Kourosh Dini's Blog, page 14

Guiding the Natural Rhythms of Work and Play

Work is neither something to fight or collapse from

There’s a much gentler and natural path

Read on…

Why is it that we don’t take our cues from Nature when it comes to work and play?

For months, trees remain dormant, seeming nearly dead.

Snow falls, sometimes melting, turning to slush. Moments later, a new cold grips as brutal winds deeply chill any skin foolishly left open to the air.

And then, April peeks around the corner. Green shoots appear from below the soil, barely making their presence...

More Than Efficiency

The term “productivity” is much maligned.

Whether work asks us to be “more productive” or we make demands of ourself.

I’d like to take the word back…

Goodness, does this sound lame. Yet another newsletter about the word “productivity”. Sigh.

Unfortunately, I think the term continues to be abused. Further, I think it can still hold a useful, if not, powerful position.

Most see productivity as synonymous with efficiency.

While efficiency certainly has its place, art, and skill, “productiv...

A Tale of Three Brains…

Just because you’re getting your work done,

Doesn’t mean you’re not exhausted doing it.

Consider why…

Taking care of the day-to-day, the chores, the hygiene, the calls, the emails,…

Some people come up with systems that work well. They create and make commitments and even get to things they want to do. Fantastic!

Some continue to struggle, unable to make ends meet. When a wave of motivation does happen to flow by, they can ride it until the house is spotless, the report is written, or t...

A Mistake Many Make when facing the dreaded “I don’t wanna…” feelings

It can be all too easy to succumb to the “I don’t wanna…” feelings

Either pushing through or ignoring can create problems

How about another way?

Some struggle with the sense that they cannot act unless the interest to do it is already there.

They cannot do things they don’t want, despite their importance. Feelings of “I don’t wanna…” often win, taking them hostage.

Scientific terminology can, paradoxically, strengthen this sentiment.

Terms like “Dysfunctional executive function skills”,...

Getting Into Things That Are Hard to Get Into

Wandering minds are told to find something “novel” to stay engaged

But the novel wears out

Here’s another idea…

“I can’t get anything done unless there’s a deadline or I’m interested in it already…”

Regardless of the amount of organizing, setting up task systems, and the like, one might feel helpless against themselves, particularly in trying to get something done in which one doesn’t have an inherent interest.

Ideas and emotions often fly faster than working memory can manage, partic...

The Paths Between the Potholes

A diagnosis can feel freeing, giving us a word to discuss

But sometimes the diagnosis itself can hold us back

Consider how…

A wandering mind, such as those with ADHD, may struggle with motivation, but you are not mindless.

“My ADHD mind makes me do…”

 

“My ADHD mind stops me from…”

We could replace ‘ADHD mind’ with many other possibilities — “depression, trauma, etc …”

Such controversial statements readily show up throughout social media, each laden within turmoil and thought.

Of cour...

ADHD and the Nature of Time

Be on time, turn that in, stop what you’re doing… it can feel impossible to keep up.

How can we better relate to time?

Read on…

“I’ve got something today at 3p. I can’t do anything until then.

“When I get into that hyperfocused state, I can get it done. But I have to wait until later, when the deadline will kick me into high gear.”

It’s hardly surprising, wandering minds, such as those with ADHD, often struggle with the clock. So many of the troubles seem to deal with time.

Issues s...

The War of the Selves

Past, Present, and Future Selves talk all the time, sometimes messing with your day.

It just may not be obvious.

Here’s one seemingly absurd conversation…

 

**Present Self**: “Why don’t you do it?”

**Future Self**: “Why didn’t you do it?”

**Past Self**: “I didn’t feel like it.”

**Present**: “I don’t either. But hang on, I’ve got an idea.”

**Past/Future**: “Oh yeah, what’s that?”

**Present**: “I’ll do it later.”

**Future**: “Wait, then I’ll have to do it.”

**Present**: “Yeah, but not ...

A Wandering Mind’s Inbox Struggles

The troubles of an Inbox don’t come from the Inbox itself.

It comes from the weights it places in front of us.

Read on to find out more…

There’s a wonderful meme called How to Draw an Owl:

Excusing the expletive, similarly, using an Inbox follows the same issue. The use boils down to:

1. Stick things in an Inbox when you’re not sure what to do with them.
2. Go through the Inbox later and put those things in places you trust

How to do the second part is terribly difficult, particularly ...

The Daring Doodle

“Who would like to try conjugating this… [pause]… Put that away!”

The teacher had been pacing behind me.

Who was she talking to? It couldn’t be me. I was a good student. Teachers like me.

“Ahem?…”

I better look around.

Uh oh. The teacher is glaring at me. In fact, the whole class is staring at me. The cute girl is laughing quietly to her friend.

Wait. What’s going on? Is this a scene from a movie?

Looking at my notebook, I see that I’d been doodling. That was nothing new. I always sketch...