#procrastinates and does this instead of chores

[entomycetic]

Written tidbits for some weird dwarf OCs under the cut so as to not spam the feed; maybe someday they'll get actual drawings and ref sheets :,)

Engineer (Beetle)

- Makes every solution to every problem Far too complex. Much to R&D's displeasure, he doesn't carry turret packages on the job. Rather, he's created his own RC drones with their own set of close combat melee weapons. The drone is able to project a hologram of a dwarf around itself so as to warn teammates where the drone is in the dark; Engie uses a headset to control the drone, at the cost of losing mobility. Yes I want a melee class how could you tell. No I don't care how impractical it is - Doesn't know what to think of Hoxxes anymore, due to current events brought up below - Is gay for Scout. His absolutely bonkers takes amused him

Scout (Dragonfly)

- A conspiracy theorist to the max, avoided by anyone beyond his crew; slightly comparable to a constantly shaking yet vicious chihuahua. He swears to core and back that DRG is only setting themselves up for a major disaster on Hoxxes, that the disruption of local life and food chains is going to come back to bite them in the ass, quite literally. This guy harbors all my little headcanons and love for Hoxxes' biosphere -...And in this timeline, he turns out to be correct! He and Engie found out in a very unfun way, and barely made it back alive. - Is gay for Engie. Someone finally believed him

Gunner (Spider)

- Will vehemently claim he's the Normal One of the group, and in the same breath will furiously defend his Oops! All Ziplines loadout (BFG, zipline, zipline, zipline, pickaxe). Always some level of grumpy until he has alcohol in hand, acts as if he's team leader (and everyone lets him), teases Scout as a hobby, yet still manages to be the most optimistic of the bunch in even the most dire of situations. He insists that the main reason he stays on this team is because they won't let him take such an R&D unapproved loadout with any "reasonable" team. While true, the amount of shit the team had gone through together forged a bond not even he can deny. - While they had been through plenty else, Gunner had been with Engie and Scout when the Conspiracy Fuckening occurred, but was in a separate part of the cave. While he could hear and feel what the other two were experiencing from so far away, he finds it difficult to believe what he was told went down

Driller (Cricket)

- Until recently, this position was frequently rotated. The vibes of the team were incredibly hard to match, much to Mission Control's torment. - In short, not long after The Incident: Scout would come across a crater in a cave harboring a starving grunt eating at very wounded yet still alive grabber. His bug-sympathizing ass deletes the grunt and successfully convinces the team to help the grabber. By some miracle they sneak it back on board, patch it up, and once they're off duty, Engie cyborgs the hell out of it. ..Only after enough time passes of them getting it to Not immediately attack them with the promise of food. It was first given general limb prosthetics, then experimented on with brain chips, all the way to building the now artificially enlightened beast a dwarf shaped mech suit. It remembered how it was found, now gladly and violently working alongside its team. Mission Control has been gaslit to high hell into believing all the weird shit this thing does is normal dwarf behavior. - As its ability to communicate and understand advances, Scout hopes they can get some insight into the ecology of Hoxxes that goes unnoticed by dwarfkind. For now though, drill go bzzzz and gun go pewpew

[ooooo-mcyt]

It's such a shame the Secret Soulmates thing is so often portrayed as Grian being selfish or vindictive for no reason because I think the actual events leading up to Grian's decision to seek out BigB are way more interesting than just "Grian's a selfish cheater". So like, because it's not covered much, I'm just going to detail the entire narrative from Grian's pov leading up to his decision to go to BigB.

For the first part of the first episode, Grian actually really seems to be romanticizing the idea of soulmates. Multiple times, he describes his search for his soulmate as "looking for love" and he hits everyone he meets with almost excited anticipation.

The moment Grian and BigB first look at each other is surprisingly romantic? I mean, it feels like what you'd expect from someone meeting their soulmate, from someone who just knows.

BigB and Scott finish testing if they're soulmates, and BigB is mid sentence when he turns around and look at Grian, and BigB just stops mid sentence and goes "Oh", which Grian echos (also when bigb looks at grian, grian holds his shield up for a good few seconds which just gives me the image of him hiding behind it and peering over the top which is uncharacteristically shy for grian but also really cute). "Are you ready?", BigB asks, and he waits for Grian to give him the go ahead before hitting him.

And..nothing. They aren't soulmates. BigB sounds disappointed. Grian sounds almost distraught, "I was so sure- I've never had such a broken heart in my life."

Shortly after Grian's soulmate takes significant damage. Everyone present rushes to give him food, though Grian would later credit BigB specifically with the very warm sentiment of having "saved" him.

And Grian's first meeting with Scar is..different.

Grian already doesn't seem to want to be Scar's soulmate, doesn't want to be teamed again, for one reason or another. And Scar..doesn't make it easier. Grian tries to talk to him, as the realization sets in, tries to say it, that they're soulmates. Grian does say it. But Scar isn't listening. Scar actively talks over Grian to brush Grian off, walking away while Grian is trying to grapple with the fact that they're soulmates.

Scar doesn't notice. Grian said it, mind you, in plain English- "Scar I think we're soulmates"- and Scar heard him, Scar responded to him, Scar just wasn't listening. Scar doesn't look for his soulmate, and he doesn't figure it out either for the rest of the episode. Grian tries to tell him twice more, and twice more Scar isn't listening. The first time, Grian calls after Scar twice as he's running off, "Scar I need to tell you something", but Scar doesn't turn around. The final time, Grian literally forces Scar to look at him and drops dripstone on their heads. Scar somehow still doesn't see him. Grian demands Scar look at him, actually look, this time, and finally, with great effort, he manages to get the point across.

One of Scar's first questions is "do we have to live together?", and Grian responds that it would be nice to, a sentiment Scar doesn't immediately echo. Grian pulls Scar along, back to the base Grian got working on by himself earlier.

At the start of the next episode, they have a disagreement. Scar brings home some pandas without consulting Grian, and Grian reacts very negatively, making a no pandas in the house rule and prompting Scar to help him with work instead. Grian specifically delegates the job of getting oak wood to Scar while Grian continues working on..everything else..himself. And after a bit of procrastinating from Scar, he does go to do his "chores" as Scar describes them.

Except that Scar doesn't actually.

Well, I mean, he does do the "chore" Grian gave him, but while he's out, he takes a break to think of a way to punish Grian, coming up with the idea of using powdered snow to hurt Grian as a punishment for Grian not letting the animals in the house and making Scar do a "chore". Grian doesn't technically know Scar did this on purpose, but with tick damage being a very distinctive type of damage that you usually would have to do on purpose to take as much as Scar did, I wouldn't be surprised if Grian figured it out.

It's at this point, that Grian decides to go to BigB. And it doesn't feel like he's just doing it for shallow reasons or to be mean, it fully checks out.

Because Grian's not happy with Scar at this point!

