Merry Christmas! Here are four things I am doing to accommodate my autism during this Christmas season to prevent overstimulation and burnout.

Just to state I am very lucky and grateful that my Christmas is always pretty chilled and not over the top as we have always never made Christmas a massive thing but still they are a few things that can be anxiety and stress so I do to make my Christmas a little easier for myself.

1.Before Christmas I talk all the details over with my mum, about who we are having for Christmas and mainly talking about what food we will be having and the rough plan.

This just helps reduce alot of anxiety if I have exceptions of the day beforehand. The main part is talking about food as I have alot of anxiety around food with my sensory issues so we have a chat about the food and what will be at the table and how stuff will be prepared as this just helps relieve anxiety around sensory issues and food. We also have a little conversation about the rough plan for the day and the holiday season as this sets expectations of what will happen, its always pretty chilled and calm, we never make a big deal out of christmas.

2. There is no expectations to dress fancy.

We are pretty chilled about Christmas day, if you want to dress up a little that is fine but overall the only expectation in relation to clothes on Christmas is once presents have been opened in the morning, you cannot be in pj’s again until the evening, you have to get changed for the day. If you want to dress fancy in a dress or nice jeans and a nice top thats fine, but if you want to wear a hoodie and leggings that is also okay.

3. I am allowed to vanish to my bedroom when I need.

The Christmas period is a little crazy even without the autism factor. My family understand this and understand sometimes I need my space and time alone, so I am allowed to go and be in my bedroom for periods of time when I need it. Currently it is 2:30pm on Christmas Eve and my parents are watching a movie and my sister, her fiance and my niece are at a carol service at church with my grandma, so I am taking this time to be in my room and do some blog writing, then going to watch something on youtube and maybe take a nap before family time and dinner later.

4. My mum does turn the christmas tress lights to the still mode.

This is a really small accommodation my mum does that may seem tiny and not worth mentioning but it’s a tiny thing my mum does to accommodate me and I appreciate it so it makes the blog post. We have a tree in the living room that has white fairy lights, of which have different modes, from on, slowly blinking or fast changing and blinking. My mum prefers the fast blinking mode however I have noticed when I am around she changes them to just on or the slow blinking mode. It’s a very tiny thing but it means I don’t get overstimulated and zoned out while in the living room with my family.

That’s a few small ways me and my family accommodate my autism so I can enjoy the Christmas period without getting burnt out. I am very grateful we have a chilled Christmas and we don’t make it a big deal.

Merry Christmas everyone, tell me in the comments what are some things you do at Christmas that are specific to your family?