H. Houlahan: Profane freehand cross-stitch is now my meeting-cope. A class admin once provided little jars of play-doh at every seat for a daylong class with snooze potential and my god did that work and we got to show off our little animals and cars and voodoo dolls of the instructors.

I can ward off Brain Screensaver Mode in boring meetings by doing something with my hands - doodling or playing jigsaw and coloring games on my computer or phone. Thankfully, driving seems to be OK because it already kind of freaks me out (keeps me engaged), and I can listen to podcasts.

It is nice to know that "literally passing out against my will when I'm too bored" has a name, is linked to ADHD, and is called "intrusive sleep." My brain really likes going into screensaver mode, complete with flying toasters and whatnot, when I'm understimulated.

ADHD and Sleep Problems: This is Why You're Always Tiredwww.additudemag.com Does ADD make you tired? Sleep disturbances caused by ADHD have been overlooked for a number of reasons, including the late age of onset. But recent studies confirm that ADD symptoms do not go away at...

*cheering from the convention meetings table* K N I T T I N G (and boo!!! to the folks getting bent out of shape that I "wasn't paying attention" because I was doing that or embroidery during the meeting.)

The only way I CAN pay attention to people talking is by doing something with my hands

Profane freehand cross-stitch is now my meeting-cope. A class admin once provided little jars of play-doh at every seat for a daylong class with snooze potential and my god did that work and we got to show off our little animals and cars and voodoo dolls of the instructors.

Got the same Play-Doh gift at a meeting once and got to break out my triceratops-making skills

Play-Doh! Ugh, I wish I'd thought of that back in college. I would take obsessive notes to maintain attention during classes, decor it being painful, and by the end of the day my hands would be so fucked it was all I could manage to drive home.

The friend who did this is a super-experienced adult educator/corporate trainer, and the class was for first responders/SAR personnel on neurodivergent patients and lost person behavior. Inherently interesting, but I think she knew that some of the presenters liked to drone on.

@stronglang.bsky.social

That's top shelf in my book

Noice. Understated.

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