heathwilder

[heathwilder]

Insights from the 2024 Global Workplace Report

The XYZ of Work-Related Stress:  Commentary on Gallup 2024 State of the Global Workplace report Hi folks, I was reading this week’s “Nightingale” – Data Visualisation Society eNewsletter (named after Florence, Nurse-Statistician-Legend) and there was an interesting article breaking down the 2024 State of the Global Workplace report by Gallup.  The report was arguing that people’s mental…

[heathwilder]

Navigating Burnout: Resources for Neurodivergent Individuals

In 2024 there have been a solid quantity of new resources and articles on avoiding and dealing with burnout. Considering we are in the Holiday season we thought it might be worthwhile to share a select number of them with you.

2024 update 9 minutes Hi folks, Following on from the post last year[1], there have been a solid quantity of new articles on avoiding and dealing with burnout. Considering we are in the Holiday season we thought it might be worthwhile to share a select number of them with you. Please see the previous (above) post for the definition of burnout, the differences between Workplace burnout and…

[heathwilder]

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!It seems she hangs upon the cheek of nightLike a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear;Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows.The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand,And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!For I…

[heathwilder]

Parsley novels rosemary and thyme

Tonight I am sitting down on a cold winter’s night to a meal of mashed potato and peas, Toulouse sausage – an inspiration of from Craig my local butcher, as he’s getting festive for the Paris Olympics. The fresh parsley, lemon thyme, spring onion, and rosemary are out of my balcony garden. I’ve taken 2 days off work in recovery as I’ve kept blacking out. My local GP thinks it’s probably…

[heathwilder]

Neuroinclusive Education

I was speaking with my bestie, their 3yo is pulling out of dance class because they are finding it hard (the 3yo not … you get it). It’s not having your parent there, as much as being told what to do by people you don’t know (inevitably in ways you struggle to understand). You see our protagonist is undoubtedly neurodivergent, and being neurodivergent is frequently tricky, because whilst you are…

[heathwilder]

Don't let your AI run with a bad crowd.

I've been getting into using AI in my day-to-day a lot over the past 6 months. It's usually great, but some days...!

I’ve been getting into using AI in my day-to-day a lot over the past 6 months. Deciphering cantankerous customers’ meanings. Writing the start of a long letter not knowing where to start. And sometimes creating a logo… well, I gave it a try with a clear set of prompts “logo for a book club, an illustration of an open book, simple line art” and this is what I received. Well I don’t know where…

[heathwilder]

On Rilke

On Rilke To someone that likes to pretend they know everything, You have a remarkable ability to prove I knew nothing

_______To someone that likes to pretend they know everything,You have a remarkable ability  to prove I knew nothing_______

[heathwilder]

BURNOUT Follow Up #2: Dyslexia and Fatigue

I have been meaning to follow up with some more resources regarding Burnout in the Neurodivergent Community. It makes sense that the challenges of working in a high pressure environment, especially one that is nonoptimal for your skills, will add stress.

I have been meaning to follow up with some more resources regarding Burnout in the Neurodivergent Community. It makes sense that the challenges of working in a high pressure environment, especially one that is nonoptimal for your skills, will add stress. Of course that means that burnout can and does occur in all neurotypes.   A Succeed-with-Dyslexia (SWD) blog post[1] from last year is a great…

[heathwilder]

Mental Health Monday: Burnout through many lenses

You might hear the term “Burnout” talked about a lot and maybe you’ve felt that way yourself.  But what is burnout?

(This piece of writing was created by my incredible friend Shelly and myself for our Neurodiversity and Wellness, Arts and Culture community that we chair) You might hear the term “Burnout” talked about a lot and maybe you’ve felt that way yourself.  But what is burnout? How does burnout differ between different communities? And what can you do about it for your co-workers, friends and…

[heathwilder]

Autism Tests and the Arrogance of "Normality"

There are a bunch of fun and interesting tests that do the rounds of the neurodivergent and autistic communities every now and again. Some draw from rich experience and colour of the community, whilst others are built from the doctrine of Asperger* & Lovaas* treating us as if “they are not people in the psychological sense”. Yes ND and autistic people are horrendously marginalised still, so when…

[heathwilder]

Technology providing access (where society won't)

This week I went to a wonderful accessible arts panel discussion on accessible tech in the arts. There are a lot of everyday uses of technology to use technology to increase the accessibility of arts and culture and our exceptional panel of Sophie Penkethman-Young (Australia Council), Marcus Wright (MCA), and Simon Buchanan (Sydney Opera House) unpacked a wide field of these. Technologies such as…

[heathwilder]

Small but kind

We’ve had a few nests of paper wasps at our house over the past 5+ years.  Over the years they’ve started a few nests, small ones off a few cells that they’d sometimes abandon for unknown reasons and sometimes they come back to them.

