Episode 40: Dan Macqueen

Focus and Chill - productivity tactics for AuDHDers and other neurodivergent folks

Welcome to episode #40 Our guest today is Dan Macqueen.

On June 21, 2014, Dan's reality was shattered by a devastating brain hemorrhage. With no map to guide him on the grueling path to recovery, Dan had to rely on his grit, perseverance, and resilience to relearn everything he once knew: how to walk, talk and even smile.

Dan has survived two emergency brain surgeries, weeks in a coma, and months in a rehab hospital. What he found out along the way might surprise you: there is nothing like a brain injury to refocus the mind! Driven by a positive mindset, Dan battled through excruciating rehab exercises to rebuild his life and return to a job he loved.

Welcome to the show Dan!

Questions

1. Tell us about what happened in 2014
   1. Was in London studying
   2. Really bad headaches that kept getting worse
   3. Went to the hospital and they sent him away saying they thought it was vertigo
   4. A few days later, completely lost vision for several minutes
   5. Again they sent him away - asking him to get his eyes tested
   6. The optometrist stopped the test halfway and asked him to go straight to the hospital
   7. Emergency brain surgery - hemorrhage
   8. Months of rehab to re-learn walking and talking - incredibly painful
   9. Returned to work 2.5 days per week but then had a second brain injury
   10. Another round of grueling rehab - had to do it at home as funding didn’t allow in-hospital rehab
   11. Still has double vision but otherwise has been able to regain autonomy and movement
2. What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. After rehab, worked at Hootsuite in implementation team (customer success) helping EMEA clients
   2. Now motivational speaker: 4 days per week
3. How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Swim in pool
   2. Brunch
4. What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Get up early and work out
   2. Cold shower
   3. Meditate for 20 minutes
   4. Breakfast
5. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?
   1. Momentum
      1. Do the most difficult task first thing (timebox)
      2. Building blocks: half do things so it’s easier to pick it up again -
   2. Fatigue management
      1. Sleep
      2. Fika - coffee break
      3. Meditate
   3. Timers and alarms
   4. Get mindset right: adversity is co
6. COMMERCIAL BREAK
7. How do you switch off at night?
   1. Clean kitchen
   2. Tea and magnesium
   3. In bed at 10 pm
   4. Lights out at 10.30 pm
   5. Sleep quality:
      1. Dark room
      2. Quiet
      3. Read fiction before sleeping
8. What resources (books, philosophies, apps, sensory toys) do you find most helpful for productivity and habit formation?
   1. Fiction
      1. “In the blood”
      2. “Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy”
   2. “Get it done” by Joe Rogan to help clean kitchen
   3. “The war of art”
   4. Rich Rolls podcast
   5. Woop
   6. Neil Pettris: “You are awesome”
9. Where can people connect with you or find your work?
   1. macqueendan.com
   2. macqueendan on socials (Instagram)
10. Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
    1. It’s not what happens to you, it’s how you respond to it that matters

Joey’s creativity course