Partially because Scar himself doesn't seem interested in Grian at all, wouldn't listen to Grian to the point of talking over and brushing him off when Grian tried to tell him, and didn't want to live together after finding out. For Grian, who genuinely did seem to have a rather romantic view of soulmates at the start of the first episode, it probably kinda sucked to have his soulmate look past him like that. I can't fault Scar for not being particularly interested, but just because Scar didn't do anything technically wrong doesn't mean Grian's not allowed to be unhappy.

And then there's the other problem. The one I see surprisingly few fans talk about in regards to Scar and Grian. "Why does everyone else get a real partner except me?", Grian asked shortly before deciding to go to BigB. It's a sentiment we get from Grian multiple times. He says being Scar's partner is like babysitting, like having a toddler, Scar doesn't feel like a partner, he feels like a source of emotional labor who has no interest in lessening the burden for Grian. And. Yeah. Grian has good reason to feel like Scar makes him do all the labor in their relationship. I mean, Grian needed to get very pushy to even get Scar to agree to help build their shared base, Grian had to do the job of managing Scar on what specific task to do, Grian gave Scar a very small job comparative to the work Grian was doing around the house, and Scar still complained and found a way to punish Grian (the powdered snow) for "making" him do "chores" and not wanting animals in the house.

Which isn't to say Scar is bad or malicious or something, I love Scar, hell, I love Desert Duo, I think they work very well together in a lot of cases, but I think there is very much a labor imbalance- both in actual work and in emotional labor- here and it's understandably upsetting for Grian.

And in comparison, BigB looks..wonderful, to Grian?

BigB wanted him, for starters. They both felt it, the previous day. Scar kept looking through Grian, but BigB's eyes met Grian's and they both felt something. BigB seems considerate too. Grian feels like he has to pull teeth to get Scar to help him with the house (and then gets punished for it), meanwhile BigB is the one who "saved" Grian the previous day, jumping to give him food, not to mention the considerate gesture of BigB checking in to make sure Grian is ready before hitting him for the soulmate check. And, well, Grian clearly likes BigB.

Grian wasn't just going to someone else to be mean to Scar, and he didn't go for BigB just because he wanted someone, Grian was- validly!- unhappy with Scar (who didn't seem to want to be together much either) and actively liked BigB and thought he'd be a good partner.

Also, Grian very notably announces that he's defying destiny and asserts that he has a choice in who to be with, which adds a thematic layer of personal agency to the whole thing too. You get the impression Grian was mostly with Scar because he felt like he had to be, because the universe tied them together. But here Grian considers, for the first time, the thought that maybe it's okay to be with someone he wants, and who makes him happy, instead of resigning himself to be with the one he's 'supposed' to be with just because he's 'supposed' to.

(this idea of agency in who you love is relevant to double life as a whole, as i've made many posts about, but also is relevant to desert duo specifically. as much as i think they really cared about each other in third life, grian was also with scar because he was supposed to be for most of the season. being with scar had always, up to that point, been something grian was obligated to do, something grian didn't feel he had much choice in. so grian finally asserting here to the audience that he has a choice feels very relevant thematically.)

[homunculus-argument]

My life functions by "if it looks stupid but it works, it's not stupid." My brain does not like routines, and if something's not enjoyable to do, wrangling myself to do it takes up so much energy that it's usually not cost-effectice. Wrangling is a limited resource preserved for things that only need to be done Just This Once. I cannot run routines by wrangling. There has to be another way.

I have, however, figured out that I can turn things that should be done regularly but not necessarily exactly at the right time every time into "filler activities", things that my eyes land on when I got up to do something and forgot what it was, or when I get that vague feeling of "hmm, I should be doing something" and can't remember what. My eyes land on the dishes in the sink or the pile of cardboard boxes that I should tear up for recycling. I could never stick to a Clean The House Once A Week routine on a certain day, but I get the random urge to shred cardboard or fix something often enough that I can manage by just setting myself loose to wander around the house in a completely disorganised manner, starting something, fixing it, and wandering off to a random direction to do something else like a chore-completing roomba.

Did you know that you don't need to brush your teeth at a specific time of the day? You can just randomly do it at some random time of the day, which is what I do. I'll procrastinate going to the bathroom for an unreasonable amount of time until I simply have to drop everything I'm doing to just pop in real quick, 3 minutes max, and when I'm washing my hands and get the urge to linger to pick on my face for 15 minutes, I may remember "ah right, might as well brush my teeth now that I'm here", and do that instead.

And once that's done I suddenly remember that I left my ink jar open, my ink nib has probably already dried up to all fuck, I was in the middle of a business call with my accountant and I can't remember if I left something on the stove. I didn't, but I manage.

If your brain's a constant storming sea, the best you can do is buy a surfboard.

[crepezinhos]

request where reader has a horrible phobia of the dentist, but albedo is there to talk them into going to their appointment and supporting them the way through? :)

Monthly Checkup

(REQUEST #6) POV: How would a science nerd like Albedo react towards a S/O who has a phobia of dentists?

⚠️ WARNINGS:

— This a fluffy SFW piece

— Reader is FEMALE and uses SHE/HER pronouns

— Contains exaggerated views towards science / dentists

“There’s no need to worry, Y/N, it’ll be a simple checkup, no longer than 30 minutes, so why are you so worried about this? Have you not been brushing your teeth properly?”

That was his only argument to you as he drove the car in the direction of the dentist’s clinic.

You were worried, swallowing saliva repetitively, but you that moment had to be faced sometime. You wish you had procrastinated it once again, but Albedo insisted so much on getting the chore over to not mess up the calendar that you convinced yourself to arrange an appointment today and right now. Although he has been your boyfriend for months, you two have never really found each other in this situation, meaning that you never really communicated to him that you feared dentists.

Especially because Albedo is a very rough defender of science and does not tolerate conspiracy theories about it. Tell him vaccines are fake? He’ll just tell you to have fun with the HIV tests. The Moon’s landing is fake? He’ll just walk away from you. The Earth is flat and the government hides it? He’ll genuinely wonder if you ever stepped into high school.

How would you tell such a science-strict man like him that you think dentists will kill you and torture you using sharp materials in your fragile teeth? Would he laugh at you? It would not be a good sign coming from a stoic person like him.

“I, uh… I don’t know.” You muttered, completely unsure of what to tell him instead of the real reason.

“No, Y/N, I’m serious, is there something wrong with your teeth and you’re scared that the doctor will scold you for it?” He said, stopping the car right behind the crosswalk since the signal had turned red.

He was pretty close, but it’s not it.

“No, really.” You said, trying to get him to keep going until he guessed the correct answer.

“Y/N, I can see something is going on and I’m worried about it. Please, let’s talk about it. It would be good for the both of us as a couple.” Albedo insisted, turning his body to you, but keeping his left hand in the steering wheel.

You turned your head away from him even further, feeling the will of telling him the truth taking over and tightening your throat more and more.

“It might begin a bigger discussion and that’s the last thing I want right now.” You argued.

