No PMO in 2026

[the_land_before_time]

Day 0

A fresh start here. I tried coming back a few months ago. Failed!

I want to start fresh. 2025 has been chaotic for me, probably one of my most chaotic years...

Big piece of learning (more to come...)

• Accepting uncertainty is difficult for me
• I need some stability (incl. finance and relationships -wise)

Porn has become once again a refuge for me, in times of stress, boredom, frustration! I've relapsed 3-5 times a week in the last couple of months. Probably the worst it's been in years.

I've tried to get psychological support this year, it didn't really work. Not satisfied! Not sure where to start... Life has been pretty hectic, trying to balance a lot of changes.

Good things this year:

• I've adopted a wonderful puppy
• I managed to stay afloat financially in the end!
• I was quite physically active the first half of the year
• I maintained good friendships
• I became more politically active

What I want to do a bit differently:

• Run more regularly
• Get back to a yoga routine
• Get back to rock climbing
• Build my savings back - learn to spend less
• Stop using porn
• Be more present
• Get back to dating

There's this notion that with the chaos that happened in the last 4 months, I "stopped" doing certain things that were fulfilling to me, so I need to "get back" to doing these things.

First step: I would relapse a lot on Tumblr, so I removed my two Tumblr accounts!

 

[the_land_before_time]

Day 1

I've watched this video, some notes I took...

PMO Facts:

1. Everytime I PMO, it creates pleasure and signals your brain to crave P again, this is behavioural reinforcement
2. Once your brain gets dopamine (like with PMO in the morning), it uses a daily-limited amount of dopamine, it means your reserves are low for the rest of the day, little dopamine left to enjoy other things!
3. Sex, orgasm and porn are good at suppressing negative emotions, it acts as a coping mechanism. People with PMO addiction often lack emotional regulation skills. When emotions are shut off with PMO, they are burred and become dormant emotions and they might surface again during quiet moments.... Which leads to PMO! Thus, it's key to empty that emotional tank.
4. Loneliss and porn are related, human bonding is key to avoid PMO. PMO makes us think bonding with real people is not necessary.
5. Sex and status are linked in our brains, low self esteem drives porn addiction.

What to do...

1. Increase barriers to entry, increase the distance you need to go from impulse to addiction (make relapse more difficult) - moments when your brain is triggered don't last forever, you need to be good at staying calm.
2. Make a plan at the beginning of the day, to avoid boredom and meaninglessness.
3. Develop emotional regulation methods like breathing, meditation, exercising.
4. Find your triggers and mentally prepare for them.
5. Anticipate your weak moments.
6. Work on dormant emotions!
7. Find and maintain community
8. Do something that you can be proud of! Enhance your sense of self, since low self esteem is a fertiliser for porn.
9. Exercise, at least 3 times a week!
10. Diet
11. Practice urge surfing!

This led me to re-install the Canopy app, a parental control, which I believe will help a lot, especially with the first few weeks!

 

[the_land_before_time]

Day 2

All the things I've been thinking about in the last 2 days are slowly percolating... As I think about my goals and strategy for 2026.

Started the day with yoga, feeling great!

Will try to rock climb this week, as I know it makes me feel great.

Trying to be strategic about my days, and the things I need to do, coupled with things I want to do (to avoid frustration, boredom and meaninglessness.)

 

[the_land_before_time]

Day 5

Hello 2026!

I've been busy working a bit! I went running, which felt good. The weather is just incredible at the moment here, not a cloud for many days, which helps the soul.

I'm looking at 2026 with confidence. I have categorised it as a potentially pivotal year, professionally. I'm trying to stay open to new things that might emerge, with an ongoing need for financial resilience!

In the last 6 months, porn hasn't helped me with this big challenge. So, I hope the renewed interest in a PMO-free life will help me with my 2026 goals.

 

[achilles heel]

Good decision to identify as a trigger and cut down your social media, you’ll not miss a thing after a while.

Also I really envy the good weather… make good use of it and spend time outside, that’s a huge advantage as you will avoid relapsing almost automatically!

Your plans sound great, keep up the good work!

 

[the_land_before_time]

Day 8

Thanks @achilles heel !

The first two days of the year were actually quite tough emotionally. Realizing I'm still struggling to manage my emotions. I had many difficult emotions lately and up until a week ago, porn was helping me "cope" (wrongly, of course), and taking away porn has been difficult.

I'm past day 8 and pretty proud. Re-installing the Canopy app has helped a lot. I feel like in a few more weeks, emotions will have settled down.

Doing a little retreat on my own with friends visiting now and then in a somewhat remote place for the next 10 days, with some work and time to spend with my dog. A very appeasing place. Hoping it will feel good, and a way to reconnect a bit with myself.

Goals for my time here:

• Spend quality time with my dog
• Read three books
• Run every other day
• Take time to stretch and yoga
• Eat well

 

[the_land_before_time]

Day 9

Had a good productive and yet relaxing day.

Almost relapsed later in the day, with work-related boredom. Crazy to feel the pull of porn!

But didn't. A lot thanks to Canopy.

Otherwise, happy for the nice time outside, with dog, and then running. Spent time watching a nice TV series and read a good book!

