I think I have a love-hate relationship with productivity preachers on youtube. I do watch their videos like an obsessed puppy, but I also kind of know that most of what they say is rehashed from each other– there’s almost nothing new to say at this point. And, most of these ideas are very subjective and may not work for my case. Still, I do watch them, time and time again and one day in retrospect I realized why I do it. It’s because this is one way I fool my brain into thinking that ‘I’m doing something to make things better, I'm doing something to organize things’. Watching those videos is only the first step, but it is often enough to calm my mind temporarily and once I hear no internal scream anymore, the incessant pleading to get my life back on track–I go back to what I was doing in the first place. So you can imagine, things aren’t going all too ‘scheduled’ and their ways are not my ways (or are they? Feedback will be appreciated!).
To be honest, I don’t think that’s bad. This is 11.53 in the morning, nearly midday you can say, and I haven’t slept since last night. Most days I stay up till 7 AM, then sleep. Today wasn’t one of those days. And some days I sleep early. But this erratic schedule did not make me dysfunctional workwise. You see, I love working late at night, the earth is usually very calm at those hours, no one is bickering at you, no sound, the atmosphere is relatively cooler and it feels like the universe is one with me. The one downside is that if I have to deal with people the next day, or I have some important appointment the next day, and I need to get some sleep ‘forcefully’, I don’t deal with it well. The point is–I don’t like or want to seriously maintain a calendar that dictates my every move. That feels very limiting in my opinion.
However, over the years I did figure out what little things calm my mind and put me back on track. Some of these make me cheer up, and lose stress and usually, these are not the things those youtube preachers do.
Developing a relationship with Coffee over the last few years has its own say, I'm moderately dependent on them now, I'd say. A cup of coffee right after I wake up sets everything right. Otherwise, I keep feeling like something's amiss!
I begin to stress out when I see piles of junk gathering up on my table, there’s a certain threshold I can tolerate up to, and when that’s past, somewhere an alarm bell goes off and until I clean things up again, make them neat and tidy, I feel a sensation of intense uneasiness behind my neck. Like a non-existent itch you cannot get to. Yeah, cleaning stuff makes me calm.
Something else I do, which will probably only be relatable to males who shave, yes, shaving makes me feel quite fresh and stress-free. As if my burdens go down the drain along with discarded beards, things of the past!
I’ve recently added house plants to my desk (the title photo) and was genuinely charmed to find out that they work as calming agents of the environment! Yes, they are kind of drama queens if you neglect them for even a day, but in the end, taking care of those plants in itself is a rewarding job. It reduces some stress, puts my mind off serious stuff, and provides me with an opportunity to get off of my chair.
I don’t do much cycling these days but when I used to live in a different city, I used to go on biking sessions almost every day, and I remember enjoying a sense of relief and calmness engulfing all of my body after each prolonged cycling session. Like accomplishing something. I miss those days and hopefully will pick it up again as soon as I leave the current place.
I’m learning French. Being bilingual, this is my third language and I’m at a point where I can think in French but I dare not speak much. Not a good move, I know, you gotta make mistakes to learn. If I weren’t a perfectionist! Trying to read French books in their original language, which is a bit stressful I think, because I’m still at B1 level–however, in scenarios with normal day-to-day conversations when I get all the things right, oh boy, that feeling can be very euphoric!
Now, another major thing I left out, and that is perhaps entirely subjective to me. I’m very passionate about literature and cinema, and interacting with them makes me feel like I'm spending my time on earth with intention and assigning myself with a purpose. This is the 'zen' for me.
Even then, I do feel the absence of a well-tuned life. I need to cut sugar altogether probably. Need to go back to the gym and perhaps start writing that darn screenplay that I’ve put on hold for more than a year. Will doing these things be enough? Dunno. But these are steps towards the right direction for sure.
All the photos belong to me.
Gosh, same here. It was past 10 AM and was still wide awake. I decided to drink Melatonin and waited for half an hour for the drowsiness to kick in. As of writing, it's 4:16 PM and I just woke up. You should rest too.
Also, I'm not a coffee lover, but for sure, I'm a coffee user. User in the sense that I drink coffee to start my day right and perk me up trying (or pretending) to work even though I don't like the taste of coffee.
