My understanding is that most people have difficulties with planning and organizing. We all have. I would like to know what you think are the difficulties that would be more ASD than NT when it come to this:
I once talked with a professional, one that studied the psychology of this topic, who said that a lot of the stereotypes telling us that people with ASD love routine and having very concrete plans. Many people with ASD actually don't love routone that much. Some say that having a concrete olan can ames thing very difficult as such olans can make one very inflexible.
My experience is that people with ASD difficulties seem to find the advice: plan more in your life bad as planning is difficult.
When people make concrete plans on how to do something they can get stuck and not be able to change a plan if something turns out differently than what they planned for.
What are your experiences with this?
What do people want when asking for help?
This topic has a few perspectives and approaches. One has to be cautious with reading the medical and psychological research on autism,...context is extremely important. Infant, child, teen, young adult, mature adult, elderly? ASD-1, 2, or 3? Complicated with co-morbidities? The details of the study are critically important and the conclusions can only be attributed to the specific context and study population,...therefore, may not apply to other contexts and populations. Clearly, in my own life, I have gone through many stages and phases,...and at each point, I was autistic,...but different in some way.
At work, there is a combination of routine (known order of tasks) and chaos (unforeseen, random events that often pull you away from your routine). Life is like this, as well. The key is having a goal to reach. There will always be forces that pull you off your path, but keeping your eyes forward on your goals will also pull you back onto your path. I think this is helpful to remember whether it is getting through a day of work, or having some long term goal such as completing an educational degree, or saving money for a home, car, vacation, whatever. Now day-to-day things,...sure, you can "vegetate" for part of a day,...doing it right now, in fact,...it's a day away from work,....but I have things I need to get done today, as well.
It is not uncommon to have anxiety,...basically, this is a fear of some unknown future. Having a plan and a goal is helpful,...it sets you on your path,...but also realize that there may be more than one path to a goal. Sometimes the path is wide open, clearly visible,...and other paths,...narrow, a bit foggy and nebulous. Often it is also helpful to have some "contingency" plan, or an algorithm,...an "If this, then that" plan. If you've ever driven you vehicle to a known location many times,...then one day, the construction crew is out there doing road repair, and you are forced to detour around, using another path,...it's much like this. You still make it to your location,...probably took you out of your way and took longer,...but you still made it.
Routines are helpful, they tend to reduce anxieties, in general. However, you can't get yourself "locked in",...you can't set them in concrete,... the unknowns, the chaos, the detours will present themselves. You just have to pivot and keep moving.
As far as stereotypes with regards to ASD vs NT and routines,...I think it is just that,...a stereotype. I have many NT's in my life (family, friends, co-workers),...and I know for sure that they are often more stuck in their routines and have more anxiety about them than I do. Are there individuals with ASD that are just mired in their routines and loose their emotional composure when presented with unknowns, chaos, and detours? Probably,...but surely doesn't represent all people with ASD.
As I am understanding more about ASD, in general, I am of the current theory that those with higher intellects are better able to cope with their ASD behavioral tendencies, sensory issues, communication difficulties, can mask better, etc. As such, are less likely to outwardly present as autistic. A bit of a double-edged sword,...good in some respects,...bad in others.