 

[the_land_before_time]

ME: 13 | PMO: 1

Current streak : 4 days

I relapsed on Tuesday evening. Came back extremely late from a meeting. Was feeling sick, tired and couldn't sleep. Relapsing was felt as an escape / a way to cope with my troubled state, both physical and mental. Although the Canopy app was on, I found a small glitch. Now that glitch is secured!

4 days later, super sick still but enjoying the needed rest that's coming with it. Once I'm no longer sick, I'll feel lucky and reborn

In the coming days, looking forward to:

1. Some form of resolve/way forward on a professional challenge I'm involved with
2. Recovering from my flu
3. Finishing a book and starting a new one
4. New professional projects starting

 

[the_land_before_time]

ME: 15 | PMO: 1

Current streak : 6 days

Doing good, feels like sickness-wise I'm getting better! Professional challenge is being solved, impressed by my resilience in front of it. I've started my new book

I've done some physical activity yesterday. Hope to do more, but it's been tough with the ongoing sickness.

Tonight is a solo night, I'd love to stay PMO-free (solo night is a trigger), so what I hope to do...

• Stretch / yoga
• Take a bath
• Make a nice dinner
• Call with a friend
• Watch the final episode of a TV series I've been watching
• Read my book

In a nutshell: self-care!

 

[the_land_before_time]

ME: 17 | PMO: 1

Current streak : 8 days

Solo night on Monday: check! Happy it went super well.

Feeling less and less sick and appreciative of that!

Extremely busy today and tomorrow. Trying to keep it together hehe. I'm going to do some breathing sessions.

Watch out on the horizon: tomorrow is a solo night that could lead to relapse (decompression, return home after 10 days gone etc. - triggering!) - will have to think of other ways to decompress (cook a nice meal, stretch, start a new TV series...)

 

[achilles heel]

Congrats on immediately returning to the right path after that relapse, I like your counter, it looks good so far!

 

[the_land_before_time]

ME: 18 | PMO: 1

Current streak : 9 days

Well... I feel super sick again! Today was a very very tough, but also a good learning experience.

Now settled at home, decompressing and trying not to feel too sick. And, also, just trying to accept that state of being sick. Doing some self care.

Did the things I said I would tonight: cook a nice meal, will try to stretch and, watch Mad Men which I've just started.

 

[the_land_before_time]

ME: 21 | PMO: 1

Current streak : 12 days

Powering through life, had fun this weekend with concerts. Felt good to be with friends and let go a little bit!

Tonight, I've got a date! That's quite something for me, I've been out of the dating scene for nearly 3 years. I'm excited! I like this feeling of liking someone.

 

[the_land_before_time]

ME: 23 | PMO: 1

Current streak : 14 days

It's been 2 weeks without PMO! Yay! And, without the relapse in the middle, more than 3. I'm quite happy and proud.

And my date is just a lovely discovery. Really into this person, beyond the we've had nice sex, where I was quite into it and present. Feeling a lot of good energy, gentle and positive, coming from this.

Lots of activities these days! Which will continue until mid-March (quite invested in the local life here, with big things coming up.)

 

[the_land_before_time]

ME: 24 | PMO: 1

Current streak : 15 days

All good, a bit tired and overwhelmed by life, but will take some time for myself tomorrow morning!

 

[the_land_before_time]

ME: 31 | PMO: 1

Current streak : 22 days

I've had a beautiful week.

The person I met and spent 10 days with has been amazing, there's such a good chemistry, sex wise and beyond!

Very positive relationship so far, good for my self esteem, a loving and kind person

Still learning to try and take breaks in general. To breathe.

 

[DIMA-NBA]

Well done on anticipating the difficult moments and preparing for them, being vigilant! I like your style of writing!

Best!

 

[the_land_before_time]

ME: 42 | PMO: 1

Current streak : 34 days

It's been more than a month without porn! I must say I'm doing better.

Although life is super busy and with potential for a lot of anxiety, I think I'm doing pretty well.

A lot on my shoulders right now, but I'm holding up. Seeing the person I've been seeing next week, pretty excited for that (we don't live in the same town.)

I'm back on track with physical activity and it feel great.

 

[the_land_before_time]

ME: 51 | PMO: 2

Current streak : 0 days

A little hick up today. Trigger: ended up on someone's X account for work, and it quickly triggered me. Went into websites and found a way to watch P despite my P blocker.

It took an hour of my time, it was an escape to my work.

What I could have done instead:

• Walked the dog
• Worked out
• Made tea
• Call a friend

I would say that overall I'm still doing quite good. Managed to meditate every day in the last 4-5 days.

 

[the_land_before_time]

ME: 58 | PMO: 2

Current streak : 7 days

Phew! Life is busy. Yet I feel like I find time to relax, take time for myself. I'm glad the relapse was a single event and I managed to pull it together afterwards!

I feel energetic despite everything I do. Kind of in the final home stretch of a crazy personal-professional challenge. It all ends in 3 weeks!

We'll see if I succeed.

Trying to stick to meditation. I really notice the difference in my ability to focus when I meditate daily and when I don't.