Autistic focus, contradictions and balloons.
‘I just had a thought. It buggered off’ – anon
Is what an autistic colleague said to me once. It can be hard and tiring to see or feel a thought. Keep hold of it and process it. For me it can feel like catching a balloon on a string, trying to picture it, or alternatively trying to land on ships in a harbour, each representing a task.
At one workplace after a particularly busy and stressful period, and following substantial office reseating, I felt tired and unable to focus in the main office. Consequentially I had to go to a small, quiet room to work on my own, for several days, leaving a note on my desk to tell others. I would initially try to remain in the main office, listen to music like normal, but the distraction was still too much and I still had to return to the room where I could control the environment. I was able to decompress. This was the most extreme length I’ve ever gone to in order to regain and retain focus. It helped and was understood by others. Work output improved.
And autistic signs of focusing can be confusing and contradictory. However deep focus, hyperfocus is an autistic trait. Also known as rabbit holing, getting really stuck in, maybe too stuck into jobs. It has great benefits to organisations and should not be disturbed without good reason.
So why can it be so hard and tiring to see, feel and keep hold of a thought to process it. For me when tired or distracted it can be hard as the balloons float away, images remain elusive, and the ships hidden in impenetrable fog or I can’t land on them. Once out of the zone it can be hard or impossible to get back into it. And so much lost.
And what about the environment as above? I said earlier about being driven out of the main office by massive disturbance, short term or days on end. Why? Autistic people can struggle to filter out distractions like light, movement, sound, smells and lots more. And this takes energy which for autistic people can drain more quickly and take longer to recharge.
So what are these signs of focus that should be recognised and respected.
Trying to settle
Getting the physical environment is essential, everything in place to start the job, the right job for the time and priority. The right layout.
1. Paper & pens in place – within reach, correct ones, right feel
2. Sitting just right – I enjoy sitting cross-legged on chairs or feet up on a box
3. Been to the toilet – once focussed autistic people can ignore the need
4. Food and drink to hand – not too sticky as this may necessitate washing hands, disrupting concentration. There is nothing worse than feeling hungry or thirsty
5. Music selected, if not in a meeting – correct length and type
6. Correct fidget toys to hand – they all have different feels and moves
7. Quiet room – if it is the best place, leave a note on your desk where to find you if necessary.
Now there is a good space and environment achieved it is now possible to truly begin focusing.
Quiet signs of focus
There are various ways this shows as over relation, which can be confusing, including:
1. Lying back – resting on a cushion or something
2. Sitting forward – holding head
3. Music through headphones – possibly moving to it, if not in a meeting
4. Little visible movement – possibly only feel or fingers
5. Bored face – blank or little or expression
6. Doodling – not apparently related to job, deep focus going on
7. Eyes shut – to picture the thoughts, shut out distractions
Why is this? All energy is going into focussing on work, thinking. Away from the world and relating to other team members. At one online meeting I was suddenly turned off. Because I was leaning back, eyes shut, cutting out distractions. It was believed I’d gone to sleep, but when I explained the situation I was told to turn my camera off.
Active signs of focus
It may be that you can’t quite work out a thought, and therefore need to move around. Or just need to move, have a movement break. These include:
1. Getting up – moving around a lot, maybe getting a drink from the kitchen, stare out of the window, go for a walk
2. Leaving the desk – with a pad, paper, mobile phone for music, headphones and walking fast
3. Not settling – however hard you try
4. Talking to others – just chit chat. Which is rare for autistic people
5. Reading a book – in the breakout room, even for a few minutes
Why is this? Moving around can loosen thoughts. By that I mean the brain has got stuck, twisted around, and going for a walk, getting a drink, talking to someone can release the blockage as you stop actively thinking about the issue. Having a pen and paper to hand means you are ready to note any ideas, wherever you are, rather than trying to remember them until you get back to your desk, only for them to ‘bugger off’ into thin air. Possibly leading to being able to get back into the work again, or making notes , for a better time possibly.
Way forward
Take time to understand autistic colleagues and friends, and these contradictory signs. Then you will be able to work with them. And utilise the hyperfocus. Work with, not against autistic traits. Misunderstandings will lead to ways forward when discussed. And growth for individuals and organisations.
WIN WIN FOR ALL
