I said I would take the weekend off. As it turned out, I didn't quite succeed.
That said, I did in one way. I told myself I could relax. I caught a bug as a result.
The ideas did not, however, cease flowing, so I wrote.
Then I looked for feedback, and having gone a day or so without it, I now realise how important it is to me, even though it comes at a cost.
Then, much of the feedback I got on the article on neoliberalism and autism was aggressive, repugnant, and simply nasty. I did not post the offensive items that were offered here. I have not deleted them elsewhere, and have tried to engage with them, whilst trying to control my anger that some are so willing to abuse others.
After posting 26,000 items on this blog, with the one on neoliberalism being the 26,000th, perhaps I should not be surprised. However, after that much writing, at an average of 3.48 posts per day over more than 20 years, it still seems as though there is more to do.
The lesson for me is that I still need to stick with this, but that I also need to learn how to take time off, which, at 68, I still haven't properly mastered.
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Is it a question of scheduling rather than waiting for the moment?
‘Recently had a session at work about ‘recharging batteries’. Very interesting – it’s about getting away from the work, the screen etc., and just closing down for a moment – not even to do something else. ‘Daydreaming’ was recommended as was even just fixing your eyes on some distant object and staring at it.
Maybe post nothing next time? Even for just one day instead of a weekend. I thoroughly approved of what you did.
Your posts on Neo-liberalism and Autism were spot on I felt. But I also feel how conflicted you are. This ‘advisor’ spent 6 hours on his work laptop on Sunday catching up after a bout of Covid hit me last week!! What a hypocrite I am.
Thanks, PSR. And 🙂
You did, however, let me win a small bet with myself that you would not survive the entire weekend without reverting to normal. I bet myself 5p, although I am not, for some reason 5p better off. Ho hum. Welcome back and sorry to hear about the bug. Hope you feel better soon.
Thank you, and 🙂
It is sad and shocking that you received so much aggression on what was a thoughful and heartfelt article on neurodiversity. It made me wonder, why do people react so strongly like this? The first thought that comes to mind is that maybe they are themselves undiagnosed neurodiverse. When they have spent years trying to convince themselves and others that they are “normal”, having someone suggest that it’s OK to be different feels like it invalidates all their years of effort, and shakes their entire worldview. The cognitive dissonance is just so massive that it causes them to lash out. A similar phenonmenon has been suggested where some of the most vehemently homophobic people are often themselves closeted.
Anyhoo, back on topic, when it comes to taking time off, I’ve found that setting (and maintaining) boundaries helps greatly. Using a calendar to block off segments of time for different tasks, including rest time, is essential, while having a limited time for each task helps with prioritising what is really important.
Thank you. I think there may be something in your suggestion about why people react so aggressively, although I would hesitate to speculate about whether they are themselves neurodivergent. What interests me is why recognising difference should feel so threatening to anyone.
As for taking time off, I have never really known what that means. My brain rarely permits it. Downtime is simply more thinking time, whether I want it to be or not.
I appreciate your suggestions about boundaries, but switching off is not simply a matter of organising my diary. The thinking carries on regardless.
That is part of my lived experience of neurodivergence, and another reason why I think recognising that different minds work differently matters so much.
I suspect that the angry reaction to the discussion of neurodiversity is not because they are themselves neurodiverse, but because accepting difference in people undermines their own ideology. Why question your own belief when you can attack the proof that you are wrong.
I think people have been enabled to vent their anger (often in totally ignorant to erms) by easy-access social media.
I think a lot of it is probably projection. They are angry with themselves and how they love their lives, often in denial, and when someone appears who speaks articulately against the mainstream drivel (talking about neoliberalism here) and presents then with truth that is very uncomfortable. They are angry.
They not to take it personally Richard. It is their problem and no doubt any sane arguments against their rude responses would not sink in.
They have not learned to question their beliefs.
I think there is something in what you say.
“Work is more fun than fun” – I believe that’s Noel Coward
I sort of recognise that. I do then suffer guilt that I do not give my hobbies enough time.
Hello Richard.
You have often said that you can never really ‘switch off’ and don’t really know how to take time off.
Could you approach it slightly differently?
People have mentioned scheduling, and I think there’s something in that, but nothing the way mentioned.
For example, and it’s only an example. Could you schedule in a morning, once a week where you spend time without your laptop or phone or birdwatching stuff, and go a walk for a coffee, so that you’re not trying to ‘shut out’ the thoughts you always have, so you’re not taking time off but neither are you working because you’re not writing?
Some sort of …(oh I can’t resist calling it) third way?
This could become your scheduled reset morning or something.
maybe?
My question is different.
It is: Why would I want to do that?
I birdwatch, usually at the weekend, but continuously in reality when out. But Jacqueline and I discuss ideas almost continuously while doing so at the weekend. This is a highly creative time.
And writing is, for me, like breathing. It is what I do.
In fact, time off means more time to write.
It is the interruptions that are the problem.
It’s been said many times but it does feel like a Gramscian moment. Just as Brexit has failed but those who supported it will never admit it, so the policies of the last 30 plus years have led us to where we are but politicians across the spectrum are wedded to its beliefs to various degrees and struggle to let go. Not helped by an economics profession and academics whose trade is mostly stuck in that rut. With those who have benefitted the most – finance and the City and the very wealthy – having their hands on the levers of power.
We’ve not yet got a vision, direction and way forward articulated in terms that engage the wider public, or the leadership able to convince people. Im positive enough to think that Burnham has shown some of the right signs, but has a lot to do even just to drag his party in the right direction and not get sucked back into the old mindset.
On the subject of aggressive nasty offensive argumentative or covert commentary. I suggest they are argumenative energy tieves (thieves) by nature. Educating is good, argueing or gnashing over ignorance or nastiness is pointless. Calmly gently and determindly just treat the nastiness as inconsequential and delete them, giving them none of your precious time and energy. You know who you are and what you are and the immense value of societal and cultural concepts you are disseminating. Your existing and new readers/viewers/ listeners also recognise your immense value to everyone. Just be you, and enjoy the things you like in life. Pace yourself though to gain naximum enjoyment.
You’re doing a great job, Richard, and I really admire you for that. Your email is my goto and your blog is the only one that I look at every day. Over the time I have been reading your writings, that’s the last 4 or 5 years, I have learned so much about how the economy works, and how stupid is the current orthodoxy. I find it difficult to express my complete gratitude for this. It has also prompted me to read more widely in this area.
Please look after yourself, your work is invaluable and, I believe, is responsible for these ideas being more widely acknowledged. Inevitably this will arouse the ire of some people, some of which will be extremely offensive. That seems to be the way of the modern world. Keep at it. My very best wishes.
Thank you. Appreciated.
@74yo I’m totally conflicted about this whole issue of taking time off. When I was stuck in an office my relaxation was diy, which evolved into flipping ‘fixer uppers’. I abandoned gainful employment @46yo and went from being desk bound to extreme diy, building from scratch. Paperwork became relaxation. When I ‘retired’ before the 08crash, basic garden maintenance evolved into an 11acre environmental conservation and biodiversity project. Planting 10,000 native broadleaf trees and developing wildflower meadows. Age has caught up with me so my main priority nowadays is making sure I get all the basic body maintenance and household management jobs covered because it takes me all day to do physical work that I could have managed in a couple of hours. Frequent ‘recovery breaks’ are more frustrating than relaxing.
So relaxation has become work!
I heed your warning.