System Maintenance - Tumblr Posts
— Bianca Sparacino, The Strength in Our Scars (2017)
being in yr 20s is abt experiencing the worst thing you can imagine & then having to go to the grocery store
animals are so right about nuzzling your face into things
uh hi so!
i wrote this webpage that walks u thru looking after yourself when you know a thought is making you spiral. deployed it publicly bc i wanted it on mobile and i thought other people might like it too
check it oot
Tips on dental hygiene with autism (from my dentist)!!
I went to the dentist a few weeks ago and I told her I'm autistic and that causes me sensory issues that make brushing my teeth regularly harder, and she was great about it and gave me some tips!
Use disclosing tablets - you can get these on Amazon and at pharmacies. They colour your plaque so you can see where you need to brush.
Brush your teeth at night and use mouthwash in the morning - it’s better to brush your teeth at night because it’s after you’ve eaten food so your teeth are easier to get properly clean then. Obviously, if you can, brush your teeth both times, but if you can only handle brushing your teeth once a day, do it at night.
Use an electric toothbrush, if you can afford it. If you can’t brush your teeth that frequently, it’s better to use an electric toothbrush because it’ll clean your teeth better than a regular toothbrush. It’s better to get ab electric toothbrush either way, but especially if you don’t brush your teeth that often.
Get a toothbrush with super soft bristles, this will make brushing your teeth less harsh on your mouth.
If you struggle with mint toothpaste, it's ok to get a different flavour of toothpaste or just brush dry
These have helped me with my dental hygiene since, and I hope they'll help some of you guys
Note: don't be afraid to try out stuff that's different to what I recommended! Everyone's sensory needs are different and what works for me may not work for everyone else, e.g. some people can't use electric toothbrushes for sensory reasons, some people might need hard bristles, some people can't handle mouthwash, etc
Alright *ahem*
POSTURE CHECK, FOOD CHECK, HYDRATION REMINDER
Check what time it is! Should you be asleep? Is it lunch? Is it almost time to take your meds? Is there any meeting you should be preparing for?
Stretch! Let your hands rest a bit so they don't cramp. Look at something far away, your eyes will thank you.
Take a 10 minute break from whatever you're doing and breathe!
.
.
.
Done? Alright, have a great rest of your day!
remember to take breaks. the world can get real stressful if you dont take time for yourself.
I do think the majority of us should strangle the shame that lives inside of us like wringing water from the rag until we are soft and dry and weightless
Love yourself, take pride in your appearance, self reflect, sculpt your body, prioritise beauty, stretch regularly, meditate, journal, eat nutritionally abundant food. You have one body — optimise, nourish and take pride in it.
Sometimes the small pleasures hit different. A clean house, a hot drink, making something from scratch, sitting on the porch with a loved one. Little soul-feeding activities.
I heard so many people talk about romanticizing your life and at first it was annoying but then I was eating an apple and it was red and sweet and I was making an effort to conciously and slowly enjoy my apple because that's what my therapist told me to try to be more in the moment and it was the best apple I ever ate. I ate it slow and really payed attention to the sweetness and the sourness and I was sitting outside under some trees and there was a breeze and I thought: This is a perfect moment, and one day I will wish I had the opportunity to sit here and conciously eat this apple and be happy. Anyways. Try making a big deal out of small things.
I turn 30 next month so here’s what I learned in my 20s:
—don’t work for startups, they’re always one ‘innovative idea’ away adding ‘sell your kidneys on the black market’ to your job description.
—keeping a collection of basic OTC medicine on you will save your life one day. I recommend Advil, Imodium, and TUMS.
—those little single-use glasses cleaning wipes are 1000% worth the money
—overly self-depreciating jokes just make people uncomfortable, wean yourself off of them
—you can buy dehydrated mini marshmallows in bulk online and they’re a godsend for hot cocoa
—people don’t care if you have fidget toys on your desk they just want to play with them
—try to go to bed BEFORE the existential ennui kicks in
the one thing i will always fiercely & unabashedly resent is the stance that someone is “too old for something” past a certain age. telling someone they’re “too old” to enjoy a show or practice a hobby or have a personality or do anything that’s not considered “mature” is one of the ugliest standards society has managed to ingrain into people’s brains. please pursue what makes you happy without shame. if it doesn’t hurt you or anyone else, then it’s no one’s business but yours. you owe no one an explanation. but you do owe yourself authenticity & happiness. & no one can decide how that looks like but you
i hope you did at least one thing for yourself today. whether that's brushing your teeth, drinking a nice cup of tea, taking a break to listen to your favorite song or reading your favorite poem. it doesn't have to be grand to be meaningful. it is so important to stay close to what brings you joy and purpose in life. ❤️
my pain scale invention. it goes from 0-16. you fill it out like this:
i made this because i find pain to be a multifaceted thing that influences me in different ways. i can accomplish lots of small tasks while in pain but that doesnt mean i can move around or even think clearly. its name is the goldstein expanded pain index or gepi. you can use it if you want. or not.