Why Stimming Helps Me Recover Energy In Autistic Burnout
The Recovery Tool Nobody Talks About
I bite my nails. I navigate through screens on my smartwatch over and over. I stand on my tippy-toes at my desk.
All three help me recover 1-2 energy. Sometimes I do them for 30 minutes. Sometimes 2 hours.
What It Actually Feels Like
My brain is fired up, engaged in something it strongly wants to focus on. Most of the time I don't even realize I'm stimming—it just happens.
Regardless of whether I'm aware of it, I know how happy it makes me feel. My energy levels go from 3 to 6, or 2 to 4. Marginal increases, but they help dramatically when my cognitive energy is already depleted.
How I Protect Stimming Time at Work
At work, I pace myself and protect generous pockets of time to regulate myself, roughly 30-45 minutes per hour
I keep my output steady, but I stop pushing past my limits and doing more than what's nesscary.
Some resistance is expected. That feeling like I'm doing something "wrong." But I know how much how much happier and less restrictive it makes me feel. So I've gotten in the habit of doing it freely.
The Comments That Make Me Stim More
My mom asks "Why do you do that?" and "Why do you stand on your tippy-toes?"
Coworkers ask if I'm okay.
Those comments make me want to hide it again—but suppressing it makes everything worse.
The Fragility of Recovery
Most days I'm at 3-4 energy due to lingering burnout. I have headphones with brown noise playing to drown out loud conversations. Still drained.
Stimming for an hour or two usually recovers 2–3 energy for me. I can engage in something slightly more stimulating—like reading a task on my to-do list in full detail rather than ignoring it entirely.
But recovery isn't linear. A sudden uproar of someone laughing right next to me. A sudden 'BEEP-BEEP-BEEP' next to my station. Noise destroys my energy levels faster than anything — either one brings my energy right back where they started, or lower.
I try to be patient regardless of how much energy I have. The progress can disappear in seconds.
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 notice what actually gives me energy back—so I can spend it on drawing, gaming, or coding without crashing.
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.