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I should not be here when there are so many other tasks demanding my attention, like a show to produce, an opening ceremony for an expo I am taking part with a video poetry, a bunch of paper work and house chores.

And yet, here I am, grappling with the allure of procrastination. It is ironic, isn’t it? You might also find yourself in a similar predicament, torn between meaningful responsibilities and the temptation to procrastinate.

The struggle is real, and it raises the fundamental question: why do we procrastinate?

Perhaps it is a coping mechanism, a response to pressure, or simply the allure of immediate gratification. Whatever the reason, it is a phenomenon that many of us grapple with on a daily basis. But I have a little trick that you might find helpful. Drumroll, please: whenever I gotta do stuff, but do not feel like doing stuff, I… do other stuff!

Take a look at your to-do list and check which tasks you could do sequentially. It is not multitasking, but a sequential movement (o, back-and-forth, if you prefer). It is all about prioritizing the tasks that require similar resources or skills, as this can help minimize the time spent transitioning between different activities.

This approach not only helps to shift the focus away from the initial task, allowing for a mental break and a chance to reset, it also proveidesr a sense of accomplishment as you steadily work through your list.

By engaging in activities that bring a sense of enjoyment or accomplishment, the mind can recharge and return to the original task with renewed energy and motivation. It enables a fresh perspective and renewed determination to tackle the tasks at hand.

Focusing on related tasks allows you to maintain a higher level of concentration and productivity, as your mind stays in a similar context, reducing the cognitive load of constantly switching between disparate tasks (what I call the “Where was I?” syndrome), and leading to a more seamless and focused working experience.

Sure, it is great when we complete a chore at the first try, without interruptions, but most of us face a different scenario. Usually, a “typical day” means a lot of small interruptions to deal with “urgencies” that must be addressed: preparing the meals, answering messages and phone calls, you know, life.

This constant juggling of responsibilities can often lead to a feeling of mental fatigue, making it even more important to find ways to streamline and consolidate tasks in order to maintain a sense of balance and focus throughout the day. Creating designated time blocks for specific types of obligations can help establish a more predictable routine, offering a sense of control amidst the inherent unpredictability of the day.

In addition to enhancing the quality of your work, this approach can also help in managing your energy levels more effectively throughout the day, preventing burnout and promoting sustained productivity. Understanding and leveraging your peak productivity periods can significantly enhance your overall task management and performance.

For instance, if you (like me) are most alert and focused in the morning, tackling complex projects during this time may yield better results.

When talking about routines, I know it is hard to find a “sweet spot”, that is, a reasonable, yet doable schedule, but identifying your most productive hours and aligning them with the most demanding or crucial tasks on your list can be a good start.

So, what do you say: let us get stuff done?

Be seeing you!

G.F.

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A famous Brazilian company, a video producer for videos for the internet has a very interesting sketch, parodying a recurring subject on news portals: “Who went to the beach this week?”. The sketch features talented comedians playing news anchors.

Basically they read, in sequence, the latest news about famous people spotted at the beach. They add no further comments, nor jokes, and yet, with clever wit and humor, they deliver a hilarious take on the worn-out catchphrases about enjoying life, embracing abundance, and expressing gratitude, often associated with “simple things in life” and the beach culture, even if the snapshot is on a very private corner of a luxury hotel.

The parody cleverly exposes the silly superficialities often found on the news, specially the digital one, bringing a fresh and entertaining perspective to the audience. If I were on the writing team, I would definitely add variations like, “Who moved into a mansion this week?” or “Who underwent an invasive aesthetic procedure this week?”

In fact, we could also consider satirical headlines such as “Who spent a ridiculous amount on a handbag?” or “Who was caught in a wardrobe malfunction at a public event?” The list of possibilities is immense!

In a society increasingly focused on appearance and physical enhancements, the willingness to invest significant sums of money in altering one’s external features is becoming the norm. Whether it is undergoing eye colour changes, fitting “contact lenses” on teeth (despite the damage they cause), or adorning oneself with false eyelashes, hair, and nails, the pursuit of physical alteration is omnipresent.

Amidst this prevailing trend, it is strikingly ironic that comparatively little attention is paid to addressing issues that could be effectively resolved with the assistance of speech therapists. I believe that the disparity in emphasis on physical transformation versus addressing speech-related challenges raises questions about societal priorities and the value placed on holistic well-being.

In a world in which it has become “normal” to invest a considerable amount of money to change the color of your eyes, wear “contact lenses” on your teeth (at the expense of wearing them down), wear false eyelashes, false hair, false nails it is, to say the least, curious that so little importance is given to problems that would be solved with the help of speech therapists. Apparently, in the commodity market in which capitalism transforms the human body, actions linked to the voice and speech are the least valued ones.

In times of podcasts and a myriad of YouTube channels, the annoyance caused by tongue ties, stuttering, hissing and all sorts of phonetic defects becomes even greater. While complex mental health diagnoses are trivialized in social media bios, speech problems remain (the ultimate?) taboo.

This perpetuates a harmful stigma around speech impediments, making it challenging for individuals to seek support and understanding. Despite the impact of speech difficulties on daily communication and confidence, they often go unaddressed due to societal misconceptions and lack of awareness.

I cannot help but think that, at least in some cases (when those with speech problems are people with financial resources and who would be fully capable of paying for professional help) the issue also involves denying the problem.

“I am rich and therefore no one will (or pretend not to) notice.” Well, Mr. Richie Rich, actually everyone will notice, even if no one says anything. And there is not enough heavy gold cordsm nor acrylic nail in the world capable of distracting the attention from a speech disorder.

For anyone who understands the power of the voice and every person who sings or is somehow related to the music world should be able to understand it. Our voice, the way we talk, it is our own melody, so to speak. People are drawn to captivating speech just as they are drawn to a beautiful melody.

