Prepping For The Holidays- Regulation Tips At Events

As we approach all of the holiday events with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and NYE, I want to share my strategy for participating in holiday festivities as someone who gets overstimulated, has dietary restrictions, and is also extremely extroverted.

1: Host at my house

I have a white elephant party at my house every year, Christmas is at my house, and my mom hosts Thanksgiving. This way I know I have food I can eat, and I have a bit more control of my environment. It makes it easier to go to other parties because I know I'll also have my own.

2: I bring my own food

If I don't know the host, or the host tells me the menu isn't accessible for me, I bring my own food. I might be going to a NYE wedding, and if I go, I'm bringing my own food in a bag so I can eat and not make it anyone else's problem since it's a wedding.

3: I keep Airpods on me

I think I've said this before, but I keep AirPods on me for a lot of events so if I get sensitive to noises I have a discreet way to avoid the noise. I highly recommend AirPods for this reason. However, I think I also need running headphones, so if anyone has any recommendations, let me know.

4: I don't go alone

If I am going to a party, I don't go alone. Group dynamics are harder for me even though I like them. Don't get me wrong, I can talk to a pole. But it's easier for me to manage one person's reaction vs. 5 people. If I am with someone, I have someone I know I can talk to and reset with. Bonus points because I usually hang out with introverts, so they are excited to not have to carry the conversation, and I'm excited to hold the conversation for probably too long.

5: I try to have activities

When I host larger groups, I try to have activities. My parties usually have board games, and my white elephant parties have white elephant (shocking, I know......). This defuses some of the awkwardness of having people meet each other, and takes the pressure off of me to assess how people are integrating into the party because everyone can focus on a board game.

6: I avoid outside parties

I get cold, my legs get cold, I'm crabby, and in pain; then everyone else is crabby because I'm not fun to talk to and want to go home. I know my limits, and an outside party in December is my limit. I'll catch you at the next one.

7: I balance my schedule

If I have a big party, I might try to get a walk or a run in the morning to help me regulate. The next day, I might leave some padding in my schedule in case I feel sore from standing or ate something outside my diet without realizing it. Adding buffers in helps me avoid needing to cancel anything and protects my peace.

8: I remove attachment to routine... sort of

At my house, I have a spot I sit in. If I am hosting, I tell people not to sit there. My entire family knows where my spot is at this point. If you can guess it, your prize is a high five next time I see you in person. However, when I am at other people's parties, I try to let go of any routine I might have because it's a party. This is not easy for me, but I know it's the social norm so I'm doing it. However, if you have someone who likes routine, letting them maintain it at your party is a kind gesture.

9: I always keep a jacket on me

I have to be more mindful of temperature than the average person because cold can cause the nerves in my legs to stop communicating. I always bring a jacket to any party, and sometimes I even keep a blanket in the car or pack hand warmers. Based on where I live, this can seem excessive, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

10: I offer alternatives when appropriate

I love parties and hanging out with people. But if I really can't make a setting work, I offer an alternative to connect with the person. Lately people have been offering to walk with me, which I love, but I promise you I will still hang out with you even if we aren't walking. I understand not every event will be accessible to me, and while that can be sad, I know I can offer an alternative to hang out later. I might skip an ice skating party but offer a dinner hangout. This doesn't work for coorperate events, but those ideally should be more accessible anyway.

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Thank you for reading about how I prep for larger holiday events as an extroverted autistic person with dietary restrictions. If you have any questions or comments, please comment on the blog, reach out at @Anniekrollblog on Instagram or Facebook, or email me at Anniekrollblog@gmail.com. I hope to see you next week!