Comma by Tara Brabazon and Discipline by Dr Sid Warrier

So I finished another audiobook ... Comma - How to restart, reclaim and reboot your PhD by Tara Brabazon.

I was cringing a bit as I was listening, it is not a pep talk book, there were some dark shades of the academic world.  Though I am new here, I wondered, do I want to dive in or was it just that the author did not have a good experience?  

The chapter that hit home and I really wanted to take key lessons and drilled well into me was taking responsibility for my PhD and the other one was on problem solving.  The six steps:

1. Write down the problem

2. Write down all the solutions, even the crazy ones

3. Think about the solution and how to action

4. Pick the most practical solution

5. Plan how are you going to enact the solution

6. Just do it!

And now I am listening to Dr Sid Warrier about discipline, etc.  

Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42DcY3ce2ck&t=319s

Decision = Outcome divided by effort.  

Motivation hook

Time, person and will power - algorithm of discipline.

Reverse engineer:

1. Have a clear outcome - measurable outcome

2. clear rewards and punishments - train the emotional part of the brain

3. Create a system - use time, person (for accountability - power (authority)

4. taking care of your body - body and mind energised not fatigued!

Productivity and dopamine

REcently I finished Ali Abdaal's 'Feel Good Productivity'.  I did not want to finish the book.  I really enjoyed it - the science, the experiments and the little nudges.  My key take away came in Chapter 9 - identifyign actions that brings meaning and joy.  VAlues at daily choices.  What are the challenges, sucess for the short term.  Short term versus long term.  What effect do the actions have on my mood, my energy and my productivity.  The overall theme was productivity is more abotu joy than discipline.

So where do I want to be in one years time?  What are the three actions I can take per day.

This made me think of my non-negotiable - I can not be without meditation, food, sleep, some sort of exercise.  

I liekd the story of taking time to sharpen the knife during the break.

What does looking confident look liek or asking how would I handle this if I was an expert in this?

Overall, the whole thing is abotu pause, reflect, take actions with joy.  Even if it is 5, 10 percent rather than taking it as a drag.  The important thing is to be aligned.

I also watched Huberman's interview on diary of a ceo.  ALl things dopamine.  

I realise I have all the tools, gadgets, technology, knowlgede and it is about implementing that works for me.  what woudl work for me?  I ask a lot of questions, that keeps my brain active.

THere is no use feelign guilty.  A bit is ok like salt, too much makes the dish yuck, unedible.

I have had back muscle pain, it is funny it was severe on Friday and a bit on Saturday where I did not do anything or much ... was scared to do the stretches too.  I felt more alive, I reflected on my PhD too the pain was an abstract where as the pain int he body was for REAL.

It has been a while since I wrote here.  

Trusting in myself and keep going alogn int he journey is something.

Highs and lows of dopamine hit ...

THis is so interesting.  I went for a competition last minute.  I just did it.  It gave me such a high, I feel so alive!  I can feel the dopamine rush, the happy hormones and what not!

I am glad I did it.  I am also glad I did not win it.  

I realised so much abotu myself, why scripts do not work for me, the kind of thinker and speaker I am!  My thoughts run at 1009 miles per second and since I don't want ot miss anythign, I sepak fast and my thinking only gets faster.

I realised my writing blocks and what has helped me is asking questions and answering the questions to the best I can and if I dont' know I go look them up.

Online community work

 After many days of isolation into PhD work, I realised I rejuvenate and recharge by connecting with people.  THere is no use doigin my PhD when in stress.  My amygdala is on high alert rather than the prefrontal cortex and its creativity.  No good comes out when I am stressed, otehr than body freezing and the mind racing 1999 miles a second.  And this freeze (of the body) and flight (of the mind) is of no use or purpose.  

One of the things that energises me and feeds my sould is community work.  Having done rubbish collection, tree plantation, cooking in community house, an idea pling linged and I thought how abotu some online community work.  The idea ,..... I created an even in Event brite -  https://www.eventbrite.com.au/x/how-do-i-cook-authentic-indian-tickets-1376941953449.  The idea is to turn up even if it is for one or more people and I interact with the people.  THis is a free event and my way to contribute to the community.  I think I will do this on a regular basis - one hour, where people from anywhere can come and ask me recipes or discuss what to do with the ingredients they have.  Yes, this is also my speciality!

It is 6:54pm and there is noone in the event.  It was too much of a short notice.