“It won’t, unless it’s something that could reasonably end our relationship.” He argued back, proceeding to wait for a possible response coming from you. “And, a slight disagreement about something insignificant is never going to be bad for us.” He stated a little more calm compared to how he started, putting his right hand on top of yours just to caress it gently. “Please.” Albedo insisted.

And you sighed in realization that you had no good arguments to hit him back, although you didn’t find his words valid or coherent to his person. Albedo is the kind of guy to make small disagreements a bigger matter, but now that he promised to stay calm, you could use it as a weapon against him.

“Well, I… I just… have a phobia of dentists. I’m scared of what the doctor might do to me today and that’s why I’m freaking out right not.” You confessed, shrieking your body and crossing your arms in expectation of his scolding, with a nervous chuckle that was supposed to make the scene less awkward,

And silent.

He didn’t say anything, especially because the traffic signal had turned green, so he had to look forward and drive, making the car went quiet for a quick moment, the sound of motors underneath it louder than anything.

…

He breathed in and out pretty loudly with his nose out of nowhere.

…

“I’m a little offended at your expectations coming from me, I must say, but I’m surprised with this information, I thought this was just another monthly checkup, but it wasn’t. I… did not know something so important as your phobias.” Albedo commented, surprising your negative expectations, and breaking off the awkward silence.

“Oh, please, you know every time someone dares to question science you get angry.” You replied, getting a little too comfortable to make a comment at his behavior although that could phrase could begin the argument that you wanted to avoid.

And it seemed like it when he went quiet again to process what you had said to him. It looked like he was analyzing it pretty well, but you thought he’d not agree with whatever he thought of.

You kinda don’t like it when Albedo gets angry. It’s annoying and really hard to make him drop those feelings.

“Well, I must agree that I do get unnecessarily angry when someone spreads fake information about science, but this is not the case here. I would never get angry at you for a fear, Y/N, especially when I know there’s a pretty good reason behind it.” He calmly explained his point of view to you, making you look up to him finally.

Not even you what he meant. Although that’s what you should’ve expected coming from a boyfriend, you didn’t understand how your fear wasn’t against his patterns or how you ‘have a reason.’.

“What do you mean I have a reason?” You asked.

“Your braces. You had them for some several years, didn’t you? I know that the process of it is usually very painful because of the many alterations they cause in your mouth, so maybe your brain started developing this fear to somehow protect you from these alterations, although they don’t happen anymore… I do believe it’s a little exaggerated, but I will not oppose something that could also happen to me.” He explained his reasons to you, but you barely understood his scientific explanation.

“Really?” You asked, finally looking up to him, a little happy that Albedo was upping the stakes against himself for you.

Albedo letting a person dare science and leave it like that? That was progress.

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I would ever avoid appointments because of it. Would you do that, Y/N?” He clarified before you had any further bad ideas of him.

“I mean… I procrastinated this moment a lot.” You confessed, looking away again in embarrassment.

“But you’re still here in this car, with me, going to get this done, so I don’t think there’s any problem, is there?” He asked pretty solidly.

“No… unfortunately…” You whispered to yourself.

“Could I go in the room with you? Would that make you feel more comfortable?” Albedo asked more softly.

“Yes… please.” You answered a little nervous but also relieved that he made such a cute question.

You knew that Albedo would defend from the dentist if necessary, which made your heart go back to its normal rhythm.

“Was it that bad, Y/N?” Albedo asked with a slight smirk on his face as the elevator went down many floors.

“… Shut up.” You answered, chuckling.

“I’m kidding, Y/N, but I do want you to always remember these better experiences. It will end up replacing the bad ones and create a new perspective that will make your next visits less stressful. You had me really worried with all that intensity back in the car and I don’t want to ever see you like that again for such an unrealistic reason, alright? Let’s keep your tears for better occasions, the both of us.” He said, pulling your face closer to his just to smooch your forehead gently as he smiled and stared at your eyes.

“… Fine.”

Anon, if you’re reading this, I apologize for the very late deliver. If you have been keeping up with my posts, you must know that I have been recently on a trip which took all my days from tumblr. I am finally back, but I still don’t have much motivation or creativity to write at the moment. This isn’t a hiatus, but expect me to post a little less until school’s back. If you really had an appointment with a dentist, I really do apologize for missing it because it would’ve probably made you comfortable.

(Also, the braces thing was a self-insert feature of me but I believe other people can relate to it too, sorry if it’s a bother or not real about you.)

And, remember that dentists don’t want and will not hurt you, they just want to do their job, and some of them just really love their job, so there’s no need to be afraid. ❤️

Taglist: @kindofscenic @kindofshyent @the-stinky-winky

Don’t forget to like and comment if you liked it <3

[authorsharonforester]

Sticking To A Writing Routine

​Welcome. Today, I will show you how hard it is to stay on track with writing and the ways to overcome it. Here at home, I will currently express that I haven't written in a long time. 

The trouble with that is that I really want to, and despite that, I am not writing. I have a hard time sticking to writing a little bit every day because I am worried about how I will finish my work and the work it takes to do my writing and then edit it.

People have different reasons why they procrastinate writing. For all of us, it doesn't mean we enjoy writing. We are just afraid of failure in some way. For example, for me it is the process of editing and how much work it is going to take. My brain tells me that I will never finish the editing process because it takes so much time. I want to do things that will take very little time.

The story I am working on is about an alien that joins his people's plans on wanting to invade planet Earth, but the alien doesn't want to partake in this mission, and meanwhile on Earth, a girl and her friend are desperate to meet a live alien. This is a novel that took me three years to write when I was a little girl. I have written the entire thing on paper and now I need to type it on the computer.

It is important to keep yourself accountable for getting the work done. I am on camera because I want to show you that it is possible to come and stay on track in the writing process if you really let yourself do this. There are different ways to hold you accountable. You just gotta pick the types that work for you because everyone is different.

-Make a schedule and stick to it -Make a goal and stick to it -Make a checklist and work on it for a duration of time -Make a sign in, sign out sheet -Set a goal for the day -Get someone else to keep you accountable -Dedicate a day for your tasks

What works for every single person is different, so it is important you find what works for you, whether it is something from this list or something you come up with on your own. What works for me is this (when I am disciplined): Setting a goal and using a day to accomplish it. ​ Let me tell you how I found this. I was roaming through YouTube one day when I found an interview with Stephen King on there. I clicked on it because the title said he was talking about how he was making books so fast. He went into the conversation to mention that he sets the goal of writing SIX PAGES a day and then having the entire day to accomplish this. He also mentions that when he is being overcome with obstacles in writing, then he will use that time to take breaks, and what he does in those breaks is either eat a meal, shop at the door for things he needs or do a chore. He uses his breaks to do something he needs to get some practice in his personal life instead of being distracted by the phone and TV, which is really important to getting anything done. It is like being at school at home. Sometimes it makes it easier to think of it as an assignment he needs to get done. All these little things work as a motivator for him while he is working. Then he will start over the next day until he reaches his day(s) off.

