Ideas for activities while recovering from burnout

Have you considered riding for the disabled? Or do you not feel disabled enough? I used to ride, so just sitting on a horse like a sack of spuds never really appealed to me, but I might be making assumptions what it would be like based on very little evidence, just seeing a few clips on TV. Although if they did hacking out rather than just plodding round a manege I might consider it! There are loads of outdoor activities aimed at people with mobility issues, I've done sailing, I wanted to try canoeing but that was a bit far from where I live. Sailing is quite relaxing and doesn't require much strength, if you get tired you can just sit in the boat while the helpers do the actual work! I used to like swimming but it is so tiring getting changed. Is there anywhere near you that teaches horse driving? Maybe less effort that actual riding but still outside with horses.

As for quiet indoor activities I can second crochet which someone else suggested, I found that very soothing and not too hard to learn when I had my burnout. Plus you can make useful things and even if you don't wear them yourself they can make nice gifts or charity donations, like tiny hats and clothes for premature babies, or blanket squares for refugees which you can send off and someone joins them up into blankets.

Or maybe cooking might be a good hobby, as you need to eat more and you might find that making your own food from scratch helped you find things you enjoy eating, you get to tweak the flavours to suit your own preferences. And it can be scientific, food science is quite interesting.

Try looking things up on youtube as well, the algorithm might throw up similar but different things which you hadn't thought of, and seeing people do the hobbies might be inspiring. Don't give up, it is definitely worth the struggle!

On a somewhat more constructive note - I found that time was the only real healer.  The tricky part is keeping yourself sane whilst the required time ticks by.  Personally, I walked....short bursts of inane polite chat with random people along the way....doesn't need to be anywhere or anything specific to walk to.  Although I love nature, I also found walking in a town or city restorative too.

I have reflected on why I found walking helpful and decided that it was probably something about "forward motion."  It feels like you are moving forwards.  It always restored my mood - back to crappy - which was an improvement of falling further behind in my recovery which is always a risk with burnouts.

I just meant medical professionals who prescribe it. Yes it shakes up the settled snow that is the snow globe of my brain! I think it's a matter of attention. Everything seems novel, that puts me totally in the present,  that stops the looping. Bliss!

I can relate to the love of gardening- I grew up with a large garden from when I was 9 and we used to seed our own plants like tomatos, zucchini, cucumber etc. 

I have an idea for one way to recuperate from burnout.......if you have access to Zoom withinin the next 15 minutes, and fancy watching a film with some of the other people from these pages - GALAXY QUEST (Funny, and has talking animals = always healthy)........why not join Ispergs Film Club.  The film starts in 15 minutes.

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Unknown said:

It's the constant rumination and looping

Tell me about it. Brain holiday is a great description; it's like the sensation of sound when you put your ears underwater, but for your brain. I'm still aware of the noise, but it's different - distorted and muted somehow. I only use in small amounts, like with alcohol, because I don't like being wasted, but I find that life is less overwhelming through the mist. Or I care less. Or both

Unknown said:

it'd need to be discussed with the medical professional

I'm not sure I know any that would give me a straight up answer or that would know enough about it, too be honest 

I think autism itself doesn't cause me any problems, it's the anxiety that does. It's the constant rumination and looping which I have difficulty with as well. I would think it'd be different for different people and it'd need to be discussed with the medical professional. My recent non prescribed use of it gave my brain a good holiday. It unlogged my head for a bit. I think it was a high in THC. I've never tried over the counter CBD. 

Hey I don’t know if this is the kind of thing you meant but Lego has really helped me when I experience burnout as it focuses the mind but isn’t to physically taxing, there’s also some really cool adult aimed sets available

Medical marijuana is an interesting topic. I know that ASD is on the list of "conditions" for prescription cannabis, but I wonder what behaviours one would have to display to qualify. I've read articles about aggressive or violent child autists being prescribed, but what about those who use it for less obvious reasons. For me, the THC is the important ingredient, CBD does not have the same brain slowing effect that I seek when facing burnout.

Any thoughts?

There's also turmeric, for joints. 

Project twenty 21 or whatever it is called could maybe assist with medical cannabis if anyone was that way inclined.

Cheap embroidery kit from aldi - you learn a new skill, it's repetitive and mindful. The outline is there so you don't have to think much. My mind wanders if I do colouring in. Classical music.  Meditation, yoga. Even doing these when I was in burnout made me anxious though. I now think it was a case of "if I'm doing it,  I need to do it correctly". I have a different mindset now. Crochet is strangely addictive. Whatever you do, you don't need to put pressure on yourself. If it means sleeping all day then just do it. It's time for your body and mind to recover. 

I find colouring helpful. If I want to have an end product I look for those that are also bookmarks or cards.

When the pandemic started  I was suffering from stress/ burnout. One thing that helped me relax was planting seeds. If you haven't got a garden you could choose quick, easy to grow seeds. I started about this time of the year starting them off indoors in trays, then moving to bigger pots using a lolly stick. 

JoInt issues 1:

My Nan sewed for her living and in her sixties the arthritus in her hands got too much to bear. God knows how, but she managed to find some stuff that restored her hands function and then allowed her to continue to work until her late eighties. Seatone capsules from Holland and barret. DO NOT SMELL THE CONTENTS OF THE CONTAINER if you try this...

Joint issues 2:

If it were legal I'd be recommending you get yourself some cannabis, it solves the lack of interest in eating problem, the what do I do with my time problem, and it confers a more peaceful and relaxed aspect onto it's users. Warning; for these reasons it can be savagely psychologically addictive. I.e. very easy to quit, but who would want to? For me, I don't get a better life by quitting cannabis, (which I do every so often for a while to remind myself that I do have a choice)  but when life gets better I find I use less of it. 

I was about to suggest neurographic art. There some YouTube videos on it. And it's focus is on reducing anxiety.

Zoe's suggestion also works just as well, and has been recognised to help reduce anxiety also.

Hope you find something that can create the distraction you need.