Getting through Betwixmas when you’re Autistic
Betwixmas can feel timeless and disorienting. Here’s how Autistic routines, visuals, and special interests can help.
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Betwixmas can feel timeless and disorienting. Here’s how Autistic routines, visuals, and special interests can help.
After Christmas, the days between Boxing Day and New Year’s often blur together. Shops close early, emails stop coming in, and the pace of life shifts. While this lull can be relaxing for some, it often brings a strange sense of stillness that can feel unsettling, especially if you’re Autistic and rely on structure to navigate the world.
This stretch of time, sometimes called Betwixmas, is rarely addressed in mainstream conversations. It falls outside the usual holiday narratives, but for many Autistic people, it can be one of the hardest parts of the season. Without routines or external cues, time can feel unreal, and regulation becomes harder to maintain.
These are the five practices that help me stay grounded during this quiet and often confusing week.
Routine can act as an anchor, especially when everything around you feels vague or unpredictable. For many Autistic people, including myself, daily rhythms offer a way to understand what is happening and what to expect. During Betwixmas, when the usual patterns fall away, it helps to create a routine that reflects the current reality but still provides enough shape to feel steady.
You don’t need to recreate your usual schedule exactly. Instead, focus on a few key parts of the day: when you wake up, when you eat, when you rest, and keep those consistent. Writing out a plan or using a visual schedule can make this easier. Tiimo is a helpful tool here, offering visual reminders and color-coded timelines that live on your phone or smartwatch. Even a basic routine can give your day structure and support your nervous system.
Time can be difficult to process when the usual markers disappear. For some Autistic people, including myself, understanding time in an abstract way doesn’t always come easily. I often find it challenging to picture the future or estimate how long something will take, which makes periods like Betwixmas particularly disorienting.
To bring time into sharper focus, I lean on strategies that turn it into something I can see and feel. This might mean placing visible clocks in different rooms, setting timers that gently guide transitions, or narrating the flow of the day in concrete terms. If you’re planning to go out, it helps to be specific—name the time you’ll leave, how long you’ll stay, and when you plan to return.
For families with Autistic children, this kind of clarity can be especially important. Explaining plans visually or through time-based cues can help create a shared sense of what’s happening. Tiimo’s reminders and transition prompts can support that process, making it easier to move through time with confidence.
Visual supports often play a central role in how Autistic people navigate daily life. Whether they help with planning, self-advocacy, or emotional regulation, these tools can ease the pressure of having to translate every thought or need into words.
I’ve found that keeping a small collection of visual tools nearby makes everyday interactions feel more manageable, especially in unfamiliar or overstimulating environments. Items like the Sunflower Lanyard or JAM Cards signal access needs without requiring verbal explanation. Disclosure cards from artists like the Curly Hair Project or DoodlePeople offer gentle ways to communicate preferences and reduce misunderstandings.
Some police forces in the UK also offer Autism ID schemes, which can help in situations that feel high-stakes or uncertain. Whether you use visuals to communicate, to plan, or simply to feel seen, these tools can be a quiet form of support that stays with you throughout the day.
Many Autistic people experience the world through intense or fluctuating sensory input. You might find yourself drawn toward specific textures, movements, or sounds, or you might avoid them altogether. Like many others, I experience both tendencies depending on the situation, and Betwixmas often amplifies this sensitivity.
Sensory tools can offer meaningful support during times of low structure or increased stress. You might find grounding in a wobble cushion, gentle brushing with a detangling tool, or the calming pressure of a weighted item. Tools like Loop earplugs or the Hexichew can provide subtle ways to manage sensory input throughout the day.
Some people also build what’s known as a sensory diet, a set of intentional sensory activities that help keep their nervous system regulated. This can be especially helpful during quieter weeks like Betwixmas, when your usual outlets might be unavailable or harder to access.
One of the gentlest ways to move through Betwixmas is by returning to your special interests. For many Autistic people, these deep areas of focus are not only fulfilling but also essential. They help us regulate, self-soothe, and feel a sense of identity in a world that often demands we explain or hide what we love most.
If you find yourself with extra time and fewer obligations, this can be the perfect moment to immerse yourself in something meaningful. Whether that’s reading about Tudor history, exploring the world of Anne Frank, collecting objects that fascinate you, or diving into a fictional universe, your interest deserves space. It doesn’t have to serve a purpose beyond making you feel like yourself.
