Using visual aids

How visual aids make work “work” for me

Visual aids free up valuable computing space in my brain. They keep the mental work on the outside. They stop me from running things through over and over. And over.

Before my diagnosis, I felt like certain things weren’t “for me”… Fidget toys, weighted blankets, visual timetables, all sorts of things.

Finding out I am autistic was like receiving permission to do all sorts of things I hadn’t even realised I needed.

Now, things look different. They feel different. And I am somewhat in control of my anxiety levels for the first time in my life. I’m going to share exactly how I use visual aids, and how this helps me at work. These will be split into two categories:

1. Visual aids that help manage my overall energy levels: these help me get to a lower “baseline” level of anxiety, so I am more able to cope with work obligations in general, which makes everything more sustainable

2. Visual aids that help me complete work: specifically targeted at helping me feel in control of my workload and clear about what tasks I need to do