Published on 12, July, 2020
Has anyone got any good life hacks to help manage autism? I use bullet journaling, fiddle things and noise cancelling headphones atm.
Has anyone tried the flare audio earplug things to help with noise sensitivity when it needs to be discrete? I have tried the loop ones but find them too big for me.
Hi, I'm just starting out with finding out what works for me. I've stared collecting soft stim things that I have on my desk and at work. I bought a big bag of faux fur pompoms from Amazon.
I use a journal to plan what I need to do and to makes notes of what I have done. I've split my tasks into fun things, necessary things (like to the laundry, book that appointment) and health/wellbeing. This way I can see if my days are unbalanced and plan to add more of what I need to my week. It also helps me to look back and see that difficult times did pass and often they passed pretty quickly.
I don't use noise cancelling headphones so I cant advise. My work has been having lots of building work done which is very loud, I've been using my regular in-ear headphones to take the edge off, I just stick the wires in my pocket. It works for me because I can still hear people if they try to talk to me. Probably not useful at all for you since it sound like you want more noise exclusion than that.
I also find that being honest with myself and others about what I need helps. Easier said than done sometimes but its little things like telling my hair dresser that I don't want a head massage, saying no thanks to work lunches, asking the doctor to clarify timescales and all the steps of a treatment, going to bed at half 8 on work nights, eating that one same food again because you cant handle anything else at that moment. Most people I find don't need to be told that I'm autistic or have an explanation of why I need an adjustment, I just ask for what I want or don't want. I know that's not true in all cases but it is always worth a try.
MelonCauliflower said: have an explanation of why I need an adjustment,
We don't have to do it, as long as top manager knows about you're being autistic you can refer them to him/her, and tell them it was agreed with him/her. Though I know it might be hard not to
Yes, that's a good way to do it.