In the last few years, I have been recognizing that I as an autistic person struggle with transitioning from one activity to the next. It can take me some time to understand and recognize the need to stop doing what I am doing and start to navigate myself to what I need to do to move forward the next activity.

It is not so much when things are in accordance with a scheduled transition such as getting ready to go somewhere or prepare to head home from work or day services, although that can sometimes make me anxious because of uncertainty, but I am working more on that as I am still in this journey of self-discovery. It can take some time to regroup after doing something that is not planned to occur and Moreso if I must make that transition without others prompting or doing it with me. There are times when I have become overwhelmed or can pick up on signals that it is time to move forward to the next activity. Having an outline or schedule can help. I do understand that anything that is prepared in advance of something is not concrete in how it is to occur and while I would have pointed out the flaw in what was stated in the past, I now understand that we are all human and move forward with the way things were.

Some of the hardest times when it comes to transitioning are when waking up in the morning, going through the routine or contemplating whether to do something on my own. It can be hard to make decisions about what to do when I am not guided or know completely what is in my best interests. I fear being judged for doing something incorrectly or something that may not get approval from someone. I have always lived in fear of being criticized for doing something wrong. But when I wake from sleeping, especially after a nap, it can be difficult to get the body into rhythm of what steps to take next. Of course there is the need to meet basic human needs, but there will be times when I will just sit there thinking about the motions that I will have to endure ahead. I will ponder about things and whether I am up to doing what is necessary along with prioritizing the most essential tasks. I know that I need to write these things down so that they are easier to prioritize as there can be a lot of things going on in my life all at once.

I know I can do better by knowing all the things that I need to do. It is hard for me to process these things and put them in a legible format so I can understand them. There is so much that needs to be done and there is going to be time to do everything, I just need to work at being more patient and understanding with things, so I do not feel as rushed as I do. There are times when things do become overwhelming and there are times when things are forgotten. I do well at having the essential things, but it frustrates me when I do not have things that I promise to others.

Things have been easier during transitions, but it can be hard to get regrouped after experiencing a much-needed nap, especially when things become difficult and I feel like I am fighting the clock, although I do not feel as pressured as I have in the past. As with everything I am relearning, things are a process to put in place and they must become a habit. It is hard to see that progress, even others notice a change in me. Its just keeping my head up and realizing that I am doing my best in this environment to get through the day.