What are the things that get in your way and make you not able to work?
@hmm_cook In the way: Neurotypicals expecting me to read non-verbal communications (social cues).
I got D- in work-training. I failed to understand the implications that I was "talking too much" Nobody told me I was talking too much, but one teach asked "are you working or are you talking?" We said "both".
I guess the teacher thought our work (hand-eye task of packaging knife sharpening kits for sale) would be slowed down by our talking, when actually, we worked better if we were talking.
@hmm_cook Having to ask for help.
First, I have to prepare myself to do the asking. Is there anything I’ve missed? I have to make sure I have all my ducks in a row before bothering someone else. This process can take quite a bit of time. I spend too much here in order to hopefully avoid actually having to ask.
Next, figuring out how to ask. I might start composing my question, only to find a question that leads me back down the rabbit hole of step 1. While composing, I have to consider who I’m asking, and how to phrase it so as not to offend. I’m learning a lot of my struggle with this has to do with masking — I’m trying to maintain a mask even in online communication, and I have different masks for different people/groups. This process can also take a while. I might start and throw away what I’m writing many times.
Finally, after I’ve actually sent the request, if what I’m working on can’t actually proceed without the answer, I often find myself in this stuck limbo state where I can’t go work on something else while I’m waiting for the answer. I waste a ton of time here — and I feel guilty about it.
@hmm_cook Knowing that I'll very likely get interrupted.
Sometimes at work I wait a few hours before starting a task because I don't expect to be left alone until it's done. Recently I learnt that's literally called "waiting mode".
That and exhaustion.