the self-improvement spiral in 12 steps:

- realize theres a problem

- ignore the problem

- problem becomes un-ignorable

- find a tool to fix it

- feel 80% better

- over-optimize and obsess over 20%

- feel worse than before

- ditch the tool

- feel free again

- slowly backslide because problem no longer exists

- end up back where you started

- realize there's a problem

the cure becomes the disease if you stare too hard at the chart.