It’s easier to fall asleep when you’re not keeping track of what you told who.

Every version of a story you maintain costs upkeep, and the bill arrives at night when there is nothing else to think about. Small convenient edits feel harmless one at a time and turn into a filing system you have to keep consistent. Plainness is partly a comfort measure.

Look for the one thing you have been telling differently depending on who is asking. Correct it quietly, or simply say less rather than saying something adjusted. Fewer versions to keep straight is the most immediate benefit, and it shows up the same week.