This was inspiring to me because everyone else always came up with ideas that didn't work for me, such as the list above. For me, working under a time limit didn't work because I didn't know what to expect to come in randomly in my life. Others are able to work under pressure… It all depends on who you are and that you pick what works for you. As long as you pick something that is realistic to you, then you are on your way.

The last thing that you need to remember is that you need to start with small goals and just write! before you set yourself up with bigger goals and worry about editing, or else you will never get anything done because you are overwhelming yourself. We will overthink everything and then end up messing up our own stories.

[asylumgarden2003]

Reality check to escape slumpness ASAP

╭☞ Being lazy is only for privileged people

Being lazy often goes hand in hand with having some advantages in life. Imagine someone who's well off, maybe they've got a comfortable job, some money saved up, and maybe even people to help with chores. They can afford to kick back, binge watch shows, or take long naps because they have the means to do so. On the other hand, people who aren't as privileged might not have that luxury. They might have to hustle more, have multiple jobs, or handle all their responsibilities on their own because they can't rely on others or have safety nets. If you find yourself being lazy when you have the means and opportunities to do better, you are wasting your potential. Life rewards effort, determination, and hard work. So, stop making excuses and get up! Success doesn't come to those who lounge around; it comes to those who hustle, grind, and strive for their goals. So, get out there, work hard, and make something of yourself! (ofc none of this applies to depression tho always take care of urself & its ok to have off days)

╭☞ Time can’t be regained

Lost time is the ultimate thief, and it won't ever give back what it's stolen. Once those hours, days, or years slip through your fingers, they're gone for good. There's no magic rewind button in life. So, let that reality hit you like a wake-up call. Every moment you waste is a moment you can never get back. Regret won't change a thing. It's a harsh truth that should jolt you into action. Now, instead of dwelling on the past, use this harsh reality as a fire under your feet. Don't let another second slip away. Harness the urgency of time's irreversibility. Channel it into relentless, focused, and determined action. Make the most of what's left, because that's all you've got. Time waits for no one, so seize it before it steals even more.

╭☞ People will always advance

Life's a relentless race, and it couldn't care less if you're lagging behind. While you're hesitating or procrastinating, others are charging forward, leaving you in the dust. That's the harsh reality. Imagine this: You're standing still on a moving walkway, and it's going one way, forward. If you don't step up and walk with it, you'll get left behind while the world keeps moving. Opportunities won't wait. Dreams won't pause. People who take action, who hustle, who grind, they're the ones who make progress. They'll climb the ladder, achieve their goals, and live their dreams while you watch from the sidelines. So, don't expect life to hand you success on a silver platter. It won it. If you want to get ahead, you've got to hustle harder than you ever thought possible. Start now, or be prepared to watch others thrive while you're stuck in the shadows. The choice is yours.

╭☞ Failure is ur biggest power

Failure is the harshest teacher life has to offer. It's the punch in the gut, the slap in the face, and the reality check you need to grow stronger. When you fail, you are forced to confront your weaknesses, your mistakes, and your limitations. It's like getting thrown into the fiery forge of self-improvement. The pain and humiliation of failure become the fuel for your transformation. Success may look glamorous, but it rarely teaches you as much as failure does. It toughens your skin, hardens your resolve, and sharpens your skills. It separates the weak from the strong, the quitters from the warriors. So, don't fear failure; embrace it. Make it your ally, your motivator, and your secret weapon. Learn from it, adapt, and keep pushing forward. Failure isn't the end; it's the beginning of your journey to greatness. Turn it into your superpower, and watch yourself rise above the rest.

Love,

Medea

[cancer-and-hyacinths]

Let's hope im a good girl tomorrow who does her chores instead of the girl ive been for the past 2 days who procrastinated by finding ways to get out of the house so she didn't have to look at all the things she needed to do and feel guilty about not doing them

[burning-bubble-tea]

Am I sad because I’m mindlessly scrolling? Probably.

Phone is bad but life without phone is not something I desire.

Phone is communication with friends and how I get work.

I need to get back into my habit of using my laptop instead of my phone.

But a lot of my sewing projects involve me going up and down stairs and having my laptop be another thing I have to go up and down for does not sound appealing whereas my phone I can just put in my pocket.

Also I just have really bad revenge procrastination.

My days just always feel weirdly incomplete. Like I didn’t do enough.

And yes it’s probably the phone and the endless scrolling and then the waking up late.

But it is hard to leave the bed sometimes but it’s not even like depression anymore per se? Like therapy helps make me be wayyyy less self loathing and depressed but I dunno it’s just this sorta melancholy monotony blandness but also I’m too low energy and tired to do something more spontaneous.

Like I hate needing a reason to go out because I’m fucking stuck in the suburbs and as much as I love public transit, I’m tired of coming home so late because the bus comes so infrequently in the nighttime.

I dunno it’s not like I don’t do anything all day, I actually do think I’ve been scrolling way less but like it’s hard to feel productive I guess. But I did do things today.

I had a meeting, I did some pattern drafting. I DMd people about plans and stayed organized. I did my usual daily chores. I even focused for a task that took me like an hour and a bit which was preparing fabric to be cut which involved seam ripping the hem of the curtain and then ironing it flat. That was a lot of work and care and I didn’t take the easy way out, I made sure to carefully take out the stitches as didn’t want to tear the fabric as it’s delicate. Like I haven’t had a flop day in a long time but I guess the cruel trick is that I block myself from feeling satisfied. From truly letting myself feeeeeeel accomplishment.

Like my therapist says how I’m stuck in my head. Like even now, I’m thinking all these things and feelings but I’m not actually feeling it. There’s such a disconnect between my thoughts and my physical self.

Like even now writing all this out I’m not actually feeling the realizations and breakthroughs. I’m just identifying them.

I can identify that I don’t need to feel bad and that I should actually be feeling good. But I don’t really know how to feeeeeel it.

I’ve just gotten so used to organizing my emotions because I am a very emotional person who has been deeply deeply embarrassed by my inability to control my emotions.

And like I’m wayyyy better now. I was really proud of myself recently as I didn’t feel burning envy seeing people do things I wanted to do but knew I couldn’t.

I’ve gotten better at accepting who I am. If I’m annoying I’m annoying. If a part of me is upset that part of me is upset but it doesn’t discount the love I hold for others. Just because I think a mean thought doesn’t mean I am a bad person. And there are ways to get to the core of the mean thought and potentially turn it into constructive criticism or just accept it as an opinion I hold.

Cause yes, many people in my life annoy me, but I’m annoying too, so it all cancels out. I’m allowed to be annoyed just as they are. We can’t read people’s minds and we can’t know how we come across and sometimes we come across as annoying with weird mannerisms that read as unnatural or forced. I’m sure I also come across as unnatural or forced but I don’t know because I’m me and from my perspective, something unnatural or forced is trying something new or being social.

Anyways, I truly believe accepting myself fully will enable me to be closer to people. I feel like I’m very comfortable being vulnerable and open with people but I think very few people have seen me as I truly am because I’m still working through a lot of shame within myself.

