Quick tools for coping with off-routine days?

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My daughter has been sick home sick all week, my neck has gone out, and her school concert is tonight! I'm missing my third day of work this week, and I'm so thrown by the repeated alterations from my expected itinerary that my brain has ceased to cope. I can't even figure out how to shower, let alone go buy my daughter pretty shoes for the concert.

Anyone have any tips on how to keep functioning on those days when you find yourself having to "just wing it" through everything?


(FYI: Diagnosed this week with non-verbal learning disability, and possibly ADHD.)

Wow does this ever sound like my life recently. I was going to say get off the computer and just go do it, but glad I checked your posting history first. Turns out you haven't been on WP since MAY!!

But I suppose that doesn't mean you haven't been online elsewhere. If you have, the first thing I'll suggest is shut the computer off.

If that's not the case, what about the TV?

Those are the first two culprits that start interfering with me when my schedule gets messed up by kids out of school, because I don't know what else to do with myself at first.

All I can think is ask yourself exactly what's distracting you from doing what you need to, and shut it off, close it, or whatever you have to do to get rid of the distractions.

Get a towel, go into the bathroom, turn on the water, undress and get in the shower. Once you get in there, you'll figure out the rest. It's like riding a bike.

I know what you mean though. I get stuck too. The only solution I've ever found that works sounds so stupid it's undoable, but it's the only one there is.

Just go do it!

I'd add one thing to Mr. Xxx's advice: if and when you can, give yourself a sensory "treat". Walking out in the woods helps me clear my head, all that fresh air and exercise and nature. Or listening to just the right music. Most of what works for me, though, is food. Steak and cheese subs have a calming effect on me. I'm not suggesting the exact same things will necessarily work for you, but the point is to learn to notice the little inputs that have positive effects, and then make good use of them. That's probably too late to save you this time, but it might help in the future, when you've had time to figure out what will work.

why didn't that occur to me? FOOD! Yeah make sure you EAT! Now I wonder why I didn't thi...


oooOOOOOoooooh!!

'Scuse me I gotta go!

I have duplicates of stuff like toothbrushes and toothpaste stashed at work and in different rooms around the house so that I can at least appear well-groomed even if my son does put my toothbrush in the toilet or my husband decides he has to use the bathroom right when I get ready to shower.

Certain pieces of music can help me to shift my mental experience. They're ones I know well and particularly like for both the rhythm and the lyrics.

Thanks! I hadn't thought of any of these things; I'll have to try them.

The TV is definitely a problem on days my daughter is home sick. And eating is always a problem for me.

Many years ago when I was in bad shape dealing with my aspie problems (in the days before Asperger's was a Dx) I had a Chinese psychiatrist (here in Canada, I've never been to China) helping me with my overwhelming anxiety and panic attacks.

He was big on, and taught me, meditation. It's been my life saver. It took a lot of practice to get somewhat good at it though.

I've walked the paths of the oriental garden that I can visualize in my head - many, many times. It always brings comfort and I hope it always will.

I have the same problem when I take vacation time from work. The first week off is highly stressful because my routine is not the same. I brought this concern up with my therapist. She suggested that, before taking time off, I make a schedule for myself for that time in writing. The idea is to limit the feeling of, i guess the word would be perceived chaos, when my routine is changed due to no work. I haven't tried this yet but I plan to do so for the upcoming two weeks I will be off work for holiday season.