Autism Lifehacks
For those identified late in life
I was not (self-)diagnosed with ASD until almost 38, so I was not aware of some of the more common tips. I have included some of those here, but I have also tried to include more unique accommodations I have made for myself. Some of these are things I have been doing since before I knew I was autistic, but now I understand why I do them. They may not all work for you, but here are some ideas:
- Sleep outside. I realize not everyone has the means, but if you have a yard, pitch a tent and sleep out there all summer — and winter too if you are more committed than me! The nighttime sounds can serve as automatic white noise, making it easier to fall asleep. It helps me get up with the sun and wake more easily. If you struggle with sleep but sleeping outside is not for you, consider other alternate sleeping arrangements. I have tried sleeping on the floor, the couch, and in a hammock.
- Mini trampoline at your standing desk if you work from home. This is great for long meetings when your camera is off. I have tried one of those balance boards and even balancing on a Pilates roller, but I find the trampoline more tolerable for longer periods of time. Plus, I try to take mini-breaks for exercise throughout the day, and this sets me up to do it effortlessly! Anything that helps me move a bit improves my workday. When not in use, the trampoline can easily lean against the wall and make space for my chair to come back.
- Creative seating. Speaking of chairs, if you are like me and don’t like them, you can opt out! Regular chairs can feel so stifling to me, like I am trapped in one position. For work, swap your standard office chair with an alternate kind of chair or an exercise ball. At home, I like to be either up high or down low. In my dining room, I prefer stools because I can dangle my legs and swivel. In my living room, I have floor cushions so I can sit however I feel or even recline. Recently I went to a bar that had swings for chairs, and while they would not be easy to install in a house, it gave me new seating goals.
- Chew gum. Gum is like a trampoline for your mouth! For those who find the idea of chew toys for adult humans off-putting, gum is just fine. I buy it in bulk and keep some in my purse, car, and office, and it allows me to stim in a way that doesn’t draw attention to myself.
- Lion pose. While there is nothing wrong with the resting bitch face that many of us have, there are times when I want to look friendly. When I am in public and feel the need to “reset” my facial expression, I will duck into a bathroom and stretch my face. I usually raise my eyebrows, open my eyes wide, open my mouth all the way and stick out my tongue. It looks insane, but my face feels more relaxed when I walk out the door and smiling feels more natural.
- Earplugs. I like the Loop Engage because they almost look like jewelry — you can match the silver or gold to your earrings, or choose from a number of other colors. They come in a little case you can attach to a keyring, so you’ll always have them with you. I wear the Engage model to reduce the background noise in loud settings like restaurants where I still want to be able to hear the conversation at my table.
- Tinted glasses. So far I have only tried pink tint, but I just ordered some blue tint glasses. It feels a little silly wearing what amounts to sunglasses inside a bright restaurant, but if that is what you end up doing anyway, you may as well get some designed for light sensitivity as they are not quite as dark. Plus, if you wear glasses for vision correction, this is the way to go. I wear mine onstage when I do stand-up because I can think better when I am not overwhelmed by the bright lights, and it has become part of my signature look.
- TSA Cares. I have a hard time with the sensory input and spatial processing aspects of airport security. TSA Cares is a program in the US that provides assistance to travelers through the security screening. “TSA Cares” seems like a hilarious oxymoron, but in my experience, it is actually helpful. The program tends to be hit-or-miss, though, so I am planning to sign up for TSA Precheck for those times when TSA Cares fails to come through.
While there are few resources for autistic adults, hopefully these lifehack ideas inspire you to find some that work for your individual needs.