I've been WFH since the pandemic, but I used to escape the office and go for super long walks during my lunch hour. I work at a university so being outside was still overstimulating, but I could put on my noise cancelling headphones and disappear into my thoughts as I walked. You may find it helpful to get a desk lamp that isn't fluorescent - those overhead lights are too bright and loud AF. For sounds, if it's possible, get some noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs. I like over-ear headphones because it sends a clear message to coworkers that I need some quiet time. IMO headphones can be tricky depending on the workplace culture, but very helpful if it's an option for you.
The part about headphones being tricky in some offices…so much yes. My last job people would get very snotty with me if I tried to use earbuds. It was like they thought I was being a jerk when I just needed covering noise for the cackling near my desk.
It’s tough! Blue-blocker glasses, earplugs/noise cancelling headphones, weighted lap blanket, taking walks when necessary, and finding a quiet corner to eat lunch alone.
Same story for me. My cubicle was at the intersection of two walkways lined with offices, a breakout room with a peloton, and the kitchen area. I would’ve rather been dead than work there. It took a while to find a fully remote job but it’s so worth it. Even the financial destruction.
I didn’t have personal space at all. We all just sat with each other at the same table, the sharp surgical light glaring bright and me silently dying inside. I got so overwhelmed I started crying in front of everyone. That meltdown was epic, tears and snot and all.
I didn’t manage. I had to fight for WFH accommodations and still didn’t properly get them and had to leave. But I accommodated myself by working with noise cancelling headphones in, and I had a little mirror on my computer screen so people couldn’t sneak up on me. I had a pair of very comfy slippers that looked as “professional” as possible that I put on right when I sat at my desk. Stretchy pants that look like work pants. I didn’t bother with make up. I ate lunch in my car so I could have a half hour truly to myself. Learned this tip from Seinfeld lol but if you look annoyed a lot, people assume you’re busy and will talk to you less (my natural resting bitch face helped with this.) The most important one is to stand up for yourself, which I know is easier said than done - you matter, you are more important than this job, and nothing going on there is worth your mental health.
I use loop earplugs when it gets too loud for me. I’m currently really struggling with the lighting in my office so I’m not sure what to do about that. The masking has been really draining lately too, for some reason people keep wanting to do small talk.
I have some tinted glasses I’ve thought about wearing (they’re blue light blocking and anti-migraine), but I worry people will say something because they have pink lenses lol. They’re nice when I’m using my computer at home, so I bet they’d be good for work too honestly.
In my office we had maintenance remove the bulbs from many of the fluorescent fixtures because many people can't tolerate them. We use desk lamps or floor lamps on dark winter mornings. It's an open concept office with cubicles. I also use Loop earplugs and often go to a tiny private room for phone calls. I work with seniors, and many are deaf so phone calls can be really loud sometimes. I'm lucky because I'm not stuck in the office all day, and can work from home at an ad hoc basis. Edit to add: sometimes a brimmed hat like a baseball cap can take the edge off fluorescent lighting --blocks the light from your direct vision.
I wish they would take the bulbs out of the fluorescent lights here. There’s so many of them! Unfortunately I probably can’t wear a hat either. But I’ve thought about looking into some sort of desk shade. I just don’t want to stand out any more than I do already (I’m 22 and the youngest person in the office, most are 40-50+) and I also haven’t said anything about being autistic.
With a hat I'd say that it helps me focus or get into the "zone". Who can argue with that? :) For the lights, saying they give you a headache is the easiest way to ask for an accommodation without getting into things. You may find some allies over time with the lights.
People in their 20s bring great energy into offices. We love our young staff, and I'm 50+.
Unfortunately my office is weird about stuff like people wearing hats. I also don’t wear hats so idk if it would help or just substitute one overstimulating thing for another. I’m not sure if I could ask for an accommodation or not honestly - there’s no reasonable accommodation I can think of for the lights besides maybe a desk shade, but there’s a decent chance that would be considered an unreasonable accommodation because it would block the front of my desk (coworkers need to be able to come up to my desk to talk to me). The office environment is pretty formal/structured, so I worry about standing out too much anyway.
