Little rules I'm trying

When there is too much going on, go back to basics

Over the past year, I've found myself diving into videos and podcasts about the brain.

Neuroscientists, psychologists, the whole lot.

I was mostly chasing answers to a few questions:

1. why I default to certain habits,

2. how come I fall into or out of focus and

3. what's actually going on when I can't seem to think clearly.

Turns out, understanding how my mind works has helped me understand how I work, or at least for me its an ongoing process.

One of the biggest lessons has been getting honest about capacity.

It's easy to slip into that mindset of "I just need to push a bit harder and I'll get it done."

But I've noticed that when I'm hunched at my desk, shoulders tight and jaw clenched, I'm already well past the point of being productive.

These days, I try to take that as a signal.

I need water, a walk, or to stop pretending I can push through.

Of course, that's not always easy, especially when there are deadlines.

Lately, I've been trying to embrace a bit of a 'life edit'. Slowing down, making space, and catching up on the little jobs that fall through the cracks when things are busy. It's a more gentle pace, and honestly, it's a relief.

But there's a trade-off - when things feel a bit too calm, I can lose momentum.

Then, when work gets busy again, I have to work hard to make sure I'm not glued to the desk or thinking about work all day.

I'm starting to think this is just part of being human. If hours worth of podcasts have taught me anything, it's that our brains are trying their best, but they're easily knocked off course by exhaustion, too much input, distraction, or stress.

So, I've found a few small rules that help me stay steady. They're nothing groundbreaking, but they work for me:

Start small to get going

Doing the easiest thing first. Sending that one email, putting on a load of washing, and making the appointment I've been avoiding always gives me some momentum. Once I've started, I'm more likely to keep going.

Use your best hours well

I've learned that my mind is sharpest in the morning. From about 7am until midday, that's when I do my best creative thinking. So I try to write or do focused work in that window, and push meetings and admin to the afternoon when possible.

Sweat helps clear the fog

A walk is good. But a proper workout, the kind that gets my heart pumping and forces me to concentrate (Think high-intensity interval training), does wonders for my brain. Just 15 minutes can reset the whole day.

Now, I have to be honest here - I haven't really got this one under control but I'm aware and working on it.

Embrace time to do nothing

Whether it's an hour here or a few hours there, I try to embrace the random moments that pop up where I can just do nothing. These are few and far between with three kids but letting them play while I sit and watch is sometimes good enough.

Go offline when you're stuck

When things feel tangled, I turn to paper. A notebook and journalling have to be some of the most impactful things I've done to help with my scattered mind. it's about giving my brain space to breathe.

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That's the season I'm in. Trying to work with myself, not against. Letting things move a little slower when they need to. And trusting that flow comes back when the conditions are right.

Until next time,

Kyfer