Solutions to autistic inertia?

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Hello everybody.

I'll just start off by saying, I have alot of problems looking after myself. Getting my hair cut, washing my own clothes, keeping my immediate environemnt tidy, etc. It's not that I find tasks difficult in an intellectual sense, but it's more that I feel like I'm wandering around in this bubble of choices all the time, to the point where it's crippling and I'm not entirely sure how to direct myself. I do have other secondary issues of anxiety, substance use issues and depression that makes motivating myself difficult.

I'm trying to take things one at a time (although I haven't kicked my dextromethorphan habit, I have thankfully kicked a codeine habit and haven't used in roughly 6 months) but I'm wondering, how on earth do I get around my disorganisation issues? I've never really done lists of things like alot of other aspies and auties I know have, and usually I end up forgetting to write important stuff down in the first place sadly. I'm just wondering if there are older ASD people here who have also had similar problems with inertia and motivation and what the best workaround may be. If anybody can offer some solutions, that would be very helpful.

-Robo

While you sound guilty about the drug use, and it should legitimately be controlled, I find it helpful to remove distractions. You have a limited amount of focus, and some niche interest or sensory stimulation is taking the place of a needful chore. It's useful to simplify your surroundings, when in overload, perhaps, to the point of being minimalist or childish.

Don't deal with so much.

There's bound to be a handful of things that are part of a daily routine. Just make that your starting point and add/remove other items as need/efficiency dictates.

I've had the same problem my whole life. I make lists and put them on the wall where I can't avoid them.

Eliminating less important distractions is a good idea. Victor Hugo used to have a servant take away all his clothes and leave him naked in a locked room with only a table, chair, pen and paper--nothing to do but write.