This time of year can bring a lot of pressure to perform joy or connection in specific ways. But there is also room for quiet joy that comes from following your own rhythm and reconnecting with what matters to you.
Betwixmas can feel timeless and disorienting. Here’s how Autistic routines, visuals, and special interests can help.
After Christmas, the days between Boxing Day and New Year’s often blur together. Shops close early, emails stop coming in, and the pace of life shifts. While this lull can be relaxing for some, it often brings a strange sense of stillness that can feel unsettling, especially if you’re Autistic and rely on structure to navigate the world.
This stretch of time, sometimes called Betwixmas, is rarely addressed in mainstream conversations. It falls outside the usual holiday narratives, but for many Autistic people, it can be one of the hardest parts of the season. Without routines or external cues, time can feel unreal, and regulation becomes harder to maintain.
These are the five practices that help me stay grounded during this quiet and often confusing week.
Routine can act as an anchor, especially when everything around you feels vague or unpredictable. For many Autistic people, including myself, daily rhythms offer a way to understand what is happening and what to expect. During Betwixmas, when the usual patterns fall away, it helps to create a routine that reflects the current reality but still provides enough shape to feel steady.
You don’t need to recreate your usual schedule exactly. Instead, focus on a few key parts of the day: when you wake up, when you eat, when you rest, and keep those consistent. Writing out a plan or using a visual schedule can make this easier. Tiimo is a helpful tool here, offering visual reminders and color-coded timelines that live on your phone or smartwatch. Even a basic routine can give your day structure and support your nervous system.
Time can be difficult to process when the usual markers disappear. For some Autistic people, including myself, understanding time in an abstract way doesn’t always come easily. I often find it challenging to picture the future or estimate how long something will take, which makes periods like Betwixmas particularly disorienting.
To bring time into sharper focus, I lean on strategies that turn it into something I can see and feel. This might mean placing visible clocks in different rooms, setting timers that gently guide transitions, or narrating the flow of the day in concrete terms. If you’re planning to go out, it helps to be specific—name the time you’ll leave, how long you’ll stay, and when you plan to return.
For families with Autistic children, this kind of clarity can be especially important. Explaining plans visually or through time-based cues can help create a shared sense of what’s happening. Tiimo’s reminders and transition prompts can support that process, making it easier to move through time with confidence.
Visual supports often play a central role in how Autistic people navigate daily life. Whether they help with planning, self-advocacy, or emotional regulation, these tools can ease the pressure of having to translate every thought or need into words.
I’ve found that keeping a small collection of visual tools nearby makes everyday interactions feel more manageable, especially in unfamiliar or overstimulating environments. Items like the Sunflower Lanyard or JAM Cards signal access needs without requiring verbal explanation. Disclosure cards from artists like the Curly Hair Project or DoodlePeople offer gentle ways to communicate preferences and reduce misunderstandings.
Some police forces in the UK also offer Autism ID schemes, which can help in situations that feel high-stakes or uncertain. Whether you use visuals to communicate, to plan, or simply to feel seen, these tools can be a quiet form of support that stays with you throughout the day.
Many Autistic people experience the world through intense or fluctuating sensory input. You might find yourself drawn toward specific textures, movements, or sounds, or you might avoid them altogether. Like many others, I experience both tendencies depending on the situation, and Betwixmas often amplifies this sensitivity.
Sensory tools can offer meaningful support during times of low structure or increased stress. You might find grounding in a wobble cushion, gentle brushing with a detangling tool, or the calming pressure of a weighted item. Tools like Loop earplugs or the Hexichew can provide subtle ways to manage sensory input throughout the day.
Some people also build what’s known as a sensory diet, a set of intentional sensory activities that help keep their nervous system regulated. This can be especially helpful during quieter weeks like Betwixmas, when your usual outlets might be unavailable or harder to access.
One of the gentlest ways to move through Betwixmas is by returning to your special interests. For many Autistic people, these deep areas of focus are not only fulfilling but also essential. They help us regulate, self-soothe, and feel a sense of identity in a world that often demands we explain or hide what we love most.
If you find yourself with extra time and fewer obligations, this can be the perfect moment to immerse yourself in something meaningful. Whether that’s reading about Tudor history, exploring the world of Anne Frank, collecting objects that fascinate you, or diving into a fictional universe, your interest deserves space. It doesn’t have to serve a purpose beyond making you feel like yourself.
This time of year can bring a lot of pressure to perform joy or connection in specific ways. But there is also room for quiet joy that comes from following your own rhythm and reconnecting with what matters to you.
