Day in the Life of an Autistic Entrepreneur Part 3: Evening Routines & Rest

You've seen how I start my day in Part 1 and manage my afternoon energy in Part 2. Now let's talk about one of the most critical parts of my routine: how I wind down after work and prepare for rest, which is something that doesn't always come easily to autistic brains!

Evening Energy Management for Autistic Entrepreneurs

By around 7pm, I'm usually wrapping up my last podcast recording or client call of the day. At this point, my brain is pretty fried from all the screen time and social interaction. Years of self-awareness have taught me to recognize the signs: my eyes struggle to focus, and my ability to process information starts to slow down significantly.

Instead of pushing through this fatigue, I've learned to honor my body's needs. Depending on my energy and hunger levels, I'll either eat now or go for another walk. This break is essential because I know I still want to get some writing or content creation done before bed – and forcing creative work when I'm depleted never ends well.

Nourishing an Autistic Brain

My last meal of the day probably isn't what most people would consider a traditional "dinner." I typically spend about an hour in the kitchen, eating a random sequence of concoctions until I feel satisfied. This might sound unconventional, but it works perfectly for my neurodivergent needs. Because autistic people often struggle with interoceptive awareness (our ability to sense internal body signals like hunger and fullness), I've learned to aim for satisfaction rather than trying to determine "fullness." If you're looking for easy, sensory-friendly meal inspiration that you can customize to your unique preferences, check out my cookbook Nourishing Neurodiversity! I created it specifically for neurodivergent folks who want simple, adaptable recipes that take the overwhelm out of cooking and eating.

Evening Creativity and The Autistic Need For a Plan

After taking time to eat and move, something magical happens – I feel magnetically pulled back to my words! This is when I'll often have another writing session, accompanied by a cup of tea. However, I've learned to be flexible with my evening energy. If I'm too tired for deep creative work, I'll switch to tasks that require less "brain digging,” like preparing podcast content, writing a short blog post, catching up on emails, or tidying my living space.

One non-negotiable evening task is planning out the next day. As an autistic entrepreneur, I literally cannot sleep if I don't know what I'll be doing tomorrow! This isn't about rigid control – it's about creating the predictability my nervous system needs to fully relax.

An Autism-Friendly Evening Routine

My evening routine is just as critical as my morning routine. Not only does it determine whether I have a chance at quality sleep (which isn't typically an autistic forte!), but it also sets the stage for my energy and success the next day. Nervous system regulation is paramount here. My evening routine serves as a way to promote safety within my entire body, which is a cornerstone of being able to rest.

A key part of this wind-down process is my gentle yoga flow, which I do for 10-15 minutes. I don't follow any YouTube videos, but rather, I listen to calming music and flow through a sequence I've been doing for years. This familiarity is comforting to my autistic brain, requiring no new processing or decision-making.

After yoga, it's time for the basics: brushing teeth, rinsing face, and ensuring everything is clean and ready for a fresh start tomorrow. Then I head to bed with my iPad. After a full day of thinking, writing, coaching, moving, and managing anxiety, I need to immerse myself in the Netflix universe for about an hour! This helps my brain transition from active mode to sleep mode, and by 11pm, it's usually lights out.

Creating Sustainable Success as A Neurodivergent Business Owner

This might not look like the "perfect" evening routine that productivity gurus promote. There's no digital sunset two hours before bed, no meditation marathon, no journaling session. Instead, it's a routine that works with my autistic brain rather than against it. It provides the right balance of productivity and rest, structured activities and flexibility, sensory regulation and mental unwinding.

Remember, the key to sustainable success as an autistic entrepreneur isn't about following neurotypical advice – it's about creating systems that honor your unique neurotype while supporting your business goals.

This concludes our 3-part series on navigating entrepreneurship as an autistic individual. Missed the earlier parts? Check out my morning routine in Part 1 and afternoon systems in Part 2!