Reasonable Limits

The trick, I'm told, is to limit yourself reasonably, in ways that don't interfere with your ability to flow detached through the cruft and crap of life; and which let you hang your hat on proper principles without turning you into a machine or a rote-memorization idiot.

Here is my attempt to define reasonable limits for myself:

1. Relax during relaxation-time and work during work-time.  When it's time to work, leave the TV and other relaxation-things alone; and when it's time to relax, leave the laptop shut.
2. Take bedtime seriously; don't put off naps or do things right before them that I know will screw them up.
3. When giant projects loom, do a little every day — this staves off needless worry.
4. Do not indulge anger in the real world; save it for art.
5. Meditation & practice daily is the default; no exceptions but for emergencies.
6. Choose good food over junk food; if not starving, choose to go a little hungry rather than eat crap.
7. When feeling lost, fall back on good principles.  Do not indulge in doubt when weakened by fear; doubt is for when you're strong enough to do it properly.
8. When threatened, relax, and flow like water.

Man, being "reasonable" is really hard when I'm so used to being OMG CRAZY GUNG HO WOOOOO about everything (i.e. sleep), or else ignoring it entirely (i.e. social activities).  But there's a lot to be said for the idea that having "limits on your limits" is healthier than either having none, or too many; and I'm old enough now that a good system needs to last, and be perfectable over, decades, not the handful of years that's the most anything lasts during one's youth (especially mine).  Still, figuring out how to hit middle ground (lit. "the Middle Way") here was surprisingly tricky.

Opinions welcome! 

(I know I'm already behind on comments & emails, so if I've ignored you please forgive me.  I still want to hear people's thoughts, or I'd be writing this in my private journal.  ;)