Go easy, friends
Today was one of those days where I woke up tired. The cats had been having full-moon parties all night; my dreams were unease; the humidity was stifling.
Looking at my to-do list I thought, maybe I could ChatGPT my Substack.
Then I thought about the torrent of identical AI-spawned nonsense that has invaded every conceivable platform, and realized I’ve gotten dangerously close to seeing things the wrong way round.
Write To Success is about communication and human connection — not faking it with tech. Write To Success is about appreciating and embracing how reflection and writing build neural networks and emotional resilience. Write To Success is about not being defined by other people’s definitions of success.
It is hard, though, when hustle culture and an increasingly hostile society defines success in terms of money, power and accolades, and preaches that there’s “no second place, only first loser.”
A voice in my head says I must publish every week, must post on LinkedIn, must network, must reach out, must do more, must try harder.
It’s a message neurodivergent, gifted and 2E folks are all too likely to take to heart.
Our tendency to take things literally and adhere to absolutes can spark burnout as we try to follow mendacious advice about how to succeed.
The flip side of that, for me anyway, is freezing up.
If I can’t get everything done, I despair of getting anything done.
Slowly, imperfectly, I’m learning strategies to convince my racing-engine brain that there are gears between sixth and idle.
Here are five that are applicable to all ages and situations.
Tune out
Noise-cancelling headphones are among my most cherished possessions — closely followed by foam earplugs. Burnout leaves all the senses frazzled; turning down the volume on the world creates space that allows the ND brain to regain equilibrium.
Fuel up
When we’re tired, proprioception gets even more challenging. It is easy to lose track of hunger and thirst, and when low blood sugar and/or dehydration get into the mix, recovery becomes monumentally difficult. Personally, I’m a peanut butter and banana on toast fan. But any simple, balanced, not-too-sweet snack will do.
Watch a plant grow
In all seriousness, few things are as soothing as staring at a plant. Pick one flower, leaf or stem: notice the symmetries, textures, scents. Did you know that rosemary flowers are tiny white cups with purple veins? Have you ever studied the spooky perfection of a dandelion?
Hang out with an animal
I’m lucky — with 14 cats there’s always a critter available for conversation. Animals of all shapes and sizes are incredible company for neurodivergent folks. They don’t have social expectations, they don’t judge tears or stimming or blank faces, they’re always enthusiastic about treats. Pettable pets are ideal, but watching fish swim or bees bumble can be just as calming.
Do a little bit
One of the hardest things for me to do when I’m exhausted is nothing, because tiredness kicks my brain into “you’re all washed up, you’ll never get anything done again” panic mode. Not helpful.
Since I routinely use timers to chunk tasks, I adapt to my reduced energy and set a timer for 7, 5 or 3 minutes.
The goal is to soothe my panicked inner perfectionist, rather than get a bunch done.
Even writing a few sentences, or reviewing one essay, or writing one email can be enough to get the ground back under my feet.
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I’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions or questions about addressing the pressures and expectations we all face as citizens in an over-stimulated society.
Share in the comments!