We’ve had a few nests of paper wasps at our house over the past 5+ years.  Over the years they’ve started a few nests, small ones off a few cells that they’d sometimes abandon for unknown reasons and sometimes they come back to them. They are small clustered tubes of grey, looking like loose bunches of Sunday newspapers bought from some tiny delivery kid on their weekend paper route around the…

[heathwilder]

Hello, I would like to ask why so many autistic children become so attached to screen time. I know the formal reason, I am also aware that all people can become attached to television, video games, or a tablet. I suppose my question is how do you engage an autistic child when they only want to watch tv, play video games, or play on a tablet? They do not care about toys, books, or anything else other than jumping. How do I become part of their word if they don't want to be bothered?

It’s always difficult to provide good advice based on the amount of information that will fit in a tumblr ask, so my response will be fairly general, but I hope still useful to you.

It sounds like you’re feeling a lot of pressure to engage with your child in the perceived “right” way. I think that’s the crux of the issue here.

When we say that parents can and should become a part of their children’s world, that statement should be taken at face value. It doesn’t mean, “craft a perfect, Today’s Parent-approved world around your child.”

Your child’s world is currently watching television, playing video games, and using a tablet. Quality children’s programming teaches story structure, facilitates echolalia and language development, and models friendship and how to navigate social situations. Playing video games develops hand-eye coordination, teaches problem solving, and builds confidence. A tablet is exactly what you make of it and the apps you put on it.

It also sounds like you are feeling resentment, which is neither productive nor necessary. That’s on you. As a parent, your job is to support and love your child. That means that you need to manage your emotions. Journalling, therapy, and self-care are ways to do that.

Now, instead of thinking of screen time as inherently bad and toys and books as good, consider what ways you could meet your child where they are at and use their interests to facilitate learning. Try offering different kinds of apps: there are apps that teach music, drawing apps, apps to make simple animations, apps that allow you to track the flight of airplanes, apps that show you the stars above you right now. There are apps that even read children’s books and allow kids to read along.

Keep offering new things, and see what interests take hold. Always have captions on, so that television time is also teaching literacy. Provide video games in different genres and using different mechanics. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box or feel constrained by what is typical or arbitrarily “age appropriate” when it comes to interesting or educational apps, games, etc.

Play video games with your child. Ask them about their favourite apps. Discuss the plot and themes of the television shows they watch, and try “writing” an episode of their favourite show together. Jump together. Talk about how and why jumping feels good to their body. Talk about why they like what they like. Keep engaged.

And most importantly, remember that there is no right or wrong way to have a childhood, and that the problem is not that your child “doesn’t want to be bothered.” They are not trying to frustrate or disappoint you. The problem is that you are clinging onto expectations.

Let go and just meet them where they are. It takes more thought, more intention, and more care, but it will be a lot more fun and bring you closer.

[heathwilder]

Neurodiversity and Burnout recovery

So what’s with all the swimming? Well at the moment I’m recovering from burnout, and swimming has been one of the ways of combating the anxiety and depression that can come with burnout.

exercise & mental wellness In the past I have been an irregular participant of running and hiking, but presently swimming is my go-to exercise. For me exercise is less about physical fitness and  more for quietude; for self reflection and regaining control. When I’m swimming I can’t get overly ambitious. If I swim more vigorously I’ll start gasping for air and my performance drops as my anxiety…

[heathwilder]

There are blackouts throughout my area because of huge storms. Sunset looks pretty though (at Lane Cove National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CozC9yyvGHo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[heathwilder]

Holidays are stressful, so let's chill. Inclusively!

Holidays are stressful, so let’s chill. Inclusively!

The holidays are rough for a lot of us. A lot of expectations and traditions that are counterproductive in a neurodivergent context. If I may, I think there are three things going on for me during holidays. Being transparent of these differences can be helpful in coming to a mutual understanding.1) I understand the premise of reconnecting and bonding time and the rituals that feature in…

[heathwilder]

Wishing you a safe and restful holidays #merrychristmas #happyhanukkah #happyholidays https://www.instagram.com/p/CmknHFnvkBC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=