#reset days

[eekwinn]

The Bucket Metaphor & Reset Days

This is a more detailed version of a comment I often leave on autism-related subreddits about how to manage your energy. With reddit having a blackout that could last longer, I felt it needed to be cross-posted on Tumblr. Reblogs are welcomed and encouraged. Original post on reddit. An audio version by u/LouDaisyLou is also available here.

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The Bucket Metaphor & Reset Days

Some people use the metaphor of "spoons" to give an idea of how much energy they have during a day but I prefer to look at my energy based on a bucket. The bucket metaphor and reset days go hand in hand. One is used to describe the input you receive during the day and the other the physical aspect of lowering the level in the metaphorical bucket.

The bucket has a small plug hole at the bottom and is plugged when you are awake. Everything is poured into that bucket - chores, errands, work, school, socializing, conversations, phone calls, anxiety, depression, injury, sensory input, last minute plan changes, blood sugar level, medication side effects, hormones, sleep, hunger, hydration, etc. When the bucket overflows, that's when an autistic meltdown happens. It can be going non-verbal, crying, shutting down, anger, or violent stimming, whatever a meltdown means to you. Having a meltdown creates more things that go into the bucket at the same time it overflows. 

The plug is removed when sleeping, which often doesn't empty the bucket all the way, so waking up with a partially or mostly full bucket means you spend all day knowing that the overflow will happen which in turn creates anxiety that also goes into the bucket. Even things that happen in the night can be filling the bucket at the same time, like it being too hot, a leaf-blower at dawn below your window, or a stuffy nose. 

Alone time when awake can also pull the plug a little bit and let the bucket drain a dribble, but often that alone time can end up being scrolling the internet or doing household related chores. Having a reset day is how to pull the bucket’s plug all the way while awake. Reset days require coordination with your household if you’re able to plan them in advance, although sometimes they need to happen with very little notice. They may take an afternoon, a whole day, or a weekend. Regularly scheduled reset days can also be helpful when the necessities of life fill your bucket quickly. The point of a reset day is to make your body comfortable so you brain can relax. This means staying in the moment and comfortable.

Find an alternate way to communicate with your household or other people who can help you rather than relying on verbal communication with other people. Texting is a great way to do it without having to be face to face, or only answering yes/no questions to limit the amount of talking you do. Let your household know that you’ll ask for the help you need and that they don’t need to bother you when you’re making a cup of tea or gathering a plate of snacks in the kitchen. They can also then be aware about their noise level or be able to take other responsibilities off your plate that day. I find that not speaking to other people helps me reset because that means one less thing I have to focus on (although speaking to my pets doesn’t seem to be a problem). Often, I can gauge how much more of a reset day I need based on how much conversation I feel like having. If you live alone, this step is much, much easier.

Start by getting your body clean, hydrated, and fed. Take a shower or bath and brush your teeth. Have a warm drink and a cool drink with you. Eat some basic foods that don’t take effort - you don't have to make a sandwich, just eat the cheese, bread, and meat straight while leaning again the counter; you don't have to chop up a salad, just eat the vegetables as you stand in the kitchen waiting for water to boil for tea. Staples from the pantry are always good to have on hand, like nuts, dried fruit, crackers, and good quality chocolate. 

Make a room that can be comfortable for you to rest and stay occupied. Put fresh sheets on your bed or cozy blankets on the sofa. Push the things on the floor against the walls so that you have space to move safely – deal with what is in the piles on another day. Get any dirty dishes soaking in the sink – wash them tomorrow – and dirty laundry into the laundry basket. Wear comfortable, clean clothing. Make the lighting and temperature comfortable, even if that means closing curtains and putting scarves over lampshades on a beautiful day. A fan in the next room can help block sounds. Let your senses be comfortable (smells, lighting, textures, sounds) so that your brain can shut off. 

Now that your brain is quieting down and your body is comfortable you have to stay physically occupied. Using your phone to text for support is fine but otherwise do not open apps or check the news. If keeping your phone across the room is too hard, log out of social media apps or uninstall them all together. Do Not Disturb is a good feature as well. If a weird little question is thought of, don’t research it right there. Instead, write the question down – you can check it tomorrow. 

