6 Comments
Jun 20Liked by Ali Almossawi

So many great reminders. I loved Deep Work and Atomic Habits, and I need these reinforcements on a regular basis so I can do my best work.

I've recently had to step away (temporarily?) from a bunch of my paying work because I ended up in "a place of complete debilitation" due to burnout, so I'm focusing on rest, recovery, and personal projects of importance to me. (I'm working, again, on a book I've been writing for many years, and I hope to get it done this time.)

I love your work as always, Ali!

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I'm doing something similar. Stepping away as well, to focus on rest and recovery. I've been amazed at how much more attentive I've now become of mundane things, like street signs and balconies and unassuming storefronts. For the longest time, I felt like every day was a drag, and I wasn't really living. I was just there, doing a thing, dealing with another, then going to bed, and waking up the next morning and repeating that same cycle once more.

Thank you, Jenny! Can't wait to find out more about the book you're writing. :)

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Jun 24Liked by Ali Almossawi

It's about autistic masking and how to stop/minimize masking, or only use it for your own benefit (mostly the why masking, how masking, impact of masking, what to do about masking). I wrote most of it years ago, but just never had the brain space to get it finished. I also got disheartened because a couple of similar books came out at that point. But someone on Twitter said "don't you dare" not publish it, so I'm going forward (but not just because of their advice).

I've learned so much in recent years, though, that I'll probably have to heavily edit what I already have, and I keep adding more sections. I need to stop adding more sections. My projects always seem to grow.

I've also realized that I need to take a lot of my own advice that I'm putting in the book. Maybe when I stop feeling like such a zombie.

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Oh, fascinating topic. I didn't know what it was so I had to look it up.

Yes, that's definitely good advice. :) Your take on it will no doubt be unique to your experience and your outlook. I hear you about the challenge of finishing things, sometimes. I've got dozens of half-finished projects at this point. It almost feels like the part of me that gets excited about starting a project is different than the part that gets excited about finishing them. So two different head-spaces, almost.

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Jun 28Liked by Ali Almossawi

"It almost feels like the part of me that gets excited about starting a project is different than the part that gets excited about finishing them."

100%. I love starting new projects. But if I loose oomph along the way, finishing them is a lot less fun.

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Agreed!

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