SAME YEAR, SAME ME

2025.

It’s on the horizon.

And we’re all raring to go (ignoring Trump, Putin and Starmer).

Pumping ourselves up like balloons with those New Year’s resolutions.

I find that New Year’s Eve parties are a celebration not of the year gone, or the new year.

But the last opportunity to let ourselves go, before buckling ourselves down.

The euphoria of our pre-made pledge that we’re going to be better versions of ourselves.

The reassurance that 2025 is going to be our year.

“New Year, New Me!”.

And it begins, the Dry January, the gym subscriptions, the read a new book every week blah.

Change.

It’s what neurotypical people define as betterment.

Whether that be mentally or physically.

However, autism is quite the opposite.

Change is bad, change is scary to us.

Our means of staying ‘healthy’ is our rigorous routine.

That everything goes according to plan.

SIR YES SIR!

Like an army regiment of myself, orders are issued at different parts of the day.

If anything doesn’t go according to plan, it spoils my day.

I just can’t change course, instead I’ll reset.

Routine brings structure to my life, security to my day.

Pepping myself of what to come is my sanity.

And I’m happy to do that every single day, month and year.

Groundhog Day is bliss.

The Truman Show is comfort.

You think me mad?

Ok, how about Perfect Days.

That is a movie that really sums up the harmony of a structured, repetitive routine.

It’s about a Japanese public toilet cleaner in Tokyo, enjoying his rituals of the everyday.

Watering his plants in the early morning, playing a cassette on his way to work.

Finishing work, going to his regular bathhouse and subway yakisoba stand.

Ending his day reading a book that he’d selected at a his local bookstore.

Watching this film was like pure ecstasy, because it really resonated with me.

Especially the moments when other people tried to change his day.

The flicker of emotional destress of uncertainty, and trying to readjust his direction while keeping his day intact.

I highly recommend watching it on MUBI, to really understand where I’m coming from.

So, what are my ‘Perfect Days’?

Well they vary depending whether I’m going into office or working from home.

But let’s talk about working from home.

I begin the day rising out of bed at 5.45, like a man possessed.

Mouth wash, brush teeth and face wash, in that order.

Then I march myself to the leisure centre for a swim, whatever the weather.

While wearing my ceremonial black tee, cotton shirt, skinny jeans with high tops.

I dive into the cold chlorine abyss, racing battle hardened regulars down the lanes.

Clocking 20 lengths.

Then shower, get dressed and head straight to my local Wetherspoons.

Ordering myself a refillable coffee for £1.56 (bargain), going straight for black with one brown sugar and a little milk.

I’ll proceed to work on briefs or personal projects in one of the booths, until lunchtime when I head straight home.

On my way back home and pepping lunch, I’ll listen to the podcast Behind the Billboard.

After finishing lunch, I’ll work until 6, make dinner and finish the day gaming on the PS5 downstairs or the PS2 upstairs; this varies with movie nights.

At 10.15 I’ll retreat to bed, giving me exactly 7 and half hours to sleep until I get up again.

That is my perfect day working at home.

It doesn’t sound extraordinary, but I assure you, when all this goes to plan it’s euphoria.

So, as 2025 comes into full motion, and everyone goes into full change.

I won’t be changing anything, I’ll be doing exactly what I did in 2024.

Carrying on with my structured, repetitive routine.

For my New Year’ Resolution is this…

Same Year, Same Me.

Happy Same Year!

P.S. I’m still trying to figure out a routine with my spontaneous wife.