Staying in the moment is hard but necessary. Some suggestions are: sorting a puzzle, reading a book, yoga or stretching, organizing your sock drawer, folding laundry, dance to some music videos, doodling, trim and file your nails, redress your doll collection, organize your bookshelves, listen to a podcast, or watch something that requires subtitles. 

If your mind starts to wander, switch to something else but keep bringing it back to being in the moment. You can even combine playing quiet music and mute the video with subtitles to keep you reading, not just listening. I really like Meditative Mind (https://www.youtube.com/@meditativemind) for relaxing background sounds and my favorite English subtitle-only YouTube channels is Martin's Vids (https://www.youtube.com/@MartinsVidsDotNet), about Disney theme park rides. All of these are just my personal experience with ways of pulling the plug on my bucket. You may have other things that keep you in the moment and shut your brain off that do not include endlessly scrolling on the internet. Social media is made to engage and enrage – that is the opposite of emptying your bucket.

It may take hours before you feel like speaking with anyone again or it may be the next morning, and that is okay. Still do your nighttime hygiene routine and go to bed at your regular time (or slightly earlier) knowing that the next day will be one where the level in your bucket is much, much lower. 

The awareness of where your bucket level is can also be a great gauge every day for deciding what spontaneous things you can do or when you might be ready for bed, no matter the time on the clock. I often use the short hand of “I’m done for the day” or “My bucket is nearly full” to tell my household that it is time for me to be done interacting with them and that any household responsibilities will need to be theirs that evening.

Whether your visualize the bucket being filled by liquids, sand and stones, or stars and galaxies is up to you. This metaphor works for me and I hope it works for you too.

[nancywheeeler]

hopeless time loop. the way out isn’t to save everyone. the way out isn’t to save even one person. the way out isn’t to change anything. the way out is accepting how it happened the first time is how it always will be. that’s how you acted, that’s how they acted, that’s how you would have acted every time if you weren’t given the curse of hindsight. the way out is accepting you can’t fix the past; you can only forgive yourself for it.

[zoobus]

The benefits of representation in media are vastly overstated. With that said, I think tv needs more hamfisted stories about wheelchair users who can still walk in some capacity. I can't think of any other group that needs awareness in a way tv reprentation specifically would actually help with

[chappellnchill]

You're standing face to face with "I told you so" You know I hate to say it, I told you so.

[thebarrows]

put them in a room together and no one will come out alive (●'◡'●)

[saydesole]

My Sunday 🫶🏽🤎

IG:saydesole

How is your Sunday going?

I'm catching up on season six Love is Blind

[ghirahimbo]

evil time loop escape conditions where you can't get out until you've fuucked up your life in the most spectacular way possible, confident that the next night will reset the slate as usual.

instead, the next day comes.

[utilitycaster]

" 'In my experience,' he said, 'the trouble of oaths of the form death before dishonor, is that eventually, given enough time and abrasion, they separate the world into just two sorts of people: the dead, and the forsworn. It's a survivor's problem, this one.' " - A Civil Campaign, Lois McMaster Bujold

[cursedimagedump]

[originalartblog]

does this count as angst or

companion piece for this Storm Bringer AU here

[unriding]

me n moze say good morning to the world !!! ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ

art by @rabbbitseason of course <3

[hijinxinprogress]

Billy definitely thinks about random things during fights and decides the internet needs to know immediately

[notetakingnonsense]

Okay so: you had your zero day. Now it’s time for a reset.

Get in the shower/bath. Clean the previous week off of your body.

Do some skincare if that’s something you do. I like to use an oil cleanser with some facial massage tools.

Clean your desk. A tidy space is a clear mind.

Look at your assignments for this week so you know what you’re doing.

Organize your schedule on a physical or online planner. Write down due dates.

Set your alarm for tomorrow morning so you don’t wake up late.

[the-torchwood-archive]

[thatskynews]

Step into the spotlight, Sky kids—it’s time to unleash your inner fashion icon!

Days of Style is just around the corner. ✨️🕺

Read our newest blog for more on the event!

[keikakudom]

i am not above objectifying my own design to get past creative blocks