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What do you do every day if you don't work?

Paradox

I spend every day at home, doing the same stuff, over and over. I like it from the routine point of view as any break to my routine causes me shut/meltdown but it's samey and I've watched all my movies, read all my books and played all my video games, though games I enjoy doing over and over. I used to spend a lot of time writing but had a mental health breakdown in 2020 and I lost my creative thinking during that period, and it hasn't come back yet.

I feel I'm in a rut and I don't know what to do about it. I was going out to the library every Friday but the library is now closed permanently, I live in a small rural village, what my mum calls an old fashioned English village and the library was only small and too "expensive" to keep, sadly for me. I struggle with mobility but now the weather is picking up I've been making an effort to go in the garden, at least then I'm out and enjoying the fresh air and any wildlife that exists in the garden.

My family are supportive but they don't understand autism and I'm under a lot of pressure to get a job. My dad thinks it will cure me.

What do you do each day? Sorry rant over.

Looking for things to fill my time.

  • I love model making and watching TV shows i can watch TV shows for hours each day. I play video games occasionally and my dog gets me outside walking. I used to like going the gym but avoid them now but still need to start excercise again which is hard to start. I also like to eat a lot which tends to be chicken and rice most of the time. Roll on retirement haha 

  • Jigsaws and lego have worked well for both myself and when I've bought them for others. Also helps that you can do them on those grey and wet days.

    I also work on little passion projects, DIY, building things, etc.

  • Dear Paradox, 

    Thank you for sharing with our Online Community.

    We have 115 volunteer-led branches across the UK. Our hard-working volunteers run support, information and social activities for autistic adults, children and their families in their local area. They also organise and join in with fundraising and campaigning. Find out more by searching for a branch near you: https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/local-branches 

    We also have volunteer-led online branches for autistic people to reach out and seek peer support for a shared interest, identity or experience: https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/branches/online 

    In addition, you can try searching on our Autism Services Directory for support and social groups in your local area. 

    I hope this is helpful. 

    Kind Regards,
    Rosie Mod

  • in reply to Lotus

    I love my kindle subscription too, for me it's a life saver, I've found so many new authors. Do you have a mobile library that comes by?

    I don't play games so I can't help there. 

    I have a dog who I sometimes refer to as my physiotherapy helper, as she needs to walk everday and so do I she makes me get up and go out, luckily she dosen't like rain and wind so we don't go out when it's blowing a hooley. I also garden when the neighbours aren't being too noisy.

    If having a job cures autism and all sort of other conditions and illness, I wonder why there are so many sick people in employment?

  • I read a lot, I have a kindle unlimited subscription which is £9.49 a month and allows me to borrow a huge range of books. When I run out of games to play I check what's available on the Xbox game pass subscription, which offers a lot of games for £14.99 a month.

  • Hi Paradox, I am currently off work...not sure if I will be going back. I spend a chunk of time looking after the house, doing various household chores. Always try and get outside, usually for a walk and sometimes a run. I love my PC games, so try and squeeze that in somewhere in the day. Preparing meals, I don't mind a bit of cooking although tend to make the same things :) Watch some TV mostly in the evenings, maybe listen to some books on audible. I don't tend to leave the homestead much especially at the moment, hopefully when Im feeling a bit braver I can get back to visiting castles, other historic places etc. 

    My big passion is writing which sounds like yourself, I am going through a similar spell but would hope I can pick it back up again, although it does become all consuming which scares me a little...one day I will finish that fantasy epic!

  • Welcome to the community.

    I am sorry to hear your library has closed down.  Is there any possibility you could find your way to a library in a bigger town?  I obviously don't know if you have transport.  Is there a bus service, can you ride a bike or do you drive?    Is there a mobile library that visits certain locations?

    Clearly getting out into the fresh air, whether it be the garden, or further afield is a good idea.  Is it possible you could take some walks in your local area?  

    Another possibility is that you could speak to your GP about social prescribing, which essentially matches people with groups & activities in their local area.  

    https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/#:~:text=Social%20prescribing%20is%20an%20all,needs%20which%20affect%20their%20wellbeing.

    This might present opportunities to try something new, and to meet new people in the process

    If you are still troubled by mental health difficulties, then you would be entitled to refer yourself to Primary Care for some talking therapy.  This can be a useful option for many people.  Again your GP can also assist with this. 

    Good Luck. 

  • I have to look for work everyday because my universal credit claimant commitment insists I do and I have update my universal credit journal every day, if I didn't I wouldn't get paid.

    On Mondays I go to the specialist autism services centre to learn social skills.

    I go for walks.

    I go on day trips by coach or train. These include organised ones and on my own.

    I read, I have a small library of academic books so I keep my skills fresh and learn more every day.

    I clean and cook and eat and shop.

    I go out to do landscape photography. 

    I watch tv and my massive dvd library.

    I worry about my future,   I'm terified that when I die nobody will notice that I'm gone and my body will be found months or years later mummified, when debt collectors or bailiffs break down my door to evict me.