Establishing a self-care plan can be a nuanced journey, especially for people with autism, who often navigate the world with a unique set of sensitivities and preferences. In a society where extroversion takes center stage, finding ways to honor one's needs while managing the sensory and social aspects of autism requires a thoughtful, personalized approach.

Last year, my friends and I went to Miami for spring break and while there are countless fun, crazy, sweet memories, the one which I would say was a “core memory” was going on Ferris wheel. The sun had just set and the water on the shoreline was gleaming with lights from skyscrapers. After getting into the Ferris wheel carriage, my friends and I blasted music and sang along. For those 15 minutes we sang to our hearts content, took a bunch of pictures and laughed a lot… we were truly present in the moment. It was as if we had left every worry behind us as we got into the Ferris wheel. I think a lot of us struggle with this as we are constantly thinking about the past or future. And this experience helped me realize that the fact I consider this as my “core memory” truly shows how important it is to just live in the moment and enjoy what we have at present.

My relationship with anxiety has changed drastically over the past several years. Although I finally feel as though I’m starting to develop a healthy relationship with anxiety, I’ve gone through many ups and downs especially throughout high school. After years of dealing with anxiety, I’ve learned to first acknowledge it and recognize why it’s there. For example, I tend to get really nervous before exams and presentations because I put pressure on myself to succeed in order to achieve my academic goals. 

After this recognition, I try to accept these feelings instead of fighting it. I understand that my anxiety isn’t simply going to go away if I wish it too, and have found that fighting against it can sometimes make the situation worse. It’s important to recognize it is normal to have anxiety and that it can be beneficial in many ways. So instead of wishing it away, look at the positive side. Anxiety can help us stay motivated by pushing us to study for an exam or arrive early for meetings. Although we tend to focus on the bad parts of anxiety, I believe it is prudent to always acknowledge the good as well.

A few months ago, I was mindlessly scrolling through TikTok when I saw a quick video about the “Little Treat Mentality”. I don’t remember who the creator was, but they explained that no matter what kind of day you have, you deserve a little treat.

Everybody deals with stress and anxiety, however the key is to know what to do when you're stressed out. It is not always easy to keep your feelings from getting the best of you.

Fall is for Lovers

A playlist for the deep breath you take after having a moment:

with school starting up again and fall just around the corner, these are songs that help me destress after a busy day but also fill me with energy in the autumn air

These songs are a mix of moods but they all kind of help create a slower vibe that I think can be relaxing! Good for everyday, nothing super crazy energetic.

Spring seems delayed this year, but these songs remind me of flowers while I wait for them to bloom.