What is a routine in autism?

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I am very particular about my daily routines. It causes me stress to deviate from the schedule. I find myself doing the same thing after work and on the weekends. If I have to introduce a new thing that is not a part of my daily routine, it causes me excessive stress. Having to do random chores causes me stress because it conflicts with my schedule. Having to deviate from my weekend schedule so that I visit with family causes me stress. I don't believe that my family understands that it causes me stress to visit them because it conflicts with my routines, and that they would think I don't like them versus I just don't like the change in routine.

I typically eat the same things day in and day out. I do allow some variations of food, and I find I am more open about different foods I eat when compared to my daily routine.

My ideal weekend is a weekend that does not deviate from the weekend schedule. My coworkers ask what plans I have for the weekend, and it usually amazes them that my weekends sound so bland.

I tend to like bland. I like blandness in my routine. People that I do associate with bother me if they are too active, too cheery, too talkative, etc.

You have been getting in the shower for years before you eat breakfast. You have to take the same route home from work. Sure you could take a different route but it would stress you out. You aren't spontaneous and like to do the same types of things then wonder why your life is boring on weekends (I go through that lol).

I think the idea of "useless" routines is a little bit mistaken. Yes, my routines are in the same order every time, and yes, I get mixed up if they get disturbed, but those routines are a coping mechanism for the way I do tend to get lost if I don't know exactly what to do next. Having to think on the fly, essentially re-work every new task, is too much multi-tasking for me. So, instead, I do things the same way every time. Without those routines, I would not be as independent as I am.

Thank you for pointing this out, because this was the main thing about the definition which puzzled me and I couldn't quite explain it. The above sounds exactly like me, in that the routines I have are functional and exist because I would otherwise get confused. For example, when making a recipe I have to do all of the recipe steps in the same order every time I do it (and also have a small repertoire of the same recipes I use over and over because following a new one is difficult). This is not because it is otherwise irrationally stressful but because I would otherwise be muddled and forget what I am supposed to be doing and/or be unable to do it.

As another example, the last time I used the post office to post parcels I would have walked out without paying if the assistant hadn't shouted after me because the way she dealt with me mixed up the sequence of steps I always use to perform that task and I got confused. The last step being payment might seem like it should be obvious to everyone but it wasn't because I need to follow the sequence I developed in order to cope with multi-step tasks like that.

They are vital to my daily functioning, but I don't have the kind of compulsive "I just have to do that every day" routines some others have described here.

These two things actually seem to be rather different in cause, but I suppose since they manifest in such similar ways they are clinically grouped together under the definition?

I have (among others) two simple routines that are very important to me:

I must make coffee first thing after I wake up (even if I don't drink it). I had a meltdown one day when my family went to Disneyland (which I hate anyway) and I forgot my coffee; I got very irritable, whiny and tearful and badgered my husband until he stopped at a Starbucks. Then, I only took 2 sips before we got to Disneyland, and ended up throwing it away. I felt terrible afterwards for being such a wasteful baby, but I couldn't help it at the time.

Also, I must change into my pajamas as soon as I get home (I feel enormously uncomfortable if I am wearing clothes other than pj's around the house). I will do that before anything else.

I think one reason why I don't like to have routine everyday is because then I'll get super anxious about sticking to it. Therefore, I'm on disability. However, I find myself having a bit of routine anyway, but it's a super flexible one.

I tend to stick to routine as a way of coping and making me feel calm,if my routine is broken i get so stressed for the rest of the day
I also have to clean every day even when my house is clean..then i can sit back and relax and feel i can cope with life
stupid really

There is repetitive behaviour like flapping hands, lining up objects and focusing on the same interest.

Not only do I have strict routines, they are scheduled to a certain time.

Morning routine:
8am: Wake up, toilet, feed cats, feed self, brush teeth, make bed, shower.

Getting started with days events routine:

10am: take pill, write, snack, read, lunch (12pm), write some more, snack, read SMH (newspaper), brain training.

Evening routine:

5pm: feed cats, make dinner (before 6:30pm usually), do some internet stuff (there's a ban imposed between 10am-3pm), write in journal.

The most unbreakable routine ever:

7:30pm: make tea, get some biscuits (scotch finger, one-sided choc), watch two episodes of Stargate SG-1, bum around on iPad, go back on internet.

Bedtime routine: 10:30pm: read one chapter, pray, think about what I'm writing the next day or plan tomorrows tasks in my head, sleep.

It's the same each day. I loosen up on the weekend, when I clean my bedroom and exercise vigorously, but there's no internet ban.

I'm not as strict as I once was. There's room in my routine to apply changes. I don't do things at those exact times, it's more a 'around that time' sort of thing.

I usually eat the same meals everyday and wear similiarish clothes. Even my snacks are around the same time.

That my friends, is an example of an autistic routine.

Naw. Most of our symptoms are a way to cope. I'm the same.

I started my meals routine to help me lose weight and not binge eat. Works a charm.

When I have to do different things I fee restless. It's so calming doing the same things over. I line up and stack objects too and it gives a therapeutic effect. I love stimming especially with my hands.

There was this one time I was lining up at this unemployment place and everyone was getting so stressed they were kept in line so long. I kept staring at this Aboriginal painting on the wall oblivious to what was going on around me, so I was less stressed.
It reminds me we have a quick calm down method, NTs don't. Well the ones without routines and focusing on details to calm down.