No. 3 - Three Weeks Strong

Thanks for joining me for the third Issue of The Newsletter! Can you believe it’s already been 3 weeks since I started this? I certainly can’t. What I can tell you, though, is that it’s become a highlight of my week. Having the chance to gather up some of my favorite insights bridging the worlds of tech and neurodiversity is a great way for me to deepen my own understanding of these topics. After all, I need to make sure I’ve got all my facts straight, so that means research, review, and lots of writing!

I hope you’re finding the newsletter engaging so far. This week, I've made a few small changes as I continue to shape this newsletter. Your feedback and engagement have been invaluable in this process, and I'm starting to see patterns that I enjoy or would rather avoid, thanks to your input.

My intention is to create a newsletter that’s not only enjoyable to read but also a valuable educational resource for you. I have to find this process fulfilling as well, as that's the key to its longevity. Rest assured, I'm dedicated to maintaining the quality and relevance of the content, and continue to look forward to your feedback!

Are you ready to set out on another adventure with me?

Let’s go!

Tech News Updates

Discontinued!

This is only the third week of The Newsletter, and I’ve already made the tough decision to discontinue this segment, at least as a regular weekly recurring staple.

I believe that leaving the news reporting to the experts who specialize in that area will ultimately benefit you more. Therefore, I have chosen to put this segment on hold for the time being, but you may see it again if there’s anything extra special to highlight.

Featured Article

Embracing Neurodiversity

Understanding Decision Fatigue in ADHD

ADHD affects millions worldwide and presents unique challenges, such as decision fatigue. This form of exhaustion stems from the relentless need to make choices and can be particularly overwhelming for individuals with ADHD.

I’ll walk you through some practical strategies to combat decision fatigue, enabling you to make choices with ease and preserve your mental energy for what truly matters.

You with me? Read on!

Simplify Your Choices

• Prioritize Your Decisions: Begin each day by identifying the most crucial decisions you need to make. I start my mornings by jotting down the top three decisions for the day in my planner. This approach not only clears my mind but also ensures that I address the most impactful choices first, reducing the clutter of less critical decisions that can wait.

• Break It Down: When faced with a complex decision, I mentally break it into smaller, more manageable components. Even more complex? I might spend some time mind-mapping or sketching. I can explore ideas more deeply with visuals present. These methods significantly reduce any overwhelm and help enhance my focus.

Harness Automation

• Templates and Checklists: I use templates and checklists extensively to standardize responses and streamline actions. For instance, my email templates save me from reinventing responses to common inquiries.

• Automation Tools: I rely on Make Scenarios and Apple Shortcuts to automate routine tasks like scheduling file management tasks and processing data. This saves a tremendous amount of mental energy, which I can then allocate to more significant decisions.

Delegate to Elevate

• Empower Others: Delegating decisions can be a game-changer, especially when you don't even have to delegate to a human! I often assign the task of choosing blog post topics to my content management tool, which uses trending data to select topics that effectively engage my audience.

• Set Boundaries: It's crucial to define what decisions you're comfortable delegating. I set clear boundaries by only delegating non-critical decisions, like choosing the color scheme for a new banner, which ensures I maintain overall control while reducing stress.

Embrace Breaks

• Micro-breaks: I take short, five-minute breaks every half hour to stretch and refocus. These breaks are essential for resetting my decision-making capabilities. It's also a good idea to give your eyes a rest.

Mindful Moments

• Daily Practices: Engaging in daily mindfulness practices such as meditation and simple breathing exercises helps me clear my mind. Each morning, I try to spend 10 minutes meditating, which sharpens my focus for the day ahead. It doesn't have to be 10 minutes though. Even two will do if that's all I can get.

• Reflection: Regular journaling has been instrumental in helping me understand my decision-making patterns and triggers. This reflection leads to more mindful and effective choices. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post exploring my journaling practice, and how you can benefit from starting one, no matter what you do!

Strategic Planning

• Scheduled Decision Time: I do my best to keep some open time in my calendar for making decisions, usually when I'm most alert and focused, which is typically in the mid-morning.

• Advance Preparation: I gather all necessary information in advance to facilitate informed and relaxed decision-making. This preparation might involve compiling data the night before a big meeting or outlining the potential outcomes of a decision.

Prioritize Your Well-Being

• Consistent Sleep Patterns: I aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. I know I have more executive function energy when I get more deep sleep. Of course, this is easier said than done. Between running a business as a solopreneur and the unpredictable nature of being a parent, I can't say I have the best track record. Still, I do my best, and I try not to beat myself up if I miss the mark.

• Regular Physical Activity: Regular exercise boosts both mood and focus. I incorporate a brisk walk into my morning routine when possible. I find it enhances my decision-making abilities throughout the day.

Overcoming Decision Fatigue with ADHD

While decision fatigue is a common struggle for those of us with ADHD, adopting these strategies can significantly alleviate your cognitive burden. By simplifying tasks, leveraging automation, and caring for your mental and physical health, you can enhance your decision-making skills and lead a more productive and less stressful life.

