Do you have problems changing activities?

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I had a boss who could switch instantly from working to a management issue, and make quick decisions. I also met a high school teacher who couldn't switch. He was visiting his daughter, my roommate, and was telling me some long story from history one morning when I heard the other roommate leaving. I had to convey a message, so I apologized and dashed out of the kitchen to the front hall, where everyone else was. His wife counted us, and then asked who her husband was talking to. "Myself, I'm afraid."
There was also a British MP who was in the middle of an epic speech about some issue when he was told that the bill had already passed. He continued talking for over an hour. No news on the AS status of those two.

intense and rigid interest in special interests
hyper focus when on track in routine

which when disrupted through disruption in routine

can cause great levels of distress / anxiety / meltdowns

these behaviours are known common features of ASD behaviour

if you suffer from the symptoms above

confirms ASD

I occasionally have problems with switching activities, yes. They usually occur because I'm too engrossed in one of my favourite activities!

This is probably my most detrimental autism symptom. Switching tasks can be much harder than it should be. For me it depends on which task it is, although this doesn't seem to follow any obvious logic. Some tasks are much easier to switch between than others but just because I like doing something or just because something shouldn't take much effort doesn't always mean it'll be easier to start. Routine tends to make it a bit easier or if I need to go to a certain place to do something rather than doing it at home though.

Same. I get too wrapped up talking to my friends it's hard for me to switch to something else. Results in me almost never getting anything done.

Arrgh! I've got three projects in my head now, and I can't concentrate well enough to do any of them.

Yes. I'm currently thinking that I should get away from this computer and prepare some food, but I don't seem able to do that till I've scrutinised every possible thing on my browser - WP, Facebook, and BBC News - and really "finished the job." So I'll probably keep looking through the General Autism Discussion topic list to make sure there's nothing I've missed that I could usefully read or reply to, then I'll refresh the Facebook page to see if anything new has turned up that "requires" my attention, ditto for the news. It's not that I think it's the best use of my time. It's just that I started it, and I feel this silly need to keep plugging away at it until I've exhaused all possibilities of learning and contributing. Even now, I'm reluctant to hit the Submit button without racking my brains to think of anything I've omitted to say that might somehow give rise to a better answer. It's as if everything I do has to be complete and perfect.

Yes. I like to start a job and then work through it until finished. If I'm left alone to do that, the task will be done well and I'll often spend extra time and effort on it voluntarily.

However if someone decides to change all the priorities and starts swapping things around, I'd rather still get my original job done even if that means getting into trouble. And if I am forced to change, neither thing will end up being done particularly quickly or well, AND I will be very stressed and resentful about it.

One of many reasons why I don't tend to last that well in jobs. Or indeed relationships, as it's much the same story at home, too!

Yes. It's not just switching between hobby activities either. I literally have to make a schedule to stay on top of important things. Don't get me started on not having the energy to go to bed late at night. It makes zero sense.

One of my issues with sleeping is I cannot stop doing what I'm doing and I'll check the clock and it's been like, two hours since I was going to try to sleep. lmao

Ahh, memories. One night, I was in my easy chair after a solid day's work, too tired to get up and go to bed. So, I was down to reading "Miscellaneous for Sale" There, I saw an acetylene torch kit offered, along with some other machinery. I called early the next day, and it was already sold, but, I asked - "that drill press - it wouldn't happen to be a Rockwell Radial, would it?" It has been with me ever since, doing jobs nothing else would, and filling in for many other machines.

I find it very difficult to change activities. There were times that my place would never get clean or times that I didn't go on WP for weeks, because I was too absorbed in my arts and crafts.