Thank you, Hannah, for this thorough and concise piece. I found myself nodding my head with each paragraph, and wanting to share this with my firstborn, who is so much like me. As each year passes - birthday #59 in a week - I am learning more about my brain/personality/character in regards to living and working. It is with self-kindness, gentleness, and compassion that I am able to better accept myself instead of the "prior me" of criticizing and condemning myself. You have touched my life so much and led me to a better understanding of why I am the way I am. I am so grateful for you, Hannah. Thank you!
Hi Laura. This is such a lovely comment to read, thank you so much. I am finding it a bit trickier to write so honestly and wholeheartedly about my quirks but I know I'll get more used to it as I go along and comments like these really keep me going. Hope you have a wonderful birthday my fellow Libran 💐🎉🎂
Well written and very helpful advice Hannah. I think I have developed a similar method over the years of logging ideas to give my attention to when in a flow state. I like to give my brain a few options so it feels fun but not so many that I jump between all of them and get nothing done.
Brilliant and I totally identify. Love the ideas for structuring the ideas, I will use these to take the chaos. Like you, I know I can achieve amazing output, IF (and it’s a big if) I can allow myself to work on one thing. Furthermore, it’s why the corporate world stopped working for me. Many places talk about neurodivergence, then force everyone one to work the same and switch tasks / multi task, all day. Doesn’t actually work for anyone really!
That's so interesting, Hannah. As I've said before, I don't think I'm neurodivergent, but when I write fiction as opposed to non-fiction, I need a kind of 'hyperfocus' state of mind to write. It takes a while to get into it but I now find that if I restrict it to no more than two or so hours of writing, I don't get that horrible sense of disorientation or alienation that I used to get after immersing myself for longer. It became like I entered a different universe where only my writing existed and I was 'under its spell'. I only feel this with fiction writing. Nothing else does that to me, so maybe there's the same neurochemical thing going on as happens in ADHD/autistic spectrum 'disorders'. That sense of total immersion and subsequent disorientation leaves me unable to write for days or weeks afterwards, hence the self-imposed time restriction. There's so much we don't know about brains and minds (and I speak as a former psychiatrist) but there is definitely a connection between creativity and being neurodivergent or bipolar, because of the ability to see the world differently.
Wow Abi that is such a good description of ‘entering another universe’ that’s exactly how I feel and I’d come away exhausted and ungrounded - like untethered to the world. This is why I now get out in nature every day to anchor myself. I definitely experience it with writing but have also found the same experience with many other things even numbers. I definitely agree about creativity and neurodiversity and bipolar (some of the most creative people I’ve ever encountered - on like a genius level). And agree there’s so much we don’t know about the brain and mind. I feel thankful that new knowledge is continuously arriving - often have hyper focus sessions on psychology! Love exploring the human experience so much. Thanks Abi - really interesting to hear your take on this 😊
Thank you, Hannah, for this thorough and concise piece. I found myself nodding my head with each paragraph, and wanting to share this with my firstborn, who is so much like me. As each year passes - birthday #59 in a week - I am learning more about my brain/personality/character in regards to living and working. It is with self-kindness, gentleness, and compassion that I am able to better accept myself instead of the "prior me" of criticizing and condemning myself. You have touched my life so much and led me to a better understanding of why I am the way I am. I am so grateful for you, Hannah. Thank you!
Hi Laura. This is such a lovely comment to read, thank you so much. I am finding it a bit trickier to write so honestly and wholeheartedly about my quirks but I know I'll get more used to it as I go along and comments like these really keep me going. Hope you have a wonderful birthday my fellow Libran 💐🎉🎂
Well written and very helpful advice Hannah. I think I have developed a similar method over the years of logging ideas to give my attention to when in a flow state. I like to give my brain a few options so it feels fun but not so many that I jump between all of them and get nothing done.
Hi Catriona - yes it feels good doesn't it to have a few options? It's a very fine balance. Thank you :)
Brilliant and I totally identify. Love the ideas for structuring the ideas, I will use these to take the chaos. Like you, I know I can achieve amazing output, IF (and it’s a big if) I can allow myself to work on one thing. Furthermore, it’s why the corporate world stopped working for me. Many places talk about neurodivergence, then force everyone one to work the same and switch tasks / multi task, all day. Doesn’t actually work for anyone really!
Hi Fiona. Thank you. The corporate world doesn't work for so many of us... I personally found it a hellish nightmare lol. :)
That's so interesting, Hannah. As I've said before, I don't think I'm neurodivergent, but when I write fiction as opposed to non-fiction, I need a kind of 'hyperfocus' state of mind to write. It takes a while to get into it but I now find that if I restrict it to no more than two or so hours of writing, I don't get that horrible sense of disorientation or alienation that I used to get after immersing myself for longer. It became like I entered a different universe where only my writing existed and I was 'under its spell'. I only feel this with fiction writing. Nothing else does that to me, so maybe there's the same neurochemical thing going on as happens in ADHD/autistic spectrum 'disorders'. That sense of total immersion and subsequent disorientation leaves me unable to write for days or weeks afterwards, hence the self-imposed time restriction. There's so much we don't know about brains and minds (and I speak as a former psychiatrist) but there is definitely a connection between creativity and being neurodivergent or bipolar, because of the ability to see the world differently.
Great advice! I too like to hyperfocus on a Sunday. I often work on a Sunday for this very reason & I enjoy it 🙌
Wonder if there’s teams of neurodivergent women across the world all hyper focusing on Sundays? 🤔😂 Thanks Mary!
Wow Abi that is such a good description of ‘entering another universe’ that’s exactly how I feel and I’d come away exhausted and ungrounded - like untethered to the world. This is why I now get out in nature every day to anchor myself. I definitely experience it with writing but have also found the same experience with many other things even numbers. I definitely agree about creativity and neurodiversity and bipolar (some of the most creative people I’ve ever encountered - on like a genius level). And agree there’s so much we don’t know about the brain and mind. I feel thankful that new knowledge is continuously arriving - often have hyper focus sessions on psychology! Love exploring the human experience so much. Thanks Abi - really interesting to hear your take on this 😊
And so sorry for misspelling your name Abby I’ve just been having a convo with an Abi and I got carried away…