Whatās up, folks?
I realized that I havenāt written in a while now, and this is the 2nd letter after that 2024 one. So, welcome to the hodgepodge of a letter in 3, 2, 1.
āDoes your brain ever shut up?ā
Thatās the million-dollar question, especially for neurodivergents like me. Sometimes, our brains get pulled into a rabbit hole thatās so hard to escape even when we take meds. Well, at least thatās what happened in my case.
Brains vs. Meds
I honestly have a hard time answering the question because it actually depends on the scenario. Brains win, but sometimes, itās the meds.
Currently, Iām taking Quetiapine on 50 mg. The drugstore (which may be named later on) did not listen to my request for a generic brand. Instead, they gave me whatās on my prescription per se. Oh, I forgot. I bought it physically.
Usually, I order my meds online, since I work the night shift and hardly ever leave my flat. With my online orders, Iāve never encountered such an issue. This online drugstore (different from the physical I went to) never questioned my decision of choosing a generic brand.
Anyway, recently Iāve been noticing that my brain overpowers my meds. It deliberately ignores the effects, and thatās why Iām writing this down. Not only to document, but also as to raise awareness about being neurodivergent.
Our brains work differently from each other, and how you are treated also depends on the symptoms that you encounter. Iāve encountered struggles and have been in an ongoing debate with my brain whenever I need to focus on something or actually do something. Itās an ongoing internal battle that Iāve been masking so well, that some actually doubt that I have it.
Productivity updates
Iāve fully migrated to Notion as my planner ever since its Calendar app came out. Iāve slowly made the shift, of course, to avoid that overwhelm.
Now, I can fully see my calendars (work and personal) in one space, without the need to open several tabs. This is what Iāve been looking for a while now.
I know, thereās Outlook and the other tools. But, those cannot let you tweak it according to your flavor. Iāve hopped, tried, and left so many apps because of it not being the ārightā one that my brain truly likes.
Recent productivity blogs:
Explore the battle of Microsoft Journal vs. OneNote. Discover the best note-taking app for your needs. A detailed comparison awaits.
This exploration will delve into diverse productivity approaches, offering insights into how different people can optimize their work habits.
Dakila updates
![Photos of our Dakila, a Mini Bull Terrier](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2cb9908a-eb88-4ec1-b360-578cc15a49df_2992x2992.jpeg)
![Photos of our Dakila, a Mini Bull Terrier](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b132caa-7643-4ed6-a621-dcde8c17088a_4000x3000.jpeg)
If youāve seen his Instagram, youāve noticed that weāve posted about him about being diagnosed with anaplasmosis.
Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the infectious bacterial organismĀ Anaplasma phagocytophilum. It is transmitted through bites of the deer tick (also known as the black-legged tick) and the Western black-legged tick. A lesser form of anaplasmosis is caused byĀ Anaplasma platysĀ and is transmitted by the brown dog tick.
Source: VCA Animal Hospitals
It started last January 14 when we noticed he got more lethargic, lack of appetite, and keeps to himself. (I wasnāt with him that time, since my flight back to Manila was on January 15.) J noticed these and thought, he has maybe gotten tired of the travel. They went back to Manila on January 14 through land travel.
Fast-forward to January 15 (queue Jeon Somiās song), he welcomed me when I arrived and even inspected my things a bit. I got alarmed when he had some blood in his poop, thatās when I told J ā letās go to the vet! Good thing, thereās Animal House which is open 24/7!
When we arrived, we were the 9th in the list and given a disclaimer that may be pushed back down the queue if there were more urgent cases. We waited a while, but when it was our turn, weāre fortunate that the doctor was kind and accommodating to our my questions. (What can an inquisitive gal do? Ask.)
Now, as of February 4, Dakilaās almost graduating from his meds, and weāre due for a check-up tomorrow (February 5).
Hereās to hoping that we beat that illness! āš½
Ko-fi Shop updates
Not too long ago, I shifted my Ko-fi goal to help save up for our loft bed. My brain got tickled of creating and publishing templates that Iāve been using and actually put it in my Ko-fi shop.
Hereās what Iāve made recently:
ADHD-Friendly Notion Journal Template
With an intuitive layout and easy navigation, this template helps reduce overwhelm and encourages consistency in journaling.
Notion Resume Template
Tailored for individuals seeking to make a lasting impression, this template combines elegance with functionality.
Notion To-Do List Template
Designed for efficiency and ease of use, this template is your ultimate tool for managing tasks, deadlines, and personal goals.
I realized that it took me more than a week to actually finish and publish this. Oh well, there are times that youāll really get into that writing zone, forget for a bit, then go back again.
Anyway, I hope youāre doing great wherever you may be.
Until then.
Maria š§æāØ