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There’s a version of me that wakes up early, makes matcha, and clears her inbox before noon. And then there’s current me - the one who drifts a little, who works in fragments, who needs more pauses than usual.

For a while, I thought something was wrong with that. I kept trying to get back to the “productive” version of myself - the one who seemed sharper, faster, better at everything. But lately I’ve been wondering if the point isn’t to get back to her at all. Maybe it’s to notice how much my rhythm has changed, and to meet myself there instead.

Last week’s note was about catching the early signs of burnout. This week is about what comes next: that strange in-between space where you’re not exhausted, but you’re not exactly energized either - you’re just moving at a different tempo.

🌿 When “Slow” Just Means Different

Energy has seasons. Some are quick and clear, others heavier and more interior. But we’ve built this strange idea that our pace should always stay the same — that if we’re not moving at full speed, we’re somehow off course.

I’ve been trying to pay more attention to the quieter shifts — the days where my body feels fine but my thoughts feel heavy, or where focus comes in short waves instead of long stretches. Those moments used to frustrate me. Now I try to take them as signals: it’s time to recalibrate, not accelerate.

💭 Letting Go of “Catching Up”

I’ve started to notice how often that phrase slips out of people’s mouths - “I just need to catch up.” It’s so common it’s almost background noise. The more I hear it, the more I think it’s code for something else. Usually it means, “I’m uncomfortable with where I am right now.”

The pace that feels sustainable will always look a little slower than the one that looks impressive. But the sustainable one lasts longer. It lets you stay connected to what you’re actually doing, instead of just sprinting toward relief.

🪞 Noticing Your Real Tempo

Try watching your days with less judgment and more curiosity. When does your focus naturally sharpen? When does it soften? What time of day feels easiest for creative work? When do you crave rest but keep pushing anyway?

You don’t have to measure or optimize it, just notice it. Just pay attention without trying to fix anything. Eventually, your own rhythm starts to reveal itself and you can begin planning around it.

✏️ Journal Prompt

What does “enough” look like at your current pace? If I were to take a full day off for recovery, what would I do? Not your ideal version - the real one you’re in today. Write about what that might feel like if you trusted it instead of fighting it.

LifeAt: Focus this fall

LifeAt isn’t just a productivity tool—it’s your personal focus sanctuary. With a Pomodoro timer, over 1,000 aesthetic virtual spaces, cozy soundboards, and a planner that actually keeps you on track, it’s built to make work feel good.

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Reader Spotlight ❤️

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Real or AI 🤖

Last week’s AI movie night was a close one! 57% of you were right though - Image 1 was the really cute cozy couch! Honestly, these AI image generators are getting close at nailing the messiness of real life. Eerie, isn’t it?

In honor of our reader spotlight, I wanted to see if AI could dream up some adorable little sea otters. Take a careful look below… only one picture of these cuties is real. The other is just a cute, cuddly little hallucination. So, which is which? Which is real and which is AI? Make sure to vote for which image you think is REAL below!

Maybe the point isn’t to get back to your old rhythm at all. Maybe it’s to finally make peace with the one that’s here now.

You’re allowed to change tempo without calling it a setback. Some seasons are meant for building speed. Others are meant for paying attention. Both move you forward — just in different ways.

take a rest today,
🌱 rorrie