Neglecting speech problems is like not caring about your own music. And, even if you have nothing to do with music, never sang a note in the shower your entire life etc, try to think of your speech as your unique, non-transferable sound signature.

Now, be honest: Have you ever taken a moment to listen to yourself? Do you like what you hear?

How does your voice sound? Pleasant? Irritating? Caliming? Warm? Welcoming? Out of tune?

Your voice is an instrument that can carry emotion, convey information, and create connections. Just like a musician practices and refines their technique, you can improve the quality of your speech by paying attention to your articulation, intonation, and rhythm.

Embrace the potential of your voice and unlock the power of effective communication in your personal and professional life. And, believe me, it will make you shine much more than any accessory ever could.

Be seeing (and hearing) you,

G.F.

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Last week a bad cold left me in bed, feeling like I was at the mercy of a relentless wave of congestion and fatigue. It is not the end of the world, I know, but it certainly made the passing of each day feel like a century. In order to find some confort, I kept reminding myself that it was just a temporary setback, and tehre was nothing not do but rest.

During the long days of waiting for the flu to pass, I realized that in these moments of extreme vulnerability, we learn to value the small miracles of everyday life (who would be able to think, outside of the flu state, of the wonders of a decongested nose?). Taking for my own example, we also become much more sensitive to gestures of kindness (or lack thereof).

The heightened awareness of our own fragility makes us more attuned to the actions and attitudes of those around us, whether it is a friend offering to run errands or a stranger showing impatience in a crowded pharmacy. The absence of a helping hand or a comforting word is felt more deeply, while an unexpected act of generosity can lift the spirits to an unimaginable degree.

It is as if the slowing down of our usual routine allows us to truly appreciate the simple pleasures we often take for granted, like a warm cup of tea or the comfort of a cozy blanket. Being aware of both the subtle joys and the shortcomings of human interaction can build a quite profound connection to our environement, shaping our perception of the world long after the illness has passed.

But there is also another connection that strengthens when we are sick: the connection with our own body. Only when we are sick do we really realize all the intricate mechanisms and the amazing processes that keep us healthy and how delicate they are.

Personally, I always considered being sick an alert. It is the way our body reminds us to listen to it and take proper care of it, nurturing and respecting it. A flu, as annoying as it ca be, can also prompt us to appreciate the complexity of our bodies and the resilience of our immune system. It offers us a chance to reflect on the importance of self-care and the need to listen to our bodies.

When we are unwell, we become acutely aware of the numerous small signals and sensations that our body constantly sends us, and that we mostly ignore. We start to pay attention to the subtle changes, the twinges, and the discomfort that we might otherwise overlook in our busy lives. As we navigate through the discomfort, we may find ourselves reevaluating our habits and priorities, considering how we can better care for ourselves.

And last, but certainly not least, going through a cold made me, once more, admire the capacity of this wonderful machine called the human body to heal itself. I have always admired the power of the human body to recover. Even when faced with adversity, the resilience of the human body is a true, yet not completely understood wonder.

It is truly remarkable how the immune system kicks into high gear, working tirelessly to combat the invading pathogens and restore balance within. When it comes down to it, it is all about the immune system, working hard to keep us going strong.

Yes, of course I also thought about all the things I want to do differently from now on, more aligned with a mens sana in corpore sano stance. After all, we cannot avoid catching the flu every now and then, but we can, at least, try to use the experience to become a little smarter.

Be seeing you!

G.F.

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I just came from a three-week trip. It was my first post-pandemic trip abroad and it was with disappointment (but no surprise at all, which is pretty sad, too) that I confirmed my the entire process involving traveling long distances continues to head in the same direction as before 2020: getting worse and worse.

From incomprehensible rules such as having to leave your bottle of water at customs and, after a few dozen steps, having to buy a new bottle at a convenience store (for an absurd price, obviously), to practices of clear bad faith, such as in the case of airplane seats, which are increasingly smaller and lack space for hand luggage for all passengers, as well as the hospitality sector, in which the rarest thing is… hospitality, it seems that traveling has lost much of its fun side, without talk about glamour, which has long disappeared.

Personally, I gave up on understanding what people find so attractive about sitting on the floor at airports, even when there are seats available in the lobby, or the insane fight for access points in cell phone recharge towers at the gates boarding, considering that the vast majority of aircraft have a USB outlet in the seats, but anyway, overall, these are minor though terribly unpleasant aspects of traveling.

On the other hand, traveling can be a transformative, enriching experience in many aspects. Among them, what always impresses me most is how we transform ourselves in relation to time. It is amazing how, simply by stepping out of our routine, we can completely immerse ourselves in the present, making time seem both fleeting and expansive.

Traveling makes mindfulness a natural response, as opposed to the habitual mode of distraction we tend to practice while going about our daily tasks. When we immerse ourselves in a new environment, we perceive time differently, noticing the rhythm of life in a way that is unique to each place: the hustle and bustle of a busy city, the relaxed pace of a coastal town, or the timeless tranquility of a rural village – each setting offers its own perception of time.

It is as if time is fluid, adapting to the atmosphere and culture that surrounds it, and by moving our bodies in space and immersing ourselves in different environments, we can experience a shift in consciousness. This shift allows us to perceive the world from a new perspective. We have the opportunity to momentarily step into an alternate timeline, where the boundaries of our everyday reality are blurred.

The departure from our conventional existence allows us to gain unique insights and knowledge that we can then bring back home. As we return from our explorations, it feels as we are journeying back from the future, bringing not only memories and souvenirs but also a wealth of new experiences and a deeper understanding of the world around us and of ourselves.

Be seeing you!

G.F.