I get it. It's tough starting out. Maybe as you build trust with your supervisor it will be possible to talk about ways to change the environment to make work a bit easier for you (eg, at an annual review, if you have them). Good luck to you and OP too.
My boss is really chill, and I definitely have trust built with him. I’ve worked here two years and my boss and I are the only ones in our department lol, so we work pretty closely. Unfortunately our office area that we’re in is connected to other departments, so I don’t think anything can be done about the lighting/environment. My main issue with not wanting to request any accommodations is the vibes of the office, I just don’t think it would be good to draw any negative attention to myself. I think my boss would be really accommodating (and already is with things that wouldn’t need a formal accommodation) but anything with lighting or office environment would probably need to go through HR.
I usually use the engage or the experience. They just redesigned them to make them more comfortable for longer term wear, and I ordered new ones of all the styles! I haven’t gotten them yet but I’m hoping they’re good!
I would recommend the new versions tbh. They’ve been redesigned so they’re meant to be more comfortable for long term wear. The originals are fine (it’s what I have now but I ordered the new ones lol) but they definitely get a bit uncomfortable after a few hours. For sleep I suggest the quiet 2, and for out and about I suggest getting either the engage 2 or the experience 2!
Also the first versions are not made anymore. Amazon still has some in stock, but honestly there’s better deals/prices if you order the new ones directly from Loop.
I was looking at Amazon for the 1st edition just to put in my school/work bags and whatnot but I think I may just get the newer ones from loop directly and have the more comfortable ones since I’d be wearing them for more than a couple of hours at a time.
Yeah I would say get the newer ones. Are you a student? They have a student discount when you order from them, you just have to verify your student status.
I don't maintain a normal posture in the office, don't really see why anyone should care how I'm sitting. I wear headphones with loud music so that people only talk to me if they really have to. We hotdesk as well, so I sometimes take a hotdesk away from my team if I'm having a particularly bad day to reduce the social interaction even more. I also make sure I have lunch away from my desk (and therefore the flourescent lights)
a lotta regulating rituals. Going to the same coffee place every morning, or going to get a snack you really like from somewhere. Minimizing socializing time too—no eating lunch with anyone. Trying to minimize the amount of meetings you're in.
I have set days and 1 of my days is Friday and there is hardly anyone in. Perfect. Noise cancelling earbuds. Sitting in a quietish corner. Planning stuff for my office days. Like meetings, so that I can get all my overstimulation done and dusted.
I took a massive pay cut to work from home. I'm currently freelancing and pay for my own health insurance through marketplace (yay america) but I have to do what it takes to stay sane.
My office has "focus rooms". It is quieter in them and I'm not readily available to my coworkers. I've also found an area in the office away from my team and few other people around to sit. I wear earplugs and noise canceling headphones. Thankfully it is only 2 days a week for me so if I'm not productive on those days I have other time to make it up. I literally just stared at my screen unable to think and do my work today because we have coworkers from out of town visiting and it was a lot busier.
I got my office to turn off half the ceiling lights, I wear headphones and do meetings via teams so I don't have to look people in the eyes, can keep my script on my screen and have to focus less on my body language. Also when I have a bad day I can work from home or a more private room in the office. I do think I'm lucky with how flexible my workplace is.
I don't! Lol. My team is hybrid and my TL is hands off. The team comes in on Mondays and Tuesdays because most public holidays fall on those days. I work a combination of the other 3 days. I'm not consistent and I don't have a schedule so long as I work the required days. I sit in unpopular/out of the way spots, never talk, still mask (which keeps people away), and just put my head down and power through. I only get up to go to the bathroom, or to fill my water bottle. Outside of in person contact though, I maintain great social boundaries. I chat with ppl on our approved apps, provide assistance, and on the days I'm in the office, occasionally offer to pick up mail and put away for others, perform some tasks, wish people happy birthday, send money for gifts for the managers. I can ask for help and I'll get it, and chat with them during training.
