S1 E29 - Evening focus, work cycles, and hybrid days

This episode is on the energetic cycles we experience in a day. I recorded in the evening, at a time I'm much less focused. I want to keep it real in letting you peak behind the curtain in terms of a less energetic time for me.

My focus med has worn off, and even reading a script and sticking to the plan feels harder. A recent medicine shortage put me into a bit of a tailspin. Thankfully, I didn't have to use caffeine as a substitute for too long, since that's hard on my adrenal system.

We all have energetic cycles that fluctuate throughout a day, week, month, or a year. It helps when we are able to honor those cycles, and to complete our work at times where we are at our peak focus, rather than to push through when our bodies are asking for something different.

I'm grateful that in my medical device days, I had access to an onsite gym so that for about 2/3 of my days, I could escape for a workout, then bring lunch back to my desk. Maybe that's why I was able to stay in that job for 11+ years.

I have skepticism about the traditional workday and I am reflecting on both my own patterns of energy and also proposing the idea that it might be possible to work a shorter work week and still get the important things done.

I keep asking questions, like, in what ways might we design better workflows for people that don't require so much time in front of a computer?

Is it possible to work a shorter work week 24 to 30 hours and still get all the important things done?

What kinds of mindset shifts and policy shifts might it take for us to standardize a shorter week so that we have more leisure time?

Wherever you are in your work or energetic cycles, I hope you are able to align in a way that honors your somatic wisdom.

References mentioned in the episode:

Dan Pink's book, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing

Moira Maybin, ADHD-Friendly Lifestyle podcast

Tim Ferriss, The Four-Hour Workweek

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Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/composers/ihsandincer/

Cover art credit: https://www.natalyakolosowsky.com/