It’s wild how being bullied for being the annoying kid in elementary school and high school embedded such a deep deep sense of shame and then that was compounded with being queer and nonbinary trans and imposter syndrome and the shame of not being a “proper” trans subject. And the shame of not being Chinese enough. Oh and also being fired from my job was a humiliating experience even though I know I should be proud of myself for not compromising my morals for a barely above minimum wage job.

I know I’m getting better all the time but when one of the things I’m getting better at is being proud of myself and my progress, it’s a little bit silly that the pathway I’m working towards is also the obstacle and also the path is a little frustrating.

Like I have this issue because I can’t be proud of myself which prevents me from truly celebrating my growth and accomplishments. So I have to slowly but surely feel more proud of myself but it’s hard to feel proud of the progress I make all the time.

So I know I’m getting better. But knowing is still only half the journey. And I know the solution but I can’t implement the solution.

Oh well. Bed time.

[author-orchids]

A long winded announcement (I'm alive!)

Hi everyone! (All three of you!) I've disappeared from the face of the earth but I am not, in fact, dead, and I'm back!

So, why did I leave? I had been so stressed out about school that I just could't bring myself to post here. Nothing interesting like getting hit by a bus, unfortunately. Midterm exams were coming up at the time that I stopped posting and I just haven't had the energy to come back since then. Posting started to feel like a chore, and boy oh boy does my monkey brain love to procrastinate.

For the time being, I won't be able to post every week. I do this for fun and it isn't fun if I'm worried about my posting schedule. Once summer break hits, I will return to posting once a week. Until then, I will post when I can.

Right now, I am working on rewriting chapters one and two completely. Those two were really placeholders so I had somewhere to start from. But now, I know what I want the introduction to my story to look like, and so I'm writing it better!

What I'm writing in place of the current chapters one/two is likely going to end up being more than two chapters, so I will have to change alll the chapter numbers all the way down 🫠. And I'll be making some edits to at least chapter three so as to fit in with the new beginning. So, keep an eye out for the new beginning chapters and the updated chapter three/whatever number it ends up being! I'll post them as soon as they're done!

(Also, yay! killing Cornielus [or however I spelt is name] by completely writing him out of the story and instead introducing one of my favorite guys!)

[astridthevalkyrie]

i'm being fr here but basically, how do you actually 'do' the stuff you enjoy without feeling guilty that you're instead not doing the stuff you're supposed to do? (e.g. school work, chores etc)

like i'm just so tired, i don't want to have to drink strong gross ass coffee to stay awake, and i just wanna be able to finally read some levi fics without feeling like i could be doing something more "useful". it just feels like there's no time lol. tbh, even worse or something similar along those lines is when the opportunity for you to do something you actually enjoy does present itself, but then you're just procrastinating doing it 🤨 idk if this is just me or what.

(sorry if this comes across as whining, not surprised if you roll your eyes at this)

babe i would never roll my eyes at this. it's not whining, it's a genuine question!

so, two issues here: (1) not being able to do anything fun/relaxing because you have work to do and (2) when you do have rare free time, still procrastinating on actually doing something fun.

the first issue is something i actually seriously tackled last year, because it was tiring me out in such a major way. therapy helped a lot. essentially, my week would go something like this: i have something due friday morning. it's monday today. i think if i get it done today i will have from tuesday to friday to kick back and do things i actually like to do. except it doesn't get done monday. call it autistic burnout, or executive dysfunction, but it just doesn't. nothing gets done, and because nothing gets done i don't get to have fun either. so i do nothing on monday, not anything productive or anything fun. tuesday goes the same way. wednesday goes the same way. almost all of thursday goes the same way, and then at night the actual anxiety kicks in like holy shit i can't miss the deadline so i do the entire assignment thursday night. i'll have it for friday, but i'll be exhausted from staying up till 3 AM getting it done and i didn't get to do anything fun or relaxing all week. next week, same cycle. it's brutal.

so my advice may not work for you. it works for me because i work well last minute and things always end up getting done. so what my therapist suggested to me, and what i started doing early last year, is to let things be put off. if something is going to get done thursday night, then it's going to get done thursday night. i'm not going to try and get it done monday, tuesday, wednesday. i'll do other things those days without putting a condition first. no if i do assignment a, i get to do fun thing x. just straight to do what you want to do.

and there's a lot of flaws with this way, nor is it perfect for me. it's still something i struggle with. doing things last minute isn't always feasible. even if you end up doing things well, sometimes you still shouldn't. last year i pulled an all nighter to write a 15 page paper i had about a month and a half to write because it was due the next day. i never made myself try and do it, because i knew it wasn't gonna get done until i absolutely had to do it. that's not ideal. i got a good grade, but i could have gotten a better grade if i had time to email the professor with my questions.

the other flaw is that some things don't have a due date. like laundry. it still takes me forever to do my laundry, and sometimes i tell myself i won't do anything until i put my clothes away, and then i just....never put my clothes away. nothing will magically kick in, because there's no time that my clothes have to be back in my closet by. they just gotta be in there.

but it's a start. at the very least, you'll be able to do things without this crushing guilt. sometimes, if you don't have to do something immediately, just don't. even if you just take that time to laze around on your phone! have fun or relax or hang out with people without feeling like you need to do something else. yeah there's things to do, there will always be things to do. you don't have to put the rest of your life on pause for them.

secondly, around summer last year, i started taking lexapro regularly, as well as adderall when i need it. it's helped me immensely. i've been on antidepressants and some adhd meds before, but this was my first time on both these meds, and they actually helped. i'm not saying you need meds, or that they'll work for you the way they've worked for me, but they are an option, and they can help. i'm happier. i can't emphasize enough how hard it is to do work or fun when you can't bring yourself to be happy. be open to therapy, to medicine, to help.

other tips: (1) if i spoil myself ever, whether that's with food or a book or a DIY kit or something, i tend to do it when i have a big task to do. it gives me a seratonin boost and sometimes i need that to do anything. it works better than doing something for a reward. little treat first, then work. (2) i can't be in the same place over and over again. i can almost never study at home, and i get sick of campus very quickly. move around. find cafes. if you have to be at home, move to different areas. (3) BODY DOUBLING WORKS!! anyone in your life who can do something with you, try and see if they want to. i've had a friend on facetime working on an assignment while i do laundry. sometimes we'll work 25 minutes and talk 5 minutes, sometimes we're just working. having someone else hold you accountable can be miraculous for your productivity. (4) be comfy. if i'm sitting and my back hurts, forget it. work is not getting done. (5) scour for advice on the internet. r/audhdwomen has had some good tips for me. there are people who are going through what you're going through.

