Please help. I’m 2 days overdue on water changes but I’m having executive dysfunction and cannot force myself to do the thing. Do you have any tips for pushing through this?

caring-for-tiny-creatures:

mypatronusisabetta:

justnoodlefishthings:

I try to tell myself that I have to do it for the fish, and it’s my responsibility. I also set a deadline, like I tell myself I HAVE to do it Tuesday OR ELSE. I try to mentally hype myself up that bad things will happen if I don’t meet that deadline and that usually gets me to do it

When I get like this, I also find it helpful to remind myself that I JUST have to siphon out some water and pour in new water. That’s it. You don’t have to scrub the algae off the glass (the fish don’t care about that). You don’t have to vacuum the substrate if you aren’t up for it. You don’t have to dump out the buckets of dirty water. That can wait until tomorrow. Today, it’s just two things. Old water out. New water in. You can do this.

Sometimes it helps me to feed it first. That’s such a little task, it’s fun, and it reminds you, “hey, food going in, poop going out, NITRATES NITRATES NITRATES water change needed.”

Maybe do a small water change? Just one bucket. It’s a start.

Also, try thinking of a dessert item or other tasty treat, and then telling yourself that you can have that treat after you do the water changes.