Dealing With Executive Dysfunction - A Masterpost

Late submission for @maedhrosmaglorweek Day 7 - Storytelling

I think Maglor sang or read the twins to sleep almost every night when they were little (or simply told them stories of Valinor and whatever else came to mind because I assume they didn't actually have that many books lying around by that point in time, let alone ones suitable for children). And if Maglor asked Maedhros to "help" every now and then, it totally wasn't because he hoped it would entice his brother (who hasn't slept in a week) to rest as well. Maglor would never resort to such tactics.

Alt version below the cut because I couldn't decide on a color scheme and I had everything on separate layers anyways, so:

When your husband returns from 3000 years in jail ...

... and you're thirsty af 🥰💖!! Mairon really missed him! Daddy's back on Arda!!!!

Here is the artwork for @silmarillionepistolary day 6, Loss and Betrayal.

It is dark in Valinor.

Finwë, still remaining in self-imposed exile with his son and grandsons, fears for himself and the people he abandoned - never has the world been this dark, not even in the first days at Cuivienen. Melkor betrayed them all, and is nowhere to be found, but the Two Trees are dead, still bleeding black venom from the attack. Fëanáro is gone, he was summoned by the Valar, who seem to think he can help right the wrong that was done here only weeks ago. Finwë worries that his son will be too bitter and too proud to listen.

He misses his family, the ones he left behind when he chose Fëanáro’s side - he knows that Nolofinwë was deeply hurt by this, but he still thinks his eldest son needs him more - and he prays they are all right. Formenos is silent, but not dark … the Silmarils, set into the wall above his son’s throne, cast light into every corner.

I worry for him, Finwë writes. He needs me. It is dark, but those gems…

He pauses, looking up at them, before he takes a deep breath and goes on: Valar forgiv-

Finwë does not get to finish the sentence. He does not even have time to react as the heavy iron doors of Formenos are blown right off their hinges by a single strike of a massive iron hammer. A pitch-dark form rushes forward, and before Finwë can even cry out, Melkor’s hammer swings into him, and the force of the blow sends him flying backwards. His body collides with the wall far behind, and the last thing he sees is Melkor prying his son’s coveted jewels from the wall.

Maedhros and the crown of Noldor. After being taken prisoner to Angband and saved by his friend from the Second House, Maedhros relinquished the Kingship of the Noldor to Fingolfin, head of said House, thus alleviating the feued (somewhat) between the elves.

Finally finished this drawing of my casual Legolas. Clip Studio paint, why??? It saved my file as a .JPG instead of a .CLIP so it flattened everything and I lost the timelapse . I hate when it keeps the saving mode in JPG instead of Clip as default grr.

Daddy Finarfin and sleepy Galadriel

Day 4: grumpy Caranthir

I'm neurodivergent as well as disabled and "10 minute blocking" has changed my life.

I find completing tasks really challenging because I either get super overwhelmed, distracted, or my pain/fatigue levels rise too much and I get defeated.

So I recently introduced the 10 Minute Block rule. It's super simple. I simply pick one thing I need to do, set a timer usually for 10 mins (+/- 5 mins depending on fatigue/pain levels) and then go go go! And I try and do as much of that one thing as I can within the time limit. The rule is that I have to stop after 10 minutes.

If I feel spurred on after the 10 mins is up, then I'm free to start another 10 minute block (either to carry on with the same task or start a new one) and do this repeatedly for as long as I wish, but I absolutely must stop after each block and assess how my body is doing and finish blocking when my body tells me to.

If I am feeling defeated or tired or whatever after 10 mins, even if the task isn't finished, I stop. I rest, congratulate myself on doing those 10 minutes, and then find something fun/restorative to do instead without feeling guilty.

It's really improved my perceived perception of productivity as well as taught me how to pace my body better.

I don't know if this will be helpful to any of you, but it's something that I wish I'd known about sooner and has helped me so I thought I'd share it.