Web Self-Care Day for neurodivergent brains

Relating to display screen time, most specialists agree: much less is extra. Time in nature, connecting with individuals we care about, and different screen-free actions are actually helpful for our well being. However for neurodivergent brains, a extra nuanced method to web self-care is required to create space for the complexities that include residing in a world constructed for neurotypical brains. Typically, extra display screen time may very well be a self-care observe for neurodivergent individuals.

“Cyberloafing”

In his ebook “Laziness Does Not Exist,” Dr. Devon Value explores the idea of “cyberloafing”, a time period that describes taking part in in your cellphone whilst you’re purported to be at work or doing one thing productive. Whereas employers could look down on this observe, it could really be helpful, particularly for neurodivergent brains.

Dr. Value, who’s neurodivergent himself and is an advocate for neurodivergent well-being, says “cyberloafing” performs an vital position in task-shifting. Many individuals could flip to their cellphone after they’ve accomplished a troublesome or boring job.

For folx with ADHD, this novelty-seeking can provide their brains the quantity of dopamine they should transfer ahead. That is very true as a result of individuals with ADHD usually should expend important cognitive effort to finish duties that their interest-based nervous system doesn’t discover rewarding.

Self-Regulation

For the neurodivergent mind, the world might be a particularly overstimulating place. From honking vehicles to busy school rooms, neurodivergent youth and adults are bombarded with difficult sensory experiences at each angle.

Primarily based on their lived experiences as autistic adults and fogeys, influencers Orion Kelly and Taylor Heaton mentioned the profit that display screen time has on their lives and their kids’s lives. Each Heaton and Kelly agree that they don’t strictly restrict display screen time for his or her neurodivergent kids as a result of it’s such a useful device for emotional self-regulation. (They do, nonetheless, restrict what their kids are watching to make sure the content material is acceptable). In addition they agree that as neurodivergent dad and mom, display screen time for his or her kids offers them the time they want as dad and mom to manage themselves. This helps them to be calmer, extra current dad and mom.

Display time can also be helpful for self-regulation throughout autistic burnout. Autistic burnout is when an autistic particular person experiences excessive exhaustion, lack of functioning, and lowered tolerance to stimuli. This often occurs when an autistic particular person is pushed previous their limits emotionally, cognitively, socially, and many others. When this occurs, display screen time stands out as the solely factor somebody has the vitality for. Participating in particular pursuits by way of Youtube or different on-line platforms might be particularly useful for restoration. The web might also permit for various modes of communication, which might be useful if somebody is non-verbal throughout burnout.

How A lot is Too A lot?

So, display screen time can help neurodivergent brains. However how a lot is an excessive amount of? Listed here are some questions you may ask your self to assist information you to decide what boundaries it’s possible you’ll wish to put in place in the event you really feel you want them:

• Are the display screen cut-off dates I’m putting on myself primarily based on society’s expectations, or primarily based alone wants?
• Is my display screen time getting in the best way of issues I would like/want to perform?
• How does display screen time make me really feel, emotionally and bodily?
• What want is display screen time fulfilling in my life? (Examples: Does it permit me to attach with others in a extra accessible manner? Does it assist me self-regulate after a hectic day?)
• If I’m utilizing screens extra usually than typical, what info does this give me about how I’m feeling? (Instance: If I usually flip to screens to destress, and I’m utilizing screens extra usually, possibly I’m beneath extra stress than typical.)

Neurodivergent self-care usually appears to be like totally different from neurotypical self-care, and it’s no totally different in terms of web utilization. Permit your self to make use of screens to help you in the event you want it with out disgrace. Take time to consider if you wish to create boundaries round display screen time, making certain these boundaries are primarily based in your wants and never society’s expectations.