once the guilt stops, you will get more productive. i'm able to do things a little more timely now. if you're upset 99% of the time, productivity can feel like a fever dream. to be clear, i'm busier now than i've ever been. between school, work, clubs and other things i literally always have something to do. i remember my therapy appointment after black friday last year, and i was telling my therapist about how i worked at my store all weekend, i had cuts on my hands from customers snatching things from me, and i was so, so, so tired. and my therapist was like, "you know, it's amazing. you're beat up and exhausted, but you seem happy. you're smiling." and it's true. i used to not get through a single appointment without bawling. now i've finally gone from every week to every other week for appointments. that may not sound like a big deal, but it is.

now, the second issue. procrastinating on stuff you want to do. this one i have a lot less to say on, because honestly, i feel it too. there's so much i wanna do. i have so many WIPs, there's stuff i wanna read, i wanna practice playing ukulele, i wanna do more calligraphy, i wanna learn to juggle and to crochet and you get the picture. and yet when i do have free time, whether that's because work is actually done or i just don't need to do it right now, sometimes all i find myself doing is laying down on my bed and scrolling for hours.

i wish i could tell you what to do here. i can at least say that it makes sense. nothing's wrong with you. i'm tired 24/7, i'm sure you are too. just recently i've tried to start working on my physical health (mind you, a year ago, i couldn't even fathom doing this, it's a slow process). i'm trying to drink more water, i'm getting monthly massages for my back pain, i'm trying to find some martial arts to do to stay active. physical and mental health go hand in hand. you have to take care of yourself. that "procrastination" not letting you do anything fun is your mind and body recovering. if you can bring yourself to do something you want to do, of course you should! but if you can't, don't beat yourself up over it. there's no time limit on your hobbies. the levi fics will still be there the next day ;)

[beatsboy]

8.18.24 / week 8 of being a delusional artist

day 4 of moon time

how did i live like a delusional artist today? maybe in photographing my period stains on my bed maybe in journaling my dream about my ex the minute i woke up at 7am before going right back to bed because i can’t stand to be awake for another moment after having to freshly remember that they’re not here again (these dreams are like waking up to a fresh bandaid being torn off the wound over and over again) maybe in procrastinating, for they say that all artists do this, and while i know this is true, i am struggling to get unstuck and stay unstuck lately. it’s hard to fully break out of the cave, when you’re stuck, when you’re by yourself. sweet pea helps, licking my face (i swear) to remind me to go to the bathroom, to eat, to go outside. all he does is lick my face, so i have to interpret these as signals to get moving. last night, for instance, i was sitting on my computer for far too long, on the couch next to sweet pea. and promptly, as my bladder started to nag at me to go to the bathroom, he started to lick my face, inhibiting me from using my computer.

i’m starting to think he parents me more than i parent him, and i only pretend that it’s the other way around to feel better about my lack of self-sufficiency as a human adult. my fucking goals for tomorrow are to eat 3 meals, first one before 11. like, come on.

i just feel so slow while i’m bleeding, and i know that it will be over soon, but i think part of the reason i need to spiritualize it, to give it meaning, is because it’s just so fucking painful, physically, emotionally, and generally in relation to my gender.

i was supposed to leave the house today, and i did get all ready to do so, another sunday where i put my swim trunks on and waited. this time, it never came time to go, the party wrapped early, and i remained, having spent time getting ready, covered in sunscreen, with nowhere to go. and instead of quickly pivoting to art, which was very possible at that time, i got stuck. i got stuck waiting to go to bri’s to return their keys, for no reason at all, and then got stuck when i got home, and finally unstuck enough to make myself some food at 10pm, do the dishes, change the sheets (i did do some cleaning today, just very slowly, like imagine a slug doing chores, very slowly, and getting caught on corners), and sit here and journal.

i have therapy tomorrow, and tomorrow, i swear to god, i will continue working on music again. i had a good groove of working every day, basically until i finished boypop, which some have suggested i rename (which, yes, maybe, but what?) then, i got out of it, because it is so hard for me for some reason to maintain a consistent practice with my craft while working and socializing fucking still even though i don’t even work a full-time job like that. it’s truly not that i don’t have the time, it’s that i don’t have the energy? the focus? the routine?

healthy habits start small, though, right? i am believing in my future self, that i can make the new dates i’ve set for the release timeline. and i am giving myself these deadlines because i deserve to share my work with the world and i can’t wait any longer. i believe in the artist i want to be, in the artist i will be, because i am building toward it today. i am building my practice. i know i am good at what i do, i know i can do what i need to do to finish this project. i just need to focus and finish.

i’ve never completed an album before (unless you count the collection of phone demos i dropped on soundcloud for the lore) that’s like comparing publishing a fanfic on ao3 to getting your debut novel published, there’s a lot of extra steps that separate the two. it’s all i’ve ever wanted, so why am i waiting? why would i put off becoming the pop star i have dreamt of being since i was a fucking child? i am alone in my own apartment that i pay for with my own fucking money, why am i not spending every second making art in it? this is what i have always wanted for myself, space and time to make art, and i feel like i am wasting it spiraling and cleaning and pinteresting and tumblring and cleaning and looking up if the chemicals in my soap are poisoning me (pretty sure everything is poisoning me at this point)

i want to be fair to myself, i have not been completely idle. i redid the release timeline last night. i made a pitch deck for the next photoshoot the other day. i watched alien, for research (lol, but seriously!) i have been brainstorming the entire vibe/aesthetic/characterization of this persona, trying to mend together what we initially envisioned and what the music video shoot is giving (which are kind of different things but it’s ok)

the thing is, though, these things are part of the art, they are necessary to the art, to communicating the art to the people, to the audience. that does not make them art, though. the job part. the industry part. and sometimes i get so lost in these parts, that i forget that the whole point is to be able to sustain making art for the rest of my life. and none of this bullshit is worth it if i’m not making art. and if i’m not making art, it’s not going to feel like it either.

here is to tomorrow, to getting back to a daily practice, even if it’s in the form of small steps.

[thejackofalltrades42069]

Doing things you don’t want to do (a useful stoic approach).

Here's a stoicism picture I created with Midjourney (pretty awesome imo).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intro.

Stoicism has a lot of useful information and practices to do daily or often, there are many great habits to take from that philosophy, I’ll share just this one idea that can be very useful for doing things you must do in daily life and find exhausting, stressful or tedious to do.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Explanation and examples.

These responsibilities or things we must do sometimes can be wearing or even traumatic if we have an approach of resistance to doing them. Here are some examples:

Having to go to work at the office some days instead of always doing home office.

Dentist or doctor appointments.

Cleaning and chores.

Exercise.

Legal obligations.

Studying or continuing education.

Home repairs or maintenance.

Etc.

If we think these activities as awful, we will have stressful experiences when doing them and take longer time to do them because of procrastination, if in our mind things are a lot worse than they really are, the end result might not be the best, and we will always be stressed and anxious when we need to do this stuff.

What’s a good mindset and approach to doing these?

The best way I’ve found to approach any activity you don’t want to do but must or should do is to first try and think of what are the positive outcomes from doing it, then, think how you can somehow take advantage or take something out of doing that activity. You should also always see it as an opportunity to become better at doing it, so that it’s easier to do in the future.