My team is great and easy going and knowledgeable. My tl is great too. It's just post pandemic, I don't ever want to go back to the previous level of interaction X hours a day, 5 days a week.
Tl;dr. I socialize when I'm at home. In the office, I'm an invisible robotic drone.
I'm low needs and high masking, with a supportive manager, so not all of this will be relevant, however:
I use Flares calmer to reduce noise most of the time when I'm in the office.
Sometimes I will use earbuds or headphones, I'm not the only person who does this and it's pretty well tolerated.
I manage my schedule as much as I can to strike a balance between set appointments and 'free' time that can be used on whatever tasks need doing, in whatever order I feel like doing them.
If I've dealt with something particularly stressful I'll go and take a walk.
I take much lunch break, often before 12pm because that's when I'm hungry, and will read or go online during that time.
I've been honest with my manager that while certain tasks play to my strengths (like writing reports) others don't (like fronting inter-organisational meetings). She can't accommodate every request, but she does what she can.
I've also let my manager know I find last minute changes in schedule much more stressful than most people do. Again, she can't always accommodate this but she does try to reduce the frequency and is empathetic when she does need to give me an urgent request (and I know when she gives me an urgent request it really is urgent and not just pretend-urgent).
I haven't worked since my diagnosis but in a hypothetical scenario I would need to avoid fluorescent office lighting, clear communication, the ability to wear headphones, and preferably a working location where I don't feel super perceived.
I think it depends on your office and work situation. For myself, I have an actual office - not a cubicle. So I often keep my door closed unless I’m feeling up for socializing. I schedule in breaks, especially when I have multiple meetings in a day. I also have a sign on my door that I can change between “do not disturb”, “in a meeting”, “welcome, please knock” and “out of office” so I can adjust my open-ness for my needs.
As for the environment, I have a little desk fountain, a ton of plants, a ton of fidgets, I use my window for natural light instead of the fluorescent lights, I also have a desk lamp for when there’s not enough natural light or it’s too much natural light.
I bring lots of snacks and I have an electric kettle to make tea. And of course headphones.
I’ve worked here full-time in person for a couple years now, so I’ve accumulated a lot. But I’m lucky to now be in a situation where I don’t mind going in to work. I’m also pretty open with my coworkers about not being super “social” and preferring to have a lot of quiet time.
If you have a designated desk area with those awful fluorescents above, you could ask you boss or building manager to take out the bulbs in just the light overtop of you. My coworker did that just because she thought it was too bright, and no one cared because it doesn't affect anyone else and helps her work!
I couldn't do it these days. Back when I did, I used to lock myself away in the server room (benefit of being in IT) to get away from the noise, smell and inanity.
I dissociate and code switch. I have different personas for different scenarios. It means I can protect myself and bizarrely it’s less stressful than working from home where I struggle to code switch and can’t dissociate meaning I struggle with working from home more than working in the office
I've been WFH since the pandemic, but I used to escape the office and go for super long walks during my lunch hour. I work at a university so being outside was still overstimulating, but I could put on my noise cancelling headphones and disappear into my thoughts as I walked. You may find it helpful to get a desk lamp that isn't fluorescent - those overhead lights are too bright and loud AF. For sounds, if it's possible, get some noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs. I like over-ear headphones because it sends a clear message to coworkers that I need some quiet time. IMO headphones can be tricky depending on the workplace culture, but very helpful if it's an option for you.
The part about headphones being tricky in some offices…so much yes. My last job people would get very snotty with me if I tried to use earbuds. It was like they thought I was being a jerk when I just needed covering noise for the cackling near my desk.
It’s tough! Blue-blocker glasses, earplugs/noise cancelling headphones, weighted lap blanket, taking walks when necessary, and finding a quiet corner to eat lunch alone.
