The Routine Rollercoaster: Why Predictability Matters This Month

✨ One thing to remember

Routine is not “boring.”
Routine is anchoring — especially for neurodiverse brains, including individuals with FASD. It’s the mental equivalent of a weighted blanket, a familiar melody, a map when things feel scattered.

This time of year, routines tend to get tossed aside faster than wrapping paper on Christmas morning. School schedules shift, activities change, people travel, caregivers juggle ALL the things.

But here’s the science: predictable routines reduce stress, support emotional regulation, and help neurodiverse individuals feel safer in their bodies. When routines wobble, regulation often wobbles with them.

This isn’t about control.
It’s about brain comfort.

✨ One thing to release

Release the belief that holiday joy requires a schedule full of spontaneity.
For many families supporting neurodiverse loved ones, spontaneity is charming in theory and disastrous in practice.

You are not “too rigid” for protecting routines.
You are not “overreacting” for planning your days.
You are building a foundation that helps your loved one participate in the season — not fall apart in it.

Some families thrive on spontaneity; others thrive on structure. If a little structure keeps your day calmer, that’s not overplanning — that’s wise caregiving.

✨ One thing that may help today

Create a simple, visual “Holiday Rhythm” for the week.
This isn’t a strict timetable — it’s a gentle guide that says, “Here’s what’s coming. No surprises. We’ve got you.”

Keep it basic:

• morning plan

• one activity

• mealtime

• quiet time

• bedtime consistency

Even older teens and adults often respond positively to visual structure. Neurodiverse brains love knowing what to expect — it lowers cognitive load and reduces anxiety by giving the nervous system a preview.

And honestly? Caregivers benefit too.
Sometimes you need the visual reminder as much as they do.