Ahmado

What’s up, I’m Ahmado. I’m a graduate student living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Thanks for taking an interest to learn more about me - I tried to make this brief!

As far as I can remember, I have struggled with low energy, being disoriented, having trouble focusing on and prioritizing tasks, and getting things done quickly.

My senses, especially visual, would often overwhelm me, causing shutdowns and meltdowns. As a result, things that others take for granted, such as going to a conference or a social events, would leave me completely unable to function at work the next day.

Despite these learning and sensory challenges, I would always strive to attain the same standard of life as my peers. I worked hard to be able to handle a full courseload and achieved all A's or A+'s in my undergrad, subsequently landing into grad school. I have held down jobs in the past, but not without my attention and energy creating barriers, which was reflected in my bosses' feedback and sometimes being let go. Compounding that was the fact that I have simply not been wired for relationships and socializing has never come easily to me.

As a result of wanting to succeed so badly despite these challenges, I have become obsessed with self-improvement. Some measures I have instilled in my quest for self-optimization have been journalling, a relatively rigid routine, strong boundaries, meticulous collection of data on my own behaviour, weightlifting almost every day, and dietary cognitive enhancements; namely, the ketogenic diet. I have been doing keto for several months now and am just starting to notice clear increases in my productivity and focus. I have noticed boundless energy and an improved ability to cope with all sorts of stressors, including sensory. Others who know me, such as my supervisor, have also noticed this change.

Besides, being able to fast is extremely handy when it comes to working full-time. For instance, fasting has allowed me to skip lunches to take extra time for paperwork. Not worrying about eating all the time has been a huge relief and I am looking forward to what is yet to come.

Right now, I am focusing on surviving on a tight budget while finishing my thesis, taking a break from the work world. If you are interested, I have included a link to my research website on this page.

Part of me wishes I could continue being an ethical vegan, but unfortunately, I could not bring my functioning up to an optimal level