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Lack of daily routine

Deleted User

Does anyone have difficulty with having a lack of routine? I'm ok when I'm in work or have commitments but otherwise I seem to flim flam around. I notice other people are able to productively relax (eg I'm going to sit and watch a film then I'm going to do a work out) whereas I feel I act more on a whim. I'm getting some help to establish a better routine outside of working days because of a non autism related issue.  They've left me just to get on with it and plan myself which is fine because I know I need help with this but I feel there's an element of demand to it now. It's hard for me to establish a routine and very easy for it to unravel. Can anyone relate to it? 

Parents

  • I know that routines are often helpful for autistic people but I have a strong urge to shun them.

    It took me years to get out of having to conform to a routine but now I am bored and lonely because everyone else is so tied up in their routine that there is little scope for spontaneity in life. 

    From a point of view of both Marxist revolution, and unexpected romantic adventure, this is clearly discouraging.

Reply

  • I know that routines are often helpful for autistic people but I have a strong urge to shun them.

    It took me years to get out of having to conform to a routine but now I am bored and lonely because everyone else is so tied up in their routine that there is little scope for spontaneity in life. 

    From a point of view of both Marxist revolution, and unexpected romantic adventure, this is clearly discouraging.

Children
  • in reply to Deepcake

    I also shun routines. This is  because I have realised that the upset caused when a routine is, unavoidably, broken, is of far greater impact than is the soothing effect of any routine that runs to completion.

  • in reply to Deepcake
    Deepcake said:
    I know that routines are often helpful for autistic people but I have a strong urge to shun them.

    Snap! This was one reason it took me a while to be sure I was autistic! I think for me the desire to shun routine is a combo of ADHD and demand avoidance. Also there is a huge massive ginormous difference between routines imposed by others (having to get up at 7am to get to school) and routines one has self-chosen (I now like waking up at 7am! Although at this time of year it slips closer to 8 as it is so dark.)

  • in reply to Deepcake

    There's part of me that thinks just cos other people have routine why am I putting pressure on myself to have one. Just cos other people do. But I feel as humans we do need an element of routine in our day. It's just in this day and age we are governed by alarm clocks and work etc instead of our natural circadian rhythms and instincts.