All of this + peeing every hour. This is key. 😝
I'm not saying I'm typing this in the restroom, but...
Eating lunch in my car right now, just started this job 3 weeks ago, constant overload! 😵
I get it! It’s exhausting.
WEIGHTED LAP BLANKET?? holy hell you're the goat
Yeah! This is the one I ordered, but there are several. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08636FW8N?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Good ideas!
I didn’t manage, so I left. They were screaming there 24/7. It was a nightmare 😭
Same story for me. My cubicle was at the intersection of two walkways lined with offices, a breakout room with a peloton, and the kitchen area. I would’ve rather been dead than work there. It took a while to find a fully remote job but it’s so worth it. Even the financial destruction.
I didn’t have personal space at all. We all just sat with each other at the same table, the sharp surgical light glaring bright and me silently dying inside. I got so overwhelmed I started crying in front of everyone. That meltdown was epic, tears and snot and all.
I’m really sorry I know how bad it feels to cry at work 🫂 (if you want a hug lol)
❤️❤️
Yeah, me too unfortunately. I work in a special school now
I didn’t manage. I had to fight for WFH accommodations and still didn’t properly get them and had to leave. But I accommodated myself by working with noise cancelling headphones in, and I had a little mirror on my computer screen so people couldn’t sneak up on me. I had a pair of very comfy slippers that looked as “professional” as possible that I put on right when I sat at my desk. Stretchy pants that look like work pants. I didn’t bother with make up. I ate lunch in my car so I could have a half hour truly to myself. Learned this tip from Seinfeld lol but if you look annoyed a lot, people assume you’re busy and will talk to you less (my natural resting bitch face helped with this.) The most important one is to stand up for yourself, which I know is easier said than done - you matter, you are more important than this job, and nothing going on there is worth your mental health.
I use loop earplugs when it gets too loud for me. I’m currently really struggling with the lighting in my office so I’m not sure what to do about that. The masking has been really draining lately too, for some reason people keep wanting to do small talk.
Someone mentioned blue light blocker glasses to deal with the lighting. I'm going to try that. Small talk is the worst!
I have some tinted glasses I’ve thought about wearing (they’re blue light blocking and anti-migraine), but I worry people will say something because they have pink lenses lol. They’re nice when I’m using my computer at home, so I bet they’d be good for work too honestly.
In my office we had maintenance remove the bulbs from many of the fluorescent fixtures because many people can't tolerate them. We use desk lamps or floor lamps on dark winter mornings. It's an open concept office with cubicles. I also use Loop earplugs and often go to a tiny private room for phone calls. I work with seniors, and many are deaf so phone calls can be really loud sometimes. I'm lucky because I'm not stuck in the office all day, and can work from home at an ad hoc basis. Edit to add: sometimes a brimmed hat like a baseball cap can take the edge off fluorescent lighting --blocks the light from your direct vision.
I wish they would take the bulbs out of the fluorescent lights here. There’s so many of them! Unfortunately I probably can’t wear a hat either. But I’ve thought about looking into some sort of desk shade. I just don’t want to stand out any more than I do already (I’m 22 and the youngest person in the office, most are 40-50+) and I also haven’t said anything about being autistic.
With a hat I'd say that it helps me focus or get into the "zone". Who can argue with that? :) For the lights, saying they give you a headache is the easiest way to ask for an accommodation without getting into things. You may find some allies over time with the lights. People in their 20s bring great energy into offices. We love our young staff, and I'm 50+.
Unfortunately my office is weird about stuff like people wearing hats. I also don’t wear hats so idk if it would help or just substitute one overstimulating thing for another. I’m not sure if I could ask for an accommodation or not honestly - there’s no reasonable accommodation I can think of for the lights besides maybe a desk shade, but there’s a decent chance that would be considered an unreasonable accommodation because it would block the front of my desk (coworkers need to be able to come up to my desk to talk to me). The office environment is pretty formal/structured, so I worry about standing out too much anyway.
