These are the cards that form the micro-pattern card library. They are free for people who have provided their email.
Distinguishing sustainable effort from burnout trajectory Builds: Sustainable WorkTrains: Metacognition, Situational Awareness What this feels like when it’s working You can tell the difference between productive stretch and unsustainable push. You recognise early when your current pace won’t last and adjust before reaching depletion. Use this when You’re uncertain whether your current pace is sustainable…
Rest as part of the system, not failure to maintain pace Builds: Sustainable WorkTrains: Systems Thinking, Resilience What this feels like when it’s working Recovery is scheduled and protected like any other important activity. You rest proactively instead of collapsing when depleted. Rest feels like strategic capacity maintenance, not weakness. Use this when You’re skipping…
What’s the smallest version you can maintain? Builds: Sustainable WorkTrains: Metalearning, Systems Thinking What this feels like when it’s working You maintain practices at a sustainable level instead of oscillating between intense effort and complete dropout. Your baseline feels easy enough to maintain even on difficult days. Use this when You’re setting ambitious practice goals…
Building based on realistic energy, not optimistic expectations Builds: Sustainable WorkTrains: Systems Thinking, Metacognition What this feels like when it’s working Your plans reflect actual capacity instead of ideal capacity. You build schedules that account for real energy patterns, recovery needs, and typical disruptions. Use this when You’re planning based on peak performance and perfect…
Letting non-critical things remain undone Builds: Intentional Decision-MakingTrains: Cognitive Flexibility, Situational Awareness What this feels like when it’s working You can let less important things stay incomplete without guilt or anxiety. You protect time and energy for what matters most even when other things are pulling for attention. Use this when You feel obligated to…
Stating limits clearly without over-explaining Builds: Intentional Decision-MakingTrains: Situational Awareness, Resilience What this feels like when it’s working You can state what works and doesn’t work for you directly and briefly. Your boundaries feel clear to others because you communicate them without excessive justification or softening. Use this when You’re about to say no but…
Sitting with tension instead of rushing to resolution Builds: Intentional Decision-MakingTrains: Resilience, Cognitive Flexibility What this feels like when it’s working You can hold uncertainty and competing options without rushing to decide just to relieve the discomfort. You let decisions ripen until clarity emerges naturally. Use this when You feel pressure to decide immediately even…
Does this support what matters most right now? Builds: Intentional Decision-MakingTrains: Situational Awareness, Metacognition What this feels like when it’s working You can evaluate opportunities and requests against your actual priorities. You say no to good things when they don’t serve what matters most right now. Use this when You’re considering an opportunity that sounds…
“If I say yes to this, I’m saying no to…” Builds: Intentional Decision-MakingTrains: Analytical Thinking, Systems Thinking What this feels like when it’s working You see decisions as trade-offs, not isolated choices. You understand that saying yes to one thing means saying no to something else, and you choose with both sides visible. Use this…
Creating space between request and response Builds: Intentional Decision-MakingTrains: Metacognition, Cognitive Flexibility What this feels like when it’s working You can hear requests without immediately committing. The space between “I hear you” and “yes” feels natural, giving you room to consider capacity and priorities. Use this when You’re saying yes automatically before considering whether you…