Usually when an activity is stressful, but we keep doing it over and over again, and have the correct mindset, it eventually stops being stressful because we get used to it, here are a few examples:

Public speaking. First time anyone does this, they feel anxious and stressed, they forget what they have to say, but with preparation and doing it over and over, it becomes piece of cake.

Driving. First few times driving can be really stressful. Then it becomes like walking.

Taking exams or interviews. We’ve all been there; it becomes very easy overtime (if we’re prepared of course).

Learning how to use new technology. It can be really tough and stressful to learn how to use new technology for many people, but with patience and practice, we can just get used to having to learn many new technologies all the time.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Examples for using this approach.

I’ll give 2 examples to clarify how we can apply this in real situations.

I’ll mention the situation or activity, then, again, we must see everything as an opportunity for getting better at it, we must find positive outcomes, what we can learn, and how to take advantage of it.

When you find having to go work at an office stressful or weary (instead of doing home office daily).

How could we take advantage of this? Perhaps by doing the following:

A lot of people usually prepare breakfast and lunch, we might find it tedious, but we can take this as an opportunity to make healthy meals for every day we go to the office, there are many advantages of eating healthy, feeling better in general, living longer with greater health, etc. There are many resources online that teach to do easy and healthy meals.

Working on our soft/ social skills, and networking.

It’s always good to have the best possible soft and social skills when interacting with other people, when we go to our workplace, we must interact with other people, we can practice talking and dealing with others, and try to become a bit better every time. We can take that skill we are using at work for any time we have to talk or deal with other people, if we believe we’re not good at it, we can see some online videos about having better interactions and practice a bit at a time. We could transfer that skill to, for example, if someone wants to start dating people, they will have a lot of social interaction practice from work that they can use when talking to someone they are dating (and for example, avoiding having too many awkward moments, and avoiding saying something the other person could take the wrong way). We can also create a good network of acquaintances and perhaps a couple friends, it’s always good to know people, sometimes they can help us get promotions at work, or perhaps they can help meet someone we could date, or they can give you the phone of a good plumber.

Fulfilling our social interaction needs.

Almost all of us have social interaction needs, when we are alone for too long, we can feel stressed, sometimes this is not the ideal social interaction that people want to have, but we can try and using it to cover that need, then we can go and be alone at our homes and enjoy that moment of being alone more than we usually do.

Walking more.

Moving or exercising in any possible way daily is essential for having a good health in the long term, when we go to our workplace, we can walk more than we do when we work from home. We not only have to walk to get to our work spot, but we can take a few breaks to take extra steps, we could even take 15 minutes from our lunch to take a short walk and cover a bit more of that need that we have to exercise.

Getting more sunlight.

A lot of people don’t get enough sunlight exposure, even if the sun doesn’t hit us directly for long, seeing the sunlight early is great because it boosts our mood, it helps regulate our circadian rhythm (daily cycle of biological processes like sleep-wake patterns), taking some sun provides us with vitamin D and we also produce serotonin (which is good). When we go to our workplace we can try to take more advantage of being outside for seeing and taking some sun.

These are a few things I can think about; perhaps you can think of more.

2. Procrastination and stress from avoiding dentist/doctor appointments.

Here, we can think of the most obvious, if we go to the dentist when we need to, we can have better dental health and longer lasting teeth, if we avoid going, we might end up losing our teeth at a younger age, or dealing with pain that we could heal by visiting the dentist. If we simply think about this and realize it’s the best we can do by far, we can convince ourselves of going when we need to, if we don’t, we might end up having to invest more money in teeth prosthesis/ implants and other expensive treatments.

Many medical conditions and injuries can worsen overtime if we don’t treat them, this is non-negotiable. If we understand this and understand that if we don’t treat ourselves the way we should, we can end up having to spend a lot of money in urgency treatments, or we could even die at a young age for not treating some medical conditions early. Here, perhaps we can try and think that we should take care of ourselves as if we were someone else that we cared for, we can try and take a look at ourselves from the outside, or as if we were our own children, or perhaps, our own pets that we care so much about, we should treat ourselves with that perspective if it helps.

We can think of many more advantages like, overall feeling better daily, enhanced quality of life, better mental health, better sleep, less stress, improved longevity, etc. There’s nothing better in life than having all these.

We could also think about new useful information we’re learning from our doctors or dentists. In my case, I learned a lot of useful information about physical rehabilitation and a bunch of useful exercises from my physiotherapist; I even improved my posture a lot with some exercises thanks to taking that time to do the therapy to rehab my shoulder.

We could think of many more examples like how we can take advantage of going to therapy (with a psychologist) to learn more from ourselves and improve many aspects of our daily lives, how we can take advantage of exercising for a greater well-being, why eating healthy meals we don’t like is good for our dopamine system (our reward-energy-motivation system), how we can get some physical activity and a mind relaxing activity when doing cleaning and chores, and so on.  

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conclusion.

Keep thinking about seeing opportunities where you didn’t see them before (always when there’s something you don’t want to do!), about getting better at things, and about how to take advantage of everything you have to do.

If all that’s good not enough, just think about how doing an activity more and more with the correct mindset will eventually make it be a lot less stressful, it will eventually be a piece of cake (or pie).

[formula-fun]

wait how are you listening to fics?? like you can listen to the audio of ao3 fics?

Yeah, there are softwares that can read them to you! ive got this one which is unfortunately not cheap but it's worth it imo because I use it all the time and it means I can do chores and read fic at the same time instead of procrastinating my chores or other hobbies by reading. There are free ones out there as well but this worked better imo because most of the free ones were either really difficult to use or the voices were awkward/too slow/too robotic. It does occasionally get confused and fuck up but for the most part it's pretty good

[how2fit]