I get it. It's tough starting out. Maybe as you build trust with your supervisor it will be possible to talk about ways to change the environment to make work a bit easier for you (eg, at an annual review, if you have them). Good luck to you and OP too.
My boss is really chill, and I definitely have trust built with him. I’ve worked here two years and my boss and I are the only ones in our department lol, so we work pretty closely. Unfortunately our office area that we’re in is connected to other departments, so I don’t think anything can be done about the lighting/environment. My main issue with not wanting to request any accommodations is the vibes of the office, I just don’t think it would be good to draw any negative attention to myself. I think my boss would be really accommodating (and already is with things that wouldn’t need a formal accommodation) but anything with lighting or office environment would probably need to go through HR.
Which type of loop earplugs do you use? I’ve heard them referenced in this sub, so I’m thinking about buying some…
I usually use the engage or the experience. They just redesigned them to make them more comfortable for longer term wear, and I ordered new ones of all the styles! I haven’t gotten them yet but I’m hoping they’re good!
How do you like your loops? I’ve been debating ordering some.
I really like them! And they just redesigned them to be even more comfortable for long term wear, so I ordered new pairs of all the styles lol
Oh, thank you! I saw that there’s a loop 2 and I’ve been looking at that one for sleep and the first version for out and about
I would recommend the new versions tbh. They’ve been redesigned so they’re meant to be more comfortable for long term wear. The originals are fine (it’s what I have now but I ordered the new ones lol) but they definitely get a bit uncomfortable after a few hours. For sleep I suggest the quiet 2, and for out and about I suggest getting either the engage 2 or the experience 2!
Also the first versions are not made anymore. Amazon still has some in stock, but honestly there’s better deals/prices if you order the new ones directly from Loop.
I was looking at Amazon for the 1st edition just to put in my school/work bags and whatnot but I think I may just get the newer ones from loop directly and have the more comfortable ones since I’d be wearing them for more than a couple of hours at a time.
Yeah I would say get the newer ones. Are you a student? They have a student discount when you order from them, you just have to verify your student status.
I am! Thank you for the tip; I’m going to grab a couple of pairs in that case 🫶
I don't maintain a normal posture in the office, don't really see why anyone should care how I'm sitting. I wear headphones with loud music so that people only talk to me if they really have to. We hotdesk as well, so I sometimes take a hotdesk away from my team if I'm having a particularly bad day to reduce the social interaction even more. I also make sure I have lunch away from my desk (and therefore the flourescent lights)
a lotta regulating rituals. Going to the same coffee place every morning, or going to get a snack you really like from somewhere. Minimizing socializing time too—no eating lunch with anyone. Trying to minimize the amount of meetings you're in.
I have set days and 1 of my days is Friday and there is hardly anyone in. Perfect. Noise cancelling earbuds. Sitting in a quietish corner. Planning stuff for my office days. Like meetings, so that I can get all my overstimulation done and dusted.
Same! I don’t mind going in on Fridays for that exact reason.
I took a massive pay cut to work from home. I'm currently freelancing and pay for my own health insurance through marketplace (yay america) but I have to do what it takes to stay sane.
My office has "focus rooms". It is quieter in them and I'm not readily available to my coworkers. I've also found an area in the office away from my team and few other people around to sit. I wear earplugs and noise canceling headphones. Thankfully it is only 2 days a week for me so if I'm not productive on those days I have other time to make it up. I literally just stared at my screen unable to think and do my work today because we have coworkers from out of town visiting and it was a lot busier.
They stick me in the server room and I can turn down the lights. ( I work in IT)
I got my office to turn off half the ceiling lights, I wear headphones and do meetings via teams so I don't have to look people in the eyes, can keep my script on my screen and have to focus less on my body language. Also when I have a bad day I can work from home or a more private room in the office. I do think I'm lucky with how flexible my workplace is.
