30 Days of Autism Acceptance: 23
April 23rd: How specific is your routine? Does it vary slightly from day to day? Do things have to be at the exact same time, or does just the order matter? How important is having a routine to you?
I have a lot of trouble with executive function, so having a routine is absolutely essential for me. When something becomes a routine, it has become a habit, which means I’m much more likely to get it done. Consistently completing a task on time builds a habit; completing that task on time at the same time every time builds a routine.
I love routines because I don’t have to think about them. I just do them. I know what I need to do, and my body can just do it while my mind wanders. Scheduling things is very important to me. I like to map out my day pretty minutely, so that I know what I should be doing at any given time. I get anxious when I don’t know what I should be doing.