Are you just unmotivated? Or are you heading straight toward burnout or another type of mental health crisis? Sometimes, it can be hard to differentiate between the two. But getting to know yourself here is undeniably important. And it can save you tons of angst and exhaustion later on down the line. So, what are the signs that you should push through? In contrast, what are the signs you should hit the pause button? And, most importantly, what should you do after you recognize these signs? Below, we take a closer look!   When to Push Through The truth is we’ve all been there: That assignment, task, or chore—you’d rather do anything else. Maybe you’re not in the mood, or you slept poorly. However, you’re wondering if it’s something more… does your mental health need a break? Well, surprisingly, our minds are very good at playing tricks on us! Here are some signs you should actually push through this mental block: Temporary discomfort rather than genuine distress: If you’re feeling some resistance but not actual emotional pain, it might just be normal procrastination. The discomfort of starting is often worse than the actual task. You have a pattern of avoidance: If you notice you consistently avoid certain types of tasks (like making phone calls or writing reports), this might be an avoidance pattern rather than a mental health need. Try the “five-minute rule”: When you tell yourself “I'll just do this for five minutes,” and find yourself naturally continuing past that time, it’s usually a sign that motivation was the issue, not capacity! Your body feels fine: If you have no physical symptoms of stress like headaches, stomach issues, or fatigue accompanying your reluctance, it’s likely just a temporary block.   Daily Practices to Help You Push Through So, how can you turn things around? Well, the five-minute rule above is one. If that doesn’t work or you want a little more, try these! 1. Try the Pomodoro Method Use this Pomodoro timer for breaking up your task into 25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break. This can help things feel a little less daunting or overwhelming. Related Article: Time Management 101: Save Time, Waste Less Time, & Find More Time   2. Break Down Big Tasks Into Smaller Ones A big task that takes hours to accomplish can lead to serious avoidance (again, we all do this!). But by breaking it down into smaller and manageable tasks, things can feel a little easier. So, try getting started by dividing up the big task into multiple smaller steps or pieces.   3. Reward Yourself! Hey, sometimes we all need a little incentive. Promise yourself a small reward after completing the task - this can provide the motivation you need to keep going!   4. Practice Positive & Encouraging Self-Talk Instead of harsh self-criticism, try encouraging yourself like you would a good friend. Ban those, “I don’t want to” or “I can’t” thoughts from your mind. Instead, flip this perspective and focus on what you can do - and even potentially how grateful you are to be able to do it. (After all, we know many people don’t get that chance!)   When to Pause When it comes down to it, there’s a huge difference between everyday reluctance and your mind and body signaling a genuine need for rest. After all, we aren’t robots. Eventually, our minds and bodies need to rest. And if you push through, it can actually leave you with diminishing returns.  So, what are the signs you should take a break? Here are the key ones: You’re experiencing physical symptoms: Persistent headaches, jaw tension, digestive issues, unusual fatigue, or sleep disturbances can be your body’s way of saying “enough.” In fact, taking a break could save you from these symptoms worsening, such as developing an illness. You’ve become emotionally reactive: If you find yourself unusually irritable, tearful, or emotionally numb, these could be warning signs of emotional depletion. You’re having cognitive difficulties: Trouble concentrating, making simple decisions, or remembering basic information might indicate mental fatigue.

You’re struggling with purpose and meaning: When activities that normally satisfy you or bring you joy feel pointless or empty, it’s often a sign your mental resources are depleted. You started withdrawing from social activities: Avoiding people you usually enjoy being around can signal that your social battery needs recharging. You’re up at night with racing thoughts: That 3 am wake-up? This often indicates that your nervous system is in overdrive.   Daily Practices to Help You Pause Luckily, you can put your foot on the brake and try these practices to help you regain mental harmony once again! 1. Stick to Your Boundaries (Or Set New Ones) For instance, learn to say “no” or “not now” without guilt. Protect your energy as a valuable resource! This is so important if you truly want to reserve your energy for the activities or tasks that are meaningful to you.   2. Try Relaxation Techniques Yes, this is said time and time again. But they work!  So, try deep breathing (doing four-second inhales followed by four-second exhales). Or do a quick meditation. Find something that works and use it when you feel you’re hitting a wall. This can help reset your mental framework, giving you time to rest and relax.   3. Go Back to the Basics Are you sleeping well (for 8-9 hours)? How are your dietary habits as of late? Have you moved your body lately? What are your scrolling habits amounting to (can you cut back?)? Peeling everything back to the basics can also help you rebalance. In particular, sleep is one of the most important factors here, so start there! Are there things you can do to improve your sleep hygiene? Related Article: Here are 5 Helpful Ways You Can Recover From Another Sleepless Night   4. Schedule Time to Rest Seriously! Alone time is necessary for a lot of people, so plan for it. Put it in your calendar. Or plan for that night at home without commitments. Do what you need to do to get that rest you need.   5. Reach Out for Social Support Connect with trusted friends or family. Or even book that extra session with your therapist! It’s totally okay to ask for help. In fact, it’s encouraged; we all need it once in a while.     Finding Balance Between Perseverance & Rest Sometimes we’re the last to notice our own mental health needs. At the same time, the ultimate goal isn’t perfect productivity or complete relaxation, but rather a sustainable rhythm that honors both your capabilities and limitations. Learning to recognize the difference between simple resistance and genuine mental health needs is an important life skill that enables long-term well-being and satisfaction. And keep in mind that the strongest people aren’t those who never rest, but those who know when they need to! Read Next: Mental Switching Fatigue: It’s Not Just Procrastination Photo by Daria Obymaha

[oediex]

I need to change the sheets on my bed. I've needed to for a couple of days, but I keep postponing it.

Household chores are particularly gruelling on my back. Cooking means I'm standing for a prolonged period of time. So does doing the dishes, and because the sink is just a little bit too low, I'm always sort of bending my back, even when I try not to. Vacuuming is a pain as well, so sometimes I wipe the floor instead. The length of my brush allows me to stay standing straighter, but the clean is not as thorough. And mopping the floor, well, I just do that one on hands and knees.

But the worst offender is changing the sheets. It's difficult to keep my back in a safe position when doing that. You have to get the fitted sheet under the mattress, even on the side where my bed touches the wall. Moving the bed is dangerous already, then bending to get the sheet underneath... Usually tears are involved.

So I just procrastinate.

[myneurospicyspirit]

Weird Shifting Tips/Advice

Here are some weird shifting tips that I like. As always, take what resonates and leave what doesn't.

1. The Music Method

Okay, so it's not a method for shifting - it's a method for connection and distinction. I just enjoy alliteration.

Essentially, listen to music that you would listen to in your DR that is different than music you would listen to in your CR (maybe even script that you have different music taste in your DR). Depending on who you are and your DRs, this could be easier or harder.

For example, if you have a DR that is set during a certain time period, then listen to music from that time period to connect to your DR. This would be more difficult in a DR that is in the same year/time as your CR.

Another example is that in one of my DRs I play classical piano. To connect to this DR, I listen to classical piano music. I even imagine myself playing and try to feel the keys under my fingers!

Listening to different music also helps to "keep your realities straight." It can ground you in your DR when you get there, but it can ground you in your CR too!

2. Plan my CR day for after I shift

Hold on... aren't you supposed to plan your DR day? How does planning for your CR day help?

Shifting can be mentally fatiguing - this is one thing shifttok got right. Knowing that I have a plan for when I get back reduces shifting procrastination. For my fellow neurodivergent shifters, I have also noticed that it makes the idea of shifting far less overwhelming. It also helps me know that everything in my CR is "in place" so I can focus on my DR.

3. Naping with intention

When I take naps I don't set an alarm. Instead, I say "I will wake up at/before XYZ time" and then I take a nap or try to.

As long as I have full faith in myself, I have always been spot on. This built up my confidence and belief in myself so much! I get better sleep when I do it too. Seriously, this has been a game changer for me.

If you aren't a nap person, try doing it with other tasks like chores, homework, etc. Anything where you would normally time yourself, don't. Instead, put the time in your mind and go for it! (Also true not to check the clock... that defeats the purpose! Have some trust in yourself and your abilities)