Anyway, I might try to have a desk plant since I can't have a dog in my apartment.
Good luck on your French journey!
Yo @kneelyrac ! It's been a while!
Glad you got your sleep, I actually haven't slept yet. Haha! Planning to reset the clock today, and will try to sleep early.
Coffee user, eh? I can see the reasoning. But coffee can be an acquired taste, perhaps you'll grow to love it yet ;)
Good luck with your plants — show us when you have them!
Hi! 😁
You're more than 30 hours wide awake, I guess. Do you take melatonin? Or, just wait till your eyes give up?
Yes, I prefer that term over the coffee drinker. Been drinking for 2 years already, but I still have the same bitter expression when I drink it. I like 90% milk/chocolate then 10% coffee. Heheh but it's not enough to perk me up, so brewed coffee with no sugar and milk it is. 😅
I don't take Melatonin. Mostly when my eyes give up! :v I do drink plenty of coffee though, so that prolongs the waking hour somewhat!
wow, even at 10% you find it that bitter? Umm, what's your take on tea then?
Ah no. What I mean is 10% is good enough for me when it comes to taste. However, the amount of caffeine is not enough to activate my brain cells. Hence I drink brewed coffee. For reference, Starbucks Java Chip is tolerable, but the Caramel Macchiato is a big no. 😅
Tea? Not my cup of tea, as well. I still have the same facial expression when I drink it.🤢 But I do love Matcha. Matcha is 💚🍵.
Perhaps you can try espresso shots, extremely bitter but very low in volume. Will do the work for sure. Perhaps you can drink a gulp of soda to clear the aftertaste. :P
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Same with you I used to watch youtube videos on how to become productive. But then after how many days, I'm back to how I used to be. 😅 That's fine. At least we've tried. But reading your conclusion, based on your plan and goals, I think you're getting there again. All I can say is "You can do it." 😉😅
Oh man, I'm not too far from spiraling down again, aren't I? 😰 This is the moment when I'm supposed to wake up from the dream, or get jumped by the antagonist!
Thanks for the encouragement mate, I'll do my best! 😀
It's the fact that can totally relate with this. Working at night has a very different yet relieving feeling to it. For me, everything just seem more calm and my brain seems to function better.
Whenever I hear people talk about cycling, I remember that I added cycling to my to-learn list but I guess I haven't found the right time to go for it😅. It's amazing to hear that you used to cycle everyday. You must be very fit.
I !LUVed this post because I could relate with it extensively, thanks for sharing✨
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I was almost fit you could say during my cycling days, but right now, sitting at home, I gained a few kilos, which appears to be very persistent and keen on staying on!
Cycling ain't that hard, just try one day. Take a friend with you and just go at it. You will learn it within an hour. Getting on reads might take a few sessions though.
Thanks for the luv token and good luck with your cycling journey (if you choose to accept it)!
I love your workarounds! I've also tried to systematically follow the productivity guides out there but I always fail in making it stick. For me, it inhibits the flow and spontaneity that I'm so used to. My main workaround for productivity is taking a walk and letting my mind drift away from the situations of the world.
Walking is certainly a good one. Although I almost always listen to audiobooks when Im out for a walk.
THanks for stopping by, cheers mate!
I think listening to audiobooks is great. The mind will be more receptive to its information. You're most welcome!
I have been caught in a turmoil of late and you can really see it in the mess of my desktop. I will try to get it cleared and sadly my room is too dim for plants to be happy
You can try alternating putting them in a sunny spot, and back in your room. Some species are very resilient and can survive in low light too,like spider plant.
I'm trying to declutter the room and there is a little space out of the window, I think I'm moving a little oak tree I have there because it has some shade and last Summer was scorching for the plants.
Had the same thoughts, all those self announced gurus.... Are Not helpful, at the end most only vaste my time and bring a bad feeling because I failed once again in doing those steps.
But then found out, what they preach simply is not my way! Probably I should write that self help book or Video Script myself 🤣
Do it! This industry is big enough, you might make millions ;)
Why don't you do cycling sessions anymore? You've got a nice bicycle!
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Hey! Well, the place I'm living currently, it has very limited scope to do road cycling. Bad roads, pocked surfaces and all. Perhaps I should get a MTB instead. But I don't like them much.
Oh, that's a pity.