JOURNALS

Today was a mixed bag of productivity and crucial family time. First thing in the morning, I reflected on my ongoing challenge of maintaining focus amidst a crowded mental landscape. Some days, it feels like there's a circus in my head, juggling tasks left, right, and centre. Despite that, I managed to identify a straightforward way to find a bit of creative play—maybe some doodling in the evening would be a good way to wind down.

The day was preoccupied with taking Nixie to the hospital. The sheer fact that this dominated my day added a layer of stress and imbalance. It was necessary to take the day off work and put Nixie first. Navigating the uncertainty of the hospital environment, waiting to see her through the procedure, transport logistics—all demanding yet essential tasks. It wasn’t just about being there physically but ensuring she felt supported and cared for.

I had plans to stop by the old studio, mainly to check if things were in order. A brief visit offered a good break, a small task that needed doing but didn't consume too much mental energy. Once that was ticked off the list, it was back home, preparing for the main hospital run. My mind was quite scattered, making it challenging to switch between tasks smoothly. But as they say, the needs must.

While waiting during Nixie's appointment, I managed to record an intro for the weeknotes video. It felt satisfying to make some progress there, despite everything. Later, I edited the weeknotes video, a task that brought a sense of accomplishment, especially as the recording process had been anything but smooth earlier in the week.

Communication was also on today's agenda: emailing my solicitor about some ongoing legal matters and sending a text to my mother, another task completed around lunchtime. These small steps of reaching out and sorting details formed little patches of productivity amidst the broader, more significant concerns.

As the day transitioned into evening, I aimed to return to the idea of doodling. The simplicity of doodling offers a creative outlet that isn't too taxing. The goal was to improve my ability in this area—something easily worked on even during a hectic day like today.

Finally, a bit of tech-focused curiosity resurfaced. I experimented with ChatGPT API endpoints to compare question quality across different versions. This encapsulates the ever-evolving nature of what I do: always checking tools, enhancing systems, making sure even the AI that aids my journaling and tweets performs optimally.

Now it’s evening, and I'm much too tired to engage in any profound activities. The plan is to rest, maybe a bit of "resting my eyes" on the sofa, as many would call it. The mental blocks throughout the day were real, and each task took more effort than usual. Nonetheless, it was rewarding to focus on smaller tasks, even if overall productivity felt lower.

Despite the challenges, today brought its share of small victories and moments of needed respite. The week has been intense but manageable. Here’s to hoping the next week brings a clearer headspace. More minor transitions, fewer pauses between tasks—that's the goal moving forward.