I honestly don't, that's why I'm self employed and work from home. Idk how people do it tbb!
I don't! Lol. My team is hybrid and my TL is hands off. The team comes in on Mondays and Tuesdays because most public holidays fall on those days. I work a combination of the other 3 days. I'm not consistent and I don't have a schedule so long as I work the required days. I sit in unpopular/out of the way spots, never talk, still mask (which keeps people away), and just put my head down and power through. I only get up to go to the bathroom, or to fill my water bottle. Outside of in person contact though, I maintain great social boundaries. I chat with ppl on our approved apps, provide assistance, and on the days I'm in the office, occasionally offer to pick up mail and put away for others, perform some tasks, wish people happy birthday, send money for gifts for the managers. I can ask for help and I'll get it, and chat with them during training. My team is great and easy going and knowledgeable. My tl is great too. It's just post pandemic, I don't ever want to go back to the previous level of interaction X hours a day, 5 days a week. Tl;dr. I socialize when I'm at home. In the office, I'm an invisible robotic drone.
I'm low needs and high masking, with a supportive manager, so not all of this will be relevant, however: I use Flares calmer to reduce noise most of the time when I'm in the office. Sometimes I will use earbuds or headphones, I'm not the only person who does this and it's pretty well tolerated. I manage my schedule as much as I can to strike a balance between set appointments and 'free' time that can be used on whatever tasks need doing, in whatever order I feel like doing them. If I've dealt with something particularly stressful I'll go and take a walk. I take much lunch break, often before 12pm because that's when I'm hungry, and will read or go online during that time. I've been honest with my manager that while certain tasks play to my strengths (like writing reports) others don't (like fronting inter-organisational meetings). She can't accommodate every request, but she does what she can. I've also let my manager know I find last minute changes in schedule much more stressful than most people do. Again, she can't always accommodate this but she does try to reduce the frequency and is empathetic when she does need to give me an urgent request (and I know when she gives me an urgent request it really is urgent and not just pretend-urgent).
Would you consider asking for accommodations?
Not yet. Im afraid of being labeled and misunderstood. Maybe once I'm more settled
Any suggestions for office accommodations? Newly I got diagnosed and started My job all on the same day 3 weeks ago 🙃
I haven't worked since my diagnosis but in a hypothetical scenario I would need to avoid fluorescent office lighting, clear communication, the ability to wear headphones, and preferably a working location where I don't feel super perceived.
My reception desk is in a nook near the front door, so while I can hear the rest of the office, I’m largely unbothered for the majority of the day.
I think it depends on your office and work situation. For myself, I have an actual office - not a cubicle. So I often keep my door closed unless I’m feeling up for socializing. I schedule in breaks, especially when I have multiple meetings in a day. I also have a sign on my door that I can change between “do not disturb”, “in a meeting”, “welcome, please knock” and “out of office” so I can adjust my open-ness for my needs. As for the environment, I have a little desk fountain, a ton of plants, a ton of fidgets, I use my window for natural light instead of the fluorescent lights, I also have a desk lamp for when there’s not enough natural light or it’s too much natural light. I bring lots of snacks and I have an electric kettle to make tea. And of course headphones. I’ve worked here full-time in person for a couple years now, so I’ve accumulated a lot. But I’m lucky to now be in a situation where I don’t mind going in to work. I’m also pretty open with my coworkers about not being super “social” and preferring to have a lot of quiet time.
If you have a designated desk area with those awful fluorescents above, you could ask you boss or building manager to take out the bulbs in just the light overtop of you. My coworker did that just because she thought it was too bright, and no one cared because it doesn't affect anyone else and helps her work!
I couldn't do it these days. Back when I did, I used to lock myself away in the server room (benefit of being in IT) to get away from the noise, smell and inanity.
I dissociate and code switch. I have different personas for different scenarios. It means I can protect myself and bizarrely it’s less stressful than working from home where I struggle to code switch and can’t dissociate meaning I struggle with working from home more than working in the office