How do I not stim so much?!

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The other day when I picked up my wife one of the the first things she asked me was "What did you do today?"

"...Well...I did the dishes...and...ummmm."

When I stim I pace back and forth incessantly while day dreaming so vividly that I get dizzy, and for the past week it's how I spent most of my time. Stimming is something I've done all my life, but lately it's become uncontrollable. I can't sit down. I can't relax. I can't get anything done, and boy do I have a lot to get done. I got to finish my novel, I got to research stocks, I got to clean the house, I got to go shopping, I got get those child proof plastic things to put in power outlets so the baby doesn't get electrocuted, I gotta get a crib, I gotta work on my memoir, gotta handle the estate I gotta call the Dr's oh crap I forgot to call the Dr's...

Someone help me stop stimming please!

Wow - I had a big rush of anxiety reading the list of things you have to get done! I tend to overwhelm myself with the long list of tasks and chores I have to do. I've adapted by dealing each day with the tasks I have to do on a daily basis and then at least one task that only has to get done once (like taxes, or planting berry plants, buying and installing child-proof outlet protectors, etc.). Then I'll take on another one-time task the next day. Once in awhile there's something that needs to get done immediately and I stress but choose an opportune moment to force myself to do it.

I used to get bullied for stimming when I was in school, and I developed a strategy for sort of minimizing it. Originally I would tap my fingers together, wag my leg or legs while sitting, blink so I could feel the eyelids, rock quickly backward and forward. In the face of criticism and ridicule, I learned by increments that I could do it in a hidden way. So I can rock so slightly that no one can see. Or if I'm in a meeting I can rub my thumb against my forefinger so that the motion is invisible, although I can feel it. Or I can rub my tongue against a tooth, which nobody can see. I can even just sort of do it inside my head, imagining things like wooden boards smacking against each other or chalkboard erasers being clapped together.

I don't think that just stopping stimming altogether is that helpful, though. If I'm nervous and I don't at least minimally stim, I can't focus, my verbal comprehension becomes impaired, and my sense of being an integrated being sort of evaporates. The one thing that has helped a lot in reducing my anxiety and need to stim is physical exercise. The exercise centers me, helps my focus, and also helps me feel like my body and mind are together in one place. I used to go on long walks outdoors and that helped in a similar way.

Well along the lines of your advice, my wife made a honey do list to keep me organized, so I got the floors cleaned, but I still feel compelled to stim too much. Rubbing the top of my mouth with my tongue isn't quite working for me.

Do weighted objects help you? Maybe something heavy that you could put around your shoulders to focus your thoughts?
Did you try the search function within this site?
I find setting time limits for chores and for breaks helps me. I may not always adhere to them perfectly but at least I make progress.

Try to figure out some way to stim while being productive. I like to hit my knees against the bottom of the table while I study (gently).

Actually sounds like OCD, which is born out of anxiety. For me stimming occurs (rubbing my face vigorously) due to being over stimulated and need to calm. Dont ask me how rubbing my face helps, did it since I was 10.
Weighted backpack, about ten percent of your wieght is an excellent idea. You can also do heavy lifting, or work as another way. Running or walking may also help, calisthenics, etc.

Hey. Some interesting advice here.

The suggestion beady made about time limits has much merit. In a way it is attempting to harness the conscious mind to gain control over reflexive actions. It can extend past time limits. For example, when I drove cross country, I found I would be inclined to smoke too much. I devised a limit of one cigarette for every 40 miles, which helped me cut back.

One can use such scheduling to begin to take control (even in small steps). Once can also see in face touching, rubbing fingers together (much like Greek "worry beads"), and foot tapping, excess neural energy being diverted into the physical realm to bleed off some that might hinder normal function.

I find that the more stressed I get, the more I spend time daydreaming as a way of escaping and coping. It's not intentional, it just happens.

You mentioned getting a crib- it could be that having a new baby is causing you extra stress which is why your mind is trying to escape. Would that be something that you can talk to your wife about? She might be stressing out about it too! Sharing your worries sometimes helps to dispel them a little. Also you can come up with specific plans about what your actual concerns are. Like if you are worried about the baby getting hurt, or being a parent, or whatever. Or https://www.amazon.co.uk/Socket-Cover-Safety-Protector-Electrical/dp/B0713RP5LY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527360000&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+safe+plug+protectors (of course these are the UK version, but the thought is there.)

If you can identify the factors that are causing you stress and deal with them, one of time (writing a list is always fun), then you may find that you are more able to focus on the things that you need to get done.