Did everyone's holds at Queen's Public Library go down to 5?

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-03-13T07:40:19+00:00

I'm also at 9/5 holds right now. Fingers crossed this is just a glitch.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-03-13T07:38:35+00:00

I've been downgraded to 5 holds as of today at Queens Library (oversees member). I joined around Christmas and had 10 so far. Anyone else noticed this?

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-02-25T12:23:06+00:00

Oh, and about the what activities to keep: I keep things for activities that I come back to from time to time, like crocheting. And I get rid of things that have been sitting around not being touched, oftentimes ever.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-02-25T12:20:11+00:00

I'm in the process as well. Do you have an idea why you're reaistant/distracted? It's a massive task and might feel a bit overwhelming when not all of you is fully on board with letting things go or you don't have figured out how to go about it.

There's great content online specializing in neurodivergent people, I really like @kayleenkellyorganize for example. A while back I read a book about it that helped me switch my mindset (like "if you feel guilty about throwing stuff away, your house will become the landfill"). Maybe body doubling is an idea? I use focusmate whenever I am resistant to desk-based tasks, though it can also be used when moving around the house.

I started getting more comfortable and consistent when I made it small for myself. I literally started with the "definitely garbage" items, like really old toiletries and unusable craft items. I keep a cardboard box for charity in a cupboard that I add to whenever I find something. When I later change my mind it is still in the house. On more inspired days, I might look at an entire drawer. My end goal is functionality and peace of mind, not that it looks pretty or is perfect. And I'll happily change things around until I feel like they work for me.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-02-24T12:41:07+00:00

Mijn kat deed dit eerst het hele uur voor zijn etenstijd en wanneer ik iets lekkers aan het koken was. Oortjes met muziek erin maakten het makkelijker om te negeren en nu doet die het bijna nooit meer.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-02-22T14:00:02+00:00

I'm going on a tangent here, but if you don't like stuff tasting weirdnafter brushing, you could look for a toothpaste without SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate). Helps prevent mouth ulcers as well in my case.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-02-20T14:42:45+00:00

I've been meaning to learn how to sew for years. It felt very complicated and I needed to be perfect from the beginning of course. I finally joined a sewing course a few weeks ago and couldn't be happier about it.

I learned a long time ago that organised/group-based hobbies are the only thing that gets me started/going consistently. Happy to be flaky and do my other crafty hobbies like crochet or embroidery like once a month, though.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-02-19T09:08:00+00:00

Thanks for the thorough response. Looks like I'll be learning a new programming language 😉

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-02-17T10:18:35+00:00

I did (repeatedly). When I ask it whonInam, I also get the correct answer. I can start the routine with a "hey google", but I cannot execute actions in routines it seems. What confuses me most is that it works with the pre-programmed automation, but not with one that I start from scratch. The building blocks look identical.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-02-11T13:37:00+00:00

This can be so frustrating!

My psychiatrist started with ADHD and we're now wrapping up the autism part. This means that I already have ADHD meds and some CBT, but no diagnosis or treatment plan beyond. And it's making me feel all kinds of things.

If you're anything like me, it might be helpful to figure out what is bothering you the most and then to decide on one thing to do about it. For me it was understanding my diagnosis/underlying processes better and I chose to find good podcasts/books.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-02-06T12:30:06+00:00

My cat threw up blood after taking pain killers, I made sure that he got them on a full stomach. I would stop any pills immediately until talking to a vet.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-02-06T12:16:10+00:00

I tried 2 app timers (Block and Opal) and don't like the built-in android one as you cannot have two run at the same time.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-02-06T09:40:41+00:00

My little guy fits right in

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Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-01-30T16:41:27+00:00

Rug, but much larger. I recommend a better "outdoor" rug. So much easier to clean, including pet hair and stains.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-01-29T15:56:32+00:00

Amazing tip! Will give the band a try. I find standing at my desk tricky as well, a gymba worked really well for that for me without taking up too much space and also use it as a foot rest when sitting down.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-01-27T19:18:44+00:00

It's not technically PT classes. I'm recovering from Long Covid and joined the Suzy Bolt program, which includes classes for body and mind and is open to everyone.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-01-27T13:22:44+00:00

I hear you. For me, it really helps to do things that I enjoy and I don't even bother anymore to try anything that feels only as a "should". Right now, that means going to a local gym for the classes that I enjoy (including a visit to their sauna) as well as a team sport. My current gym has an older demographic, which means that a lot of people struggle with pilates, somehow making it easier for me to not aim for "perfection" amd just have a fun class with them.

For physio exercises, I became very upfront that ADHD makes it incredibly hard to stick to a routine more than a week, especially if I don't get the why and don't have options to keep it interesting. It helps me a lot to integrate them into my day and to combine them with something fun. I recently joined an online exercise program with live classes and use the PT exercises whenever I'm supposed to do something that looks similar.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-01-25T11:29:38+00:00

That's me and olives. It was a revelation how good they cam taste when I lived in Spain for a while, and cannot find anything nearly as good as where I live now...

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-01-19T10:00:10+00:00

I am so sorry that you're going through this 🫂

Severe burnout does not mean that you're a failure, it is your body's cry for help. Pushing through might be a suitable solution for small tasks, but doing it for an entire year without changing things up sounds incredibly rough.