The next event is on 29th June - link here - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/jai-creations-authentic-food-creations-with-jai-tickets-1378432461599?aff=oddtdtcreator

ChatGPT and palmistry

This one has given me good belly laughs!

I asked chatGPT to analyse my palm and boy I was so surprised, pleasantly.  It is interesting and I shall paste them here later, for you too to join me in a good belly laughter.

For now, I will focus on my writing.

Cheerio until then!

Freedom of choice

 Freedom of choice

When we have so much freedom, do whatever we want or eat whatever we want, it comes with a consequence. There is a lot of freedom, yet the cost is choice.  Depending on what I choose and how I shape it, it can cost my future. I chose no sugar for a few days and from time to time I have sugar in my chai.  I realised the tiredness that I was feeling is more from low iron and since I restarted the iron supplements, it got only better. I also realised I need to hang out with people for my own mental health.  Isolation that people felt during covid, I was and am experience in my PhD.  Yes, I have a choice how I show up, do my work, at times, I am so lost I lose my own awareness, the emotions and moods take over and then when I realise and start the work, it feels way too overwhelming and yet I have to remind myself to keep persistent, and do the best I can.  Recently I learnt there are two types of procrastination – the usual one and a problematic one.  IT is problematic when it affects others areas of normal day to day life.  I’ve wondered not meeting the deadline has consequences that I am not ready to face, so I end up doing the task – more so out of fear.  There are times I like to do things out of love but if I don’t sustain it, it loses its charm the important but not urgent task slides into urgent and important.  I need to complete some admin work and finding other things more interesting.  Definitely the entertainment industry is very entertaining but it doesn't complete the admin work for you which appears boring and mundane.  Perhaps through this journaling it helps me sort my thoughts and emotions in a structured manner.

To this by ChatGPT

Freedom of Choice

Having so much freedom — to do whatever we want, eat whatever we like — comes with its own consequences.  Freedom isn’t free; its cost is the weight of choice. What I choose today can shape or limit my future.  For example, I chose to cut out sugar for a few days. Occasionally, I still have some in my chai. I noticed that the tiredness I’d been feeling wasn’t due to sugar withdrawal — it was more about low iron. Once I restarted my supplements, my energy began to return.  Another realization: I need human connection for my mental well-being. The isolation many experienced during COVID is something I’ve continued to feel throughout my PhD. It reminds me that while I have the freedom to show up or withdraw, my mental state is impacted by that choice. Sometimes, I feel so disconnected — I lose touch with myself. My emotions and moods take over, and when I finally start working, the task feels overwhelming. Still, I remind myself to stay persistent and to do the best I can.  Recently, I learned that there are two types of procrastination: the usual kind and a more problematic one — the kind that begins to affect daily functioning. I’ve started to see how my own procrastination stems from avoiding the consequences of missed deadlines. Fear often pushes me to complete tasks at the last minute. I want to act from love and inspiration, but when I don’t sustain that energy, the task slips from “important but not urgent” into a stressful, urgent crisis.  Right now, I have some admin work to finish, but I keep getting distracted by more stimulating things. The entertainment industry truly is entertaining — but it won’t file my paperwork for me. Admin tasks feel mundane, but they still matter.

Maybe this journaling helps me. It gives me a place to untangle my thoughts and emotions, and structure them. In doing so, I begin to see myself more clearly — one small step at a time.

Imposter Syndrome and THe Imposter Solution

It is interesting and has been very intersting.

I was listenign to Imposter Solution by Cassandra Dunn.  She exxplains what is Imposter Syndrome and that it was coined in 1978.  It is a term that a lot of people feel.  There are many layers to the syndrome.  Not caused just from "not feelign good enough", there are several aspects to it.  Chapter 2 talks about what and how the syndrome is caused.  It all boils down to self-doubt and questioning our abilities.

I asked myself when is it or where is it I dont' feel this?

For me it is in cooking, in my life and the inner works of the mind.

I dont' feel like an imposter when presenting, or talking to strangers, or when it comes to tidyign up my place, or be it organising my day, planning travels.

Why?  I looked at why I dont' feel insecure in these areas.  The answer was simple.  I love these adventures, it gives a sense of purpose, joy, excitement.  I dont' doubt my cooking, cleaning, or speaking abilities.  They are and have become natural coz I have practised it so many timmes that it has become second nature.  

It seemed so clear and when I sat down to write it it is less than a page.  That's ok too.