Remember though, everything I mentioned takes time and discipline. I didn't add all of these things into my routines at once, and I'm not amazing at all of them. I just try my best every day.

My Advice: Start small, and remember to forgive yourself whenever you forget, or really aren't feeling up to it. It's really easy to lose motivation if you're too hard on yourself.

AI Corner: The Weekly Prompt

Time-Blocking

Recap: Macro-Group To-Do Sorting

Last week, I introduced you to a simple yet impactful AI prompt designed to tackle overwhelming to-do lists. Facing a mountain of tasks can be daunting, especially when ADHD paralysis kicks in. But, I showed you a technique that can revolutionize the way you approach your workload.

If you haven’t read that one yet, it’s helpful context to have before today’s prompt, so take a moment to check it out first!

Today, I’m covering a prompt that can help you time-block your day! If time-blocking is a new phrase for you, you may find it interesting to learn that the technique dates back almost as far as calendars themselves, with evidence pointing to use as early as the Bronze Age.

Time blocking is a time management technique that involves dividing your day into specific blocks of time, each dedicated to a particular task or activity. This method helps boost productivity by providing a more deliberate and regimented structure for the workday, allowing individuals to focus on their most important tasks and avoid distractions.

Time blocking can be used in various ways, such as traditional time blocking, the Pomodoro technique, time theming, energy-management time blocking, and batching. Its benefits include improved focus, reduced stress, and increased productivity. This technique can be helpful for anyone requiring more structure and deliberate focus in their workdays.

The prompt this week is structured in such a way that you can simply paste it into your chat once you’re given the aforementioned to-do macro-groups.

Prompt:

As an efficiency planning expert, please help me time block my day with the above macro to-do groups. 

I will begin work at {{start_time}} and end at {{end_time}} with a break from {{break_start}} to {{break_end}}.

For additional clarification, my variables were as follows:

start_time = 8am end_time = 4pm

break_start = 11am break_end = 1pm

Here's what the output looked like in my case. A great start, and this is without giving it any additional context, which you could use to customize the results.

Preferred AI: I'll once again recommend ChatGPT-4; especially if your previous macro-groups were created there. If you opted for another LLM, follow it up with the above prompt and let me know how it went!

Journey Behind the Screens: A Solopreneur's Diary

This past week was mainly positive.

I had a webinar last Friday morning — Intro to AI (for ADHD Entrepreneurs). A couple of technical issues prevented me from delivering the presentation I had planned, but I still got some great feedback, which was really encouraging. I will certainly be planning more events like that moving forward. I think they're beneficial for both myself and my audience.

For me: Hosting free educational events helps get new people in the door. It's also a great way for me to practice my delivery without the stress of feeling like I have to get it perfect because someone has paid for it. Plus, getting to try out new talking points with folks who aren't paying means less stress if the topics don't land or I still need to refine the presentation in other ways.

For attendees: It's a good way for people to test the waters and see if they're even interested in the topics I cover. It also lets people see what classes with me are like without any financial pressure. Plus, they get a ton of useful tips they can apply right away.

A couple of other key points from the past week:

• Thanks to @systemsjake, I had a great introduction to Figma. Seriously, go check him out. His free course is an excellent resource to get you started!

• More development on the website (not yet published)

• Reached out to a couple of previous clients

• Came up with a great idea for an Airtable extension. Will be sharing more soon.

• Finished up a project for another client which means I have an opening in my schedule if you need help with anything!

Closing Words

Expanding Our Community

I'm excited to invite you to help expand the LearnWith.cc community!

Each week, I aim to highlight your projects, entrepreneurial ventures, and personal success stories. Please don't hesitate to email me with anything you'd like to share with our community. My goal is to elevate others by showcasing your achievements.

You can also support by spreading the word about The Newsletter. I've introduced a new referral reward program below: for the first five new subscribers you bring, you'll receive a complimentary personal workflow consultation!

Engage in New Ways

Not sure who to share this with? That’s perfectly fine! You can still show your support in other valuable ways. Consider supporting my efforts with a coffee, which helps fuel the energy and creativity that go into each newsletter, or schedule a one-on-one session with me. These sessions provide a great opportunity for us to engage directly, offering tailored advice and insights.

Share Your Experience

Has a particular insight or tool featured here made a difference in your workflow or business? I’d love to hear about it. Your stories about how you’ve implemented a tool or insights from our discussions could inspire others. Please consider sharing your experiences here. Every contribution showcases the vibrant diversity of our community.

Help Us Grow

The essence of LearnWith.cc thrives on your recommendations. If you know someone who would appreciate the insights we share, do them a favor and introduce them to The Newsletter. Your referrals help grow and enrich our community deeply.

Thank you for all the ways you engage and contribute to this journey. Each interaction—whether it’s a click, a coffee, a coaching session, a referral, or sharing your story—adds invaluable energy to what we build together. I deeply appreciate your involvement and support.

Warm regards,
Chris