Betwixmas can feel timeless and disorienting. Here’s how Autistic routines, visuals, and special interests can help.
After Christmas, the days between Boxing Day and New Year’s often blur together. Shops close early, emails stop coming in, and the pace of life shifts. While this lull can be relaxing for some, it often brings a strange sense of stillness that can feel unsettling, especially if you’re Autistic and rely on structure to navigate the world.
This stretch of time, sometimes called Betwixmas, is rarely addressed in mainstream conversations. It falls outside the usual holiday narratives, but for many Autistic people, it can be one of the hardest parts of the season. Without routines or external cues, time can feel unreal, and regulation becomes harder to maintain.
These are the five practices that help me stay grounded during this quiet and often confusing week.
Routine can act as an anchor, especially when everything around you feels vague or unpredictable. For many Autistic people, including myself, daily rhythms offer a way to understand what is happening and what to expect. During Betwixmas, when the usual patterns fall away, it helps to create a routine that reflects the current reality but still provides enough shape to feel steady.
You don’t need to recreate your usual schedule exactly. Instead, focus on a few key parts of the day: when you wake up, when you eat, when you rest, and keep those consistent. Writing out a plan or using a visual schedule can make this easier. Tiimo is a helpful tool here, offering visual reminders and color-coded timelines that live on your phone or smartwatch. Even a basic routine can give your day structure and support your nervous system.
Time can be difficult to process when the usual markers disappear. For some Autistic people, including myself, understanding time in an abstract way doesn’t always come easily. I often find it challenging to picture the future or estimate how long something will take, which makes periods like Betwixmas particularly disorienting.
To bring time into sharper focus, I lean on strategies that turn it into something I can see and feel. This might mean placing visible clocks in different rooms, setting timers that gently guide transitions, or narrating the flow of the day in concrete terms. If you’re planning to go out, it helps to be specific—name the time you’ll leave, how long you’ll stay, and when you plan to return.
For families with Autistic children, this kind of clarity can be especially important. Explaining plans visually or through time-based cues can help create a shared sense of what’s happening. Tiimo’s reminders and transition prompts can support that process, making it easier to move through time with confidence.
Visual supports often play a central role in how Autistic people navigate daily life. Whether they help with planning, self-advocacy, or emotional regulation, these tools can ease the pressure of having to translate every thought or need into words.
I’ve found that keeping a small collection of visual tools nearby makes everyday interactions feel more manageable, especially in unfamiliar or overstimulating environments. Items like the Sunflower Lanyard or JAM Cards signal access needs without requiring verbal explanation. Disclosure cards from artists like the Curly Hair Project or DoodlePeople offer gentle ways to communicate preferences and reduce misunderstandings.
Some police forces in the UK also offer Autism ID schemes, which can help in situations that feel high-stakes or uncertain. Whether you use visuals to communicate, to plan, or simply to feel seen, these tools can be a quiet form of support that stays with you throughout the day.
Many Autistic people experience the world through intense or fluctuating sensory input. You might find yourself drawn toward specific textures, movements, or sounds, or you might avoid them altogether. Like many others, I experience both tendencies depending on the situation, and Betwixmas often amplifies this sensitivity.
Sensory tools can offer meaningful support during times of low structure or increased stress. You might find grounding in a wobble cushion, gentle brushing with a detangling tool, or the calming pressure of a weighted item. Tools like Loop earplugs or the Hexichew can provide subtle ways to manage sensory input throughout the day.
Some people also build what’s known as a sensory diet, a set of intentional sensory activities that help keep their nervous system regulated. This can be especially helpful during quieter weeks like Betwixmas, when your usual outlets might be unavailable or harder to access.
One of the gentlest ways to move through Betwixmas is by returning to your special interests. For many Autistic people, these deep areas of focus are not only fulfilling but also essential. They help us regulate, self-soothe, and feel a sense of identity in a world that often demands we explain or hide what we love most.
If you find yourself with extra time and fewer obligations, this can be the perfect moment to immerse yourself in something meaningful. Whether that’s reading about Tudor history, exploring the world of Anne Frank, collecting objects that fascinate you, or diving into a fictional universe, your interest deserves space. It doesn’t have to serve a purpose beyond making you feel like yourself.
This time of year can bring a lot of pressure to perform joy or connection in specific ways. But there is also room for quiet joy that comes from following your own rhythm and reconnecting with what matters to you.
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