What I Cut First on Low Energy Days as an Autistic Adult

When I'm low on energy, certain things disappear from my day entirely. Not reduced. Not half-done. Gone.

When I’m at 3 energy or lower, this is the cut order that happens.

Cleaning Stops Completely

My bathroom and room go untouched. I won't do it at all. The mess builds for 7-14 days before I have enough energy units to actually start cleaning again. This is my most common timeframe—because the drains happen every single day.

Friends Get Silence

I won't respond to friends for the rest of the day. Messages from 6-8 friends pile up, with them replying back and me not responding for days. Usually 4-6 days gives me enough energy to reply. But explaining why I disappeared is exhausting—it pushes my baseline lower than before.

Morning Hygiene Gets Cut in Half

I don't brush my teeth or wash my face in the morning. I shift it all to evening instead of twice a day. When energy is depleted, everyday tasks become impossible to maintain. I'm not skipping hygiene because I don't care—I’m trying not to push myself into another meltdown.

Running Disappears

On low-energy days, running is exhausting before I even start. Constantly navigating through traffic, reacting to loud noises, the sensory overload of being outside—I skip it entirely. Often 3-4 consecutive days at a time. Even if I wanted to run, my performance and pace targets would be so degraded that completing the workout would drain the last of my energy. So I don't start.

The Pattern

These aren't choices I make once. They're the same cuts, happening on the same kinds of days, over and over. Cleaning, friends, hygiene, running—in that order, every time.

The problem isn't one low energy day. It's not noticing the pattern until I've already lost a week of the things I actually want to do.

About Me

I'm Omari, a 23-year-old autistic adult who's been managing chronic burnout for 5+ years while working warehouse shifts.

I built Spoons to catch these patterns earlier—before I lose a week to it, further taking away from the things I actually want to do.

Launching April 2026. getspoons.app - One email when it's ready. No spam.

— Omari

Note: I'm sharing my personal experience as an autistic adult, not medical advice. If you're experiencing severe burnout or crisis, please consult a healthcare provider familiar with autism.

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