Plan “buffer days” before and after large events where you can do nothing, or whatever sounds good, preferably in a calm and subdued environment where there is little being asked of you. There are no rules for buffer days! Just do whatever feels good, whenever it feels good.

In small ways and big ways. The purpose of stimming is to dispel pent up energy that builds up from an overactive nervous system. If we don’t stim, the energy keeps building and building. I keep small fidgets in my purse, backpack, car, junk drawer, and desk. It always helps to keep my hands moving. But the true focus here is on reintegrating large stims back into your life. If you were late-diagnosed like me, chances are that you also trained yourself out of doing normal autistic things like rocking, bouncing, flapping, etc. But large stims are so important to life on the spectrum. Start regularly creating time to dance, jump, rock, bounce and flap the day away. Then take note of how your body feels after you do these things. Spoiler alert: You will feel better!