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Routine - conscious effort or not?

Jay

Hi all

Firstly I'm sorry if this exact question has been asked before but I can't find anything exactly like it myself. 

For context, I am a 45 year old male currently seeking referral for Autism assessment.

My question is whether people here who have specific routines in their lives have developed these without consciously thinking about it or whether they have realised that having a routine helps them to feel calmer and have purposely set out to find routine and order.  The reason I'm asking is that I am desperate to escape the anxiety that has been holding me back for most of my life and if I can try to build in some certainty then I think it might help.  I have found little things like going to the library in my lunch breaks and completing a bit of the jigsaw puzzle they have there help.  It's something to look forward to I guess.  If I don't do it I feel worse. I have also been improving my mornings and recording whether I manage to stick to the schedule I have set.  If I do, it means I have time for breakfast every day.  I already have certain rituals and set ways of doing certain tasks that have just developed over time without effort but not to the extent of a routine that gives direction to my days. 

The obvious answer is that if I find something helpful then I should just do it but I find it very difficult to work out where my anxiety comes from or what out of the various things I am doing or are happening to me are helping or hindering my progress.  I would appreciate any perspectives on what has helped others or how you see routine, good or bad.

Thanks for any insights,

Jay  

Parents

  • I previously thought that the 'routines' part of autism didn't apply to me. I find it hard to stick to a steady predictable pattern with work/eat/sleep/excercise. I find myself consciously thinking about every step of the day, never going on autopilot, and alternating between exhausting myself and then crashing.

    However, I've realised that it's much better for my stress/anxiety levels when I do stick to routines so I'm trying to do more of this.

Reply

  • I previously thought that the 'routines' part of autism didn't apply to me. I find it hard to stick to a steady predictable pattern with work/eat/sleep/excercise. I find myself consciously thinking about every step of the day, never going on autopilot, and alternating between exhausting myself and then crashing.

    However, I've realised that it's much better for my stress/anxiety levels when I do stick to routines so I'm trying to do more of this.

Children
  • in reply to BassFace

    Hi, thanks for replying, that's really interesting.  I had thought everyone who is autistic just automatically had these routines and that if I had to work at it then I can't be autistic.  If I accept that having some routines helps my mental health then I will try to work at them. 

    I have no idea what would happen If I went on autopilot.  I would probably sit in front of the TV watching Star Trek and forgetting to eat or drink!

    I love your username by the way.  I played guitar (v badly) as a kid and had a friend who had a bass and I used to prefer playing it to my 6 string as it's so much fun popping and slapping the strings!  I think I'm going to play Mother's milk by the Chilli's now!

    I appreciate the reply. 

    Jay