “how to survive a mermaid attack” is thrilling), about entrepreneurship, about relationships (romantic and otherwise), and blogs about almost anything you can imagine. Or, check out our hundreds of articles or videos at https://www.423communities.org/blog.
Start researching a topic you wouldn’t mind sharing with others with at a party, and see what you learn. This is knowledge that brings a sense of depth and accomplishment—perhaps inspiration—to your life, unlike the “knowledge” found in porn that trips up your thinking and can damage your sex life with the person you love.
4. Talk to someone who is successfully doing what you want to do.
Think of the career you know you want. Or even the job you might want but aren’t sure yet. Find someone in your area, go to or call their office or place of work during business hours, and introduce yourself as someone trying to learn more about this particular line of work. People love talking to and helping younger versions of themselves.
Networking gets a bad rap, but creatively making these professional connections is incredibly rewarding when it’s in a field you love. It could lead to an internship, some first-hand experience, or just a more defined set of goals for your future.
Yes, this makes two nerve-wracking challenges on the list. But seriously, that makes it all the more rewarding when you actually do it and gain something in the process. The quick rush of porn doesn’t stand a chance to the continual thrill of furthering your dreams.
5. Make a favorite recipe and take it to a friend who’s having a hard time.
We all know someone who has lost a loved one, is fighting depression, can’t get a grip on his grades, has a horrible boss but can’t quit the job yet, or just seems lonely. And we all love to eat.
Pick a challenge—you won’t be sorry
We challenge you to pick one of these well-spent hours next time the easy thing to do on a boring day would be to get online.
Also, we won’t tell if you don’t do all five challenges. We simply believe you deserve better than porn, and your hours are worth spending with meaning and purpose that lasts.
Read the full article at https://fightthenewdrug.org/instead-of-watching-porn-do-1-of-these-5-things/
At 423 Communities International, our doors are open for business. We are still offering recovery options for those struggling with temptations and trauma around pornography, sexual fantasies, and addictive behaviors. Want more information? Click here: https://www.423communities.org/join.