Thinkingdog Publishing

The other day, as I mindlessly scrolled through Facebook (which I swear was just for five minutes, but then somehow an hour disappeared—Facebook time is not real time), I saw an ad that stopped me cold. It asked: "Have you ever wished for a minor accident or illness—not serious, just enough to stay in bed for a few days and rest?" My immediate, gut reaction? Absolutely, yes. And apparently, I wasn’t alone. The comments were a chorus of, “Oh my gosh, YES!” and “All the time.” and “Where do I sign up for a light, non-life-threatening illness that involves tea, naps, and binge-watching detective shows?” Wait. Hold on. When did we, as a society, reach the point where the dream of self-care involves a medically justified break from life ? When did we go from "Omg, I hope I never get sick" to "Look, I don’t want anything permanent, but if the universe wanted to drop a mild, fever-free flu on me, I wouldn’t fight it” ? Welcome to the Productivity Cul...

As authors, we all have our unique creative rhythms. Some thrive in the quiet of the night, while others find their muse in the hustle and bustle of the day. For me, inspiration strikes best in the early morning—around 6 AM. Yes, I know what you're thinking: Who in their right mind is up and writing at 6 AM? But growing up in a German household, early mornings were non-negotiable. Those structured, disciplined mornings shaped my work ethic, and now, they've become my secret weapon for creative flow. There’s something magical about that time of day—the world is still, distractions are minimal, and the mind feels sharp, almost untouched by the chaos that builds as the hours pass. In those golden hours, I find clarity, focus, and an endless stream of ideas that I’d struggle to access later in the day. By the time the afternoon rolls around, I feel my concentration dip, and I know it’s time to shift gears. Instead of forcing creativity, I switch to tasks that require less of that ...