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Not being able to "Switch Off"

savi83

savi83

Well-Known Member
I really enjoy my job as it involves a lot of researching and planning, that much so that I tend to continue after work and on my days off.

My family think that I will end up burning myself out and that I'm not able to switch off from work. They talk about television soaps or gossip, which doesn't appeal to me.

Has anyone been accused of "Not being able to Switch Off"?
 
Yeah i used to be like that, still am at times...! What im focusing on becomes an obsession and is my dominant thought.. Learning now that theres other things more important. ..! I know its hard to switch off mate.. :)
 
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savi83 said:
I really enjoy my job as it involves a lot of researching and planning, that much so that I tend to continue after work and on my days off.

My family think that I will end up burning myself out and that I'm not able to switch off from work. They talk about television soaps or gossip, which doesn't appeal to me.

Has anyone been accused of "Not being able to Switch Off"?
Click to expand...
I Can tell you something will switch you off, for my mother it was Lou Gehrigs disease or a.l.s
 
So much so that it was very early in my life I realized that I had to keep my passions to myself.

And still do even among the tiny number of people in my orbit who don't want to listen to me talk about anything but what they want to talk about. And even then only on their terms- never mine.

Just one of many reasons for choosing to live in relative isolation.
 
savi83 said:
I really enjoy my job as it involves a lot of researching and planning, that much so that I tend to continue after work and on my days off.

My family think that I will end up burning myself out and that I'm not able to switch off from work. They talk about television soaps or gossip, which doesn't appeal to me.

Has anyone been accused of "Not being able to Switch Off"?
Click to expand...

Worrying about not being able to Switch Off? DUDE! Consider yourself lucky that you got a job that you love and pays you to do what you love. Most people can't said that for the jobs they have. If you can handle it, I say ask you boss if you can put in more hours so you can make more money.
 
I like what I like, and when I like things, I like them A LOT.

As long as you are enjoying yourself and not overdoing. The people giving you a hard time about it can't imagine enjoying work that much :)
 
I am very lucky because my special interest and my work are the same. So, I never "switch off". I spend a lot of my recreational time doing the same thing that I do my work time. The problem is that new things catch my interest all the time. This means that I all ways have several projects going at once.

Like FreeDiver and WereBear, I do not see this as a problem. I see this as having a happy and interesting life.
 
All the time :confused:

I consider hyper-focus and obsession among the perks of aspergers!

When I get into a special project, either through work or at home, then I work on it ALL THE TIME. Sometimes day and night, weekends, during lunch, every waking minute. I've had many special projects, the work ones have served me well financially and the home ones I have enjoyed. I once had post natal depression and so became obsessed with neuroscience. I really enjoyed that.

And they might be right about burn out, I've burned out at least 5 times. I just deal with it when it comes up now. When it starts, I now recognize the symptoms, which for me is constant fatigue, irritability, tachycardia and uncharacteristic emotion turns, lots of tears. When it happens then I try to sleep more, exercise, eat healthy and throw myself into a computer game. After a few months I bounce back stronger and resume whatever research I was conducting.

I sometimes try to "switch off", but it is still forced. I put on really BIG headphones and read a book, or watch a marvel film or play a computer game. But it is still an effort and my version of "switching off" is very different to everyone I know. I can't sit in a bar with a drink and I can't watch soap operas or sports. Even my "switching off" is focused and deliberate.

So I wouldn't worry about what other people think you should be doing, thank them for caring, tell them you appreciate their concern and have taken their opinions on board, smile and nod, and figure out what works for you.
 
I couldn't care less about keeping up with so many of the "serial" TV and cable shows, most of the TV I watch is more of the documentary variety... I couldn't care less about who won "America Has Talent" or "Big Brother"... I've only ever watched one episode of "Survivor", I think the first one they ever broadcast, I didn't care after that...

My point? I probably will be out of touch with the typical small talk, do I care? Heck no!

I've learned to be myself and my unusual interests, long before I even thought of whether or not I have Asperger's
 
If your obsession is something from work, it doesn't matter as long as you are enjoying the project. If it isn't work, there will probably always be a special obsession. Seems that's the way we are here.
Burn out may happen, but, you recover. I've come to realise some people will always make remarks and think me weird. But, starting at a young age I learned not to care. Make your own kind of music. True saying.
 
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