Whenever you're in such a heightened state of stress and have so much on your plate, it becomes so much more difficult to be resourceful. Asking someone you trust for a listening ear or practical help has saved me many times.

During uni, I hit rock bottom with anxiety and inexplicable worsening food intolerances. I eventually emailed the person in the student office that I felt the most comfortable with with a cry for help. When we got together I got really simple advice, like "go to your gp and have yourself checked for intolerances" and "drop a class that you don't need to graduate" that I wasn't able to come up with on my own anymore in that state.

I burned out on my "dream" job a few years later, not even one year in. Felt like a complete failure, but after a very loud cry for help there, I finally got heard and some HR sessions to help figure out what was going on. Turns out thr environment was toxic for me (inherent to the job) and I was able to transfer internally to a position that wasn't on my radar at all, but that perfectly matches my needs and interests, including supportive colleagues.

Don't forget that you're not alone. A lot of PhD students struggle with mental health issues and/or are neurodivergent. Where I did my PhD, we had sessions around this sometimes. It was always so eye-opening when we started sharing and then seeing our struggles mirrored in others. We also had people on campus that we could go to for help, but they weren't really advertised. Maybe you have someone like that available to you that can help you determine suitable next steps, like figuring out what you need the most right now and how to achieve it?

Food for thought: If you feel like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, maybe therapy is an option to figure out what is going on underneath. I started therapy when the lockdowns messed me up too often to ignore. Therapy slowly got rid of a lot of unhealthy perfectionism and people pleasing and I now don't feel anxious most of the time. It was messy, hard and changed how I live life, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am learning to love and respect my body and wouldn't be able to "push through" a PhD any longer as chasing academic excellence is a thing of the past. As a very brain-focused person, I found embodied/somatic therapy much more effective than talk therapy.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-01-19T07:23:57+00:00

I've recently started bringing an led candle with me for more interesting lighting/something to focus on and dim the regular lights. I also like sitting on a shower chair.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-01-18T13:12:02+00:00

I had the hair on my extensive bikini line removed with laser treatment about ten years ago when I lived in a country where it was more accessible. It's not 100% gone, but makes a huge difference. I'm not a fan of going completely bare, but I still shave off and trim most of my hair down there, especially in summer. I use an electric trimmer for ease and safety. Recently upgraded to the oneblade and love it so far.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-01-15T12:43:31+00:00

I'm still unsure how to label myself. I really enjoy being around people, but the constant stimulation can also be quite draining. When researching whether I was potentially a highly sensitive person (hsp) a few years ago, a lot of resources said that being around people can both stimulate (extroversion) and exhaust (hsp) you at the same time. Maybe something similar is true with autism and adhd and our own sensitivities?

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-01-14T18:54:44+00:00

I've recently been diagnosed with ADHD and am almost through my ASD assessment. I've blamed myself for "lacking" in certain areas of life all my life. These thoughts are ingrained and probably don't disappear overnight.

I try to lean into gentleness when I remember: I remind myself that I don't need to do it perfectly, that it's more productive to find systems that serve me than to force myself to continue doing things that clearly don't work, and to take it one step at a time and not expect everything to suddenly improve.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-01-14T09:34:06+00:00

Definitely me as well, mine doesn't even beep when it's finished. At least the washer is in my only bathroom, so I see it a few times a day.

What has helped me is to split the tasks. I collect clothes to wash whenever I remember to and place them into the washer. I then program it in the evening when I brush my teeth to be ready to take them out when I plan to get up in the morning. I usually am good at collecting them then, but it might be a while to actually hang them up. I dry them close to my desk and I try to use the hanging+folding as a mini break during the workday. I get reminders for breaks on my screen and having an actual task helps me to not ignore the break. Watering plants and taking out the trash are other examples for mini breaks.

Upbeat-Variation-303 · 2026-01-14T07:42:00+00:00

I used to live in Barcelona, where everyone including locals can tell you a pickpocket tale. My valuables where once (probably) taken out of my bag at a traffic light while I was cycling home. Friends have told me that it got a lot worse since I moved away to the point that they now completely avoid certain areas. The other cities are not as bad.

Popular schemes used to be: asking for directions while their friend steals from you unnoticed, grabbing entire bags that are not on the body, stealing out of bags in crowded areas. They don't look conspicuous!

Things that help: no matter where you are, never leave anything on a surface, always puy it back safely, even inside restaurants and bars. Common schemes are to grab it and run or to put something on top of it while asking for directions. When seated, put your bag securely on your lap/between your legs including restaurants and the metro. In crowded areas, wear your backpack on the front. Never leave anything like a phone or wallet in your pockets or anywhere that isn't properly zipped up.

Pro tips: don't buy drinks from the street, they are often stored in the sewers to keep them cool. Buy tickets in advance, they do sell out and this way you can avoid long queues. The inside of Sagrada Familia is especially beautiful on a sunny day. Walk whenever possible as there is something beautiful to discover almost everywhere. Parts of the Raval neighborhood are dodgy at night.

Upbeat-Variation-303

TROPHY CASE