Hi!

How to Start by rthwrms

for the times when you really truly want to do something, but find resistance or that starting feels impossible

most helpful action to get into a task is: look at it options include: review what you've already done open the tab on screen blur your eyes at first if that helps fullscreen the image browse or skim relevant texts let your gaze move around how it will JUST...LOOK!!!

Your brain has resistance towards starting the particular project in the way that you've previously conceived of it. Instead of fighting that resistance, try to change your approach to starting your work. Ie, start with colored pencils on a piece you were doing in gouache, include a new stitch in a crochet piece, Step one: identify the process Step two: identify places where something new can be included Step three: brainstorm new options to fill these spots Step four: select one or more options and try your piece from this new angle

encourage yourself by asking questions start with: "What am I actually trying to do right now?" then try: "What would this look like if it were more fun?" "How would I do it if anything was possible?"

divide into discrete tasks make the closest or shiniest one literally as small & specific as freaking possible

image text: I BELIEVE IN YOU screenshot text: The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper. W.B. Yeats (via billowy)

there is a window now there is a door

Hey y’all, I hate to ask for help like this, but Basil is at the vet after a severe attack from a loose dog during our morning walk.

Right now, the biggest concern is that he almost certainly has a fractured skull. Initial exam upon intake indicates that it appears to be a sinus cavity skull fracture rather than damage to the brain cavity itself, he wasn’t exhibiting neurological symptoms and was able to stand despite being in shock and the wounds on other parts of his body, responsive and mostly alert etc, so it’s possible that we got very, very, VERY lucky, but we will need to take him to a larger veterinary hospital once he’s stabilized here in town, since we’ll need to do a CT to get better imaging and determine if surgery is necessary. The other injuries are all pretty superficial (bruising, lacerations, damage to his ear, etc) in comparison to that.

This level of specialty care is very expensive and will push me past my emergency savings. If you’re in a position where you can chip in a few bucks towards his care, I would really, really appreciate it. My PayPal is [email protected] and Venmo is @gabriel-ogle-wilderun, but if a different method works better just send me a DM.

Basil is one of those once-in-a-lifetime dogs. Within days of him being dropped off as a foster I knew that he was never gonna leave, he just fit in so well with my crew and I fell in love. He is so, so special to me, and I’d do anything for him including ask for help.

Yes, even if you're neurodivergent. I don't have ADHD, but it is allegedly a thing with ADHD as well. And I am autistic, and after a bunch of nerve damage (severe enough that I was basically housebound for 6 months), I had to completely rebuild my ability to get my brain to Do Things from what felt like nearly scratch.

This is specifically from ADDitude magazine, so written specifically for ADHD (and while focused in large part on kids, also definitely includes adults and adult activities):

Here's a link on this for autism (though as an editor wow did that title need an editor lol):

Resources on this aren't great because they're mainly aimed at neurotypical therapists or parents of neurdivergent children. There's worksheets you can do that help a lot too or thought work you can do to sort of build the neuro-infrastructure for tasks.

But a lot of the stuff is just like. fun. Pulling from both the first article and my own experience:

Play games or video games where you have to make a lot of decisions. Literally go make a ton of picrews or do online dress-up dolls if you like. It helped me.

Art, especially forms of art that require patience, planning ahead, or in contrast improvisation

Listening to longform storytelling without visuals, e.g. just listening regularly to audiobooks or narrative podcasts, etc.

Meditation

Martial arts

Sports in general

Board games like chess or Catan (I actually found a big list of what board games are good for building what executive functioning skills here)

Woodworking

Cooking

If you're bad at time management play games or video games with a bunch of timers

How to identify, and then deal with, your emotions

Emotional regulation skills

Conflict resolution skills

Creating and enforcing boundaries

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy skills

Emotional intelligence ideals to aim for

Axes of self-care/wellbeing

Self-care self-evaluation (find out where you’re starting)

How to make a self-care checklist

How to start a self-care habit

Reparenting resources

Crash Course Psychology

KhanAcademy: Understanding the Self and Society (some units more relevant than others)

Emotional education activities for children and teens

The Ocean at Dusk -  Kate Jarvik Birch 

American , b. 1977 -