I’m very much a “the show must go on” kind of person.
I think being on the autistic spectrum made that kind of unwavering schedule comforting.
Because no matter what else was going on, the show would start at the time the show would start. And rehearsals were at the time rehearsals usually were.
Every day.
And you were frowned upon for being late! (Which made it even easier to stick to the schedule.)
I quickly learned to live the rest of my life around that schedule – anything other than show or rehearsals that needed to happen in life, happened around those times. And at those times I, and everyone in my life, knew exactly where I was.
As a writer on the autistic spectrum, I’ve found that a similar routine, a king of “show must go on” attitude, plays a vital role in supporting my weekly work.
The predictability and structure of a well-defined routine help me manage my time effectively and maintain focus on my writing goals.
Autism isn’t merely a disorder or a collection of deficits, but rather a different way of perceiving and interacting with the world.
For me, being autistic is like my nervous system has fewer filters, and I absorb so much information about the world around me, that it quickly becomes overwhelming.
The busier it is, the faster I smack into that overwhelm threshold.
When my body is drowning in processing sensory stimuli, I almost feel like a different person. I have personality changes that rival those I get when the anaemia is bad.
I’m spending so many mental, physical and psychological resources on just getting through the day that my creative side is often buried underneath and becomes inaccessible.
The longer it goes on, I also become increasingly introverted and introspective – I lose my bridge to the outside world.
I had this issue in school when I was being bullied and was absent for several weeks.
Even after the bullying had ended, I had retreated into a shell and rarely even sought contact with the outside world around me. It wasn’t until I started the healing process (mostly from being around and working with horses) that I finally began to rebuild that bridge, and seek connection.
Unwavering routine became my ultimate form of self-management.
And it’s served me well.
Becoming good at managing myself, cultivate my personal energy, by recognising my triggers and the things that overwhelm and drain me (as well as understanding what ways of working make me truly productive), I’ve been able to cultivate skills critical for someone who’s self-employed.
By establishing a consistent routine, I create a stable environment that minimises unexpected disruptions and sensory overload, allowing me to channel my energy and creativity into my creative work.
Deadlines help me channel my energy in a way that is productive and because I like to batch my work, medium-length deadlines work best for me.
(Too short and I’m overwhelmed with panic and stress, too long and I lost interest and focus. Talk about Goldilocks, eh?)
Having a set schedule for my creative work helps me establish a rhythm and flow in my work.
Knowing when and where I will be working on what (writing, drawing, doing other tasks) provides me with a sense of stability and control, reducing anxiety and allowing me to fully immerse myself in the creative process.
By adhering to a routine, I can create a dedicated space and time for my writing, which fosters productivity and enhances my overall experience.
With a clear routine in place, I can break down my writing projects into manageable steps, ensuring that I allocate sufficient time and effort to each one.
Routine also acts as a buffer against sensory overload.
By incorporating sensory-friendly elements into my writing routine, such as using headphones to drown out the world around me, and creating a quiet and clutter-free workspace, I create an environment that supports my focus and concentration.
While routine is a valuable tool for balancing creative work and life, it’s essential to strike a balance between structure and flexibility.
I’ve learned to adapt my routine to accommodate unexpected events or changing priorities, because life is unpredictable. This flexibility allows me to maintain the benefits of routine while still being open to necessary adjustments.
I usually get around “anomalies” in the routine, by scheduling them into my calendar.
And yes, I schedule them as Anomalies. I allocate a time-slot to them during which I know that the routine will be out of whack.
This helps me to cognitively manage that break in routine better, because my brain knows that the time is allocated for the Anomaly, and that after the Anomaly is over, things go back to normal.
This sounds nonsensical to people who don’t struggle with breaking routine, but it helps me.
My routine provides me with stability, predictability, and a sense of control, allowing me to effectively manage my time and maintain focus on my creative goals.
Ultimately, time is that one thing that I can’t get more of which makes it ever more important to manage my time, what I focus on and where I put my effort.
I incorporate routine into my creative process so that I can navigate the challenges of being on the neurodivergent spectrum while harnessing my creativity and achieving success as a creative.
Want to get more out of reading books?
Grab this FREE guide on how to start a reading journal, complete with review templates, reading trackers and bingo sheets.
Understand yourself better as a reader, engage more with the books you read & make space for creative self-expression. Get it now!
“When Sasha Barrett gets bitten by a snake on a mission, her squad captain’s quick actions not only save her life, but also make her realise something she may have known all along…“
