Today, I had every intention of getting a ton of work done. That was the plan. But instead, I found myself repotting plants.
After that, I thought, Okay, now I’ll get to work. But then I felt drawn to build a couple of LEGO flowers. While doing that, I noticed how beautifully the sun was streaming through the window, so I took my dogs for a walk.
And you know what? It turned out to be one of the most productive days I’ve had in a while—just not in the way I originally planned.
This shift in how I approach my days has been a direct benefit of the Rest & Restore Protocol (RRP)—but also from learning to work with my neurodivergent brain instead of against it.
For most of my life, I pushed myself to follow productivity rules that just didn’t fit how my brain naturally works. I told myself I needed to be more linear, more structured, more disciplined. But what I actually needed was compassion—to stop fighting how my mind flows and instead trust that when I follow my instincts, I still get where I need to go. The reality is, I tend to get there even faster.
Here’s what actually happened by following my brain and body’s natural rhythm instead of forcing focus:
🌱 Creative play led to new ideas. While building LEGO flowers, my brain wandered in the best way possible—I now have a fresh list of blog topics.
🪴 Self-care didn’t get pushed aside. Taking care of my plants was something that mattered to me, and it felt good to do something kind for myself.
🐾 Movement and sunshine mattered. Walking my dogs got me outside, moving, and soaking up the sun. It was good for them, good for me and good for our relationship.
✨ I still accomplished tasks from my list. LEGO flowers were actually on my to-do list! As was my plant care. I just didn’t expect to tackle them in this way.
🧠 I avoided burnout distractions. If I had forced myself to “work,” I probably would’ve ended up scrolling the internet, buying things I didn’t need, or playing games on my phone instead of being truly productive.
And in the end? I did move forward in my work—just in a way that felt natural instead of forced.
One of the greatest lessons for me that have come about as a result of doing RRP, SSP, iLs, Neurofeedback, Somatic Experiencing, Brainspotting, EMDR, psychotherapy, & more.... and from embracing my neurodivergence is that pushing through is rarely the answer.
And even this post is proof of that shift. I’m sharing a photo of my LEGO flowers… even though I haven’t finished building them yet.
The thought popped into my mind: I should wait until they’re complete before posting. But instead of believing that to be true, I smiled and thought, Oh, there’s that old message again. And how lovely that I get to choose—I don’t have to be perfect or meet some arbitrary standard before sharing something with the world.
I know I’m not the only one who has spent years trying to fit into neurotypical productivity expectations. So if this resonates with you, I’d love to hear—when have you found yourself more productive by not forcing productivity?