Details of the vibes I prefer when I’m looking to get into The Zone™.
I have everything I need to get the job done at home, with none of the distractions or commute to bring me down.
Open-plan offices are a nightmare for productivity and focus, but also full of sensory triggers that can set off my conditions.
Working from home is best because I can control my environment to suit how my chronic illness collection is behaving that day.
Examples: lighting, sound, temperature, minimal peripheral activities, solitude, cat, already being at home if my migraine gets vestibular and I fall over.
I’m autistic and a massive introvert so I don’t need things to be fun
at work; I’m fine getting on with my job, thanks.
I do need a team that’s respectful of boundaries, communicates directly and without ambiguity, and is understanding of my conditions.
I don’t like working to deadlines I’ve not had a hand in setting, because they’re often unreasonable to me and create unnecessary stress. This is a bigger problem if I’ve joined the team near the end of a project when everything is already behind schedule and there’s no time—or budget—to make any of the changes I suggest.
I don’t need to level-up
on things like React or any other JS framework, thanks, because that’s not why I’m on your team. I do plenty of things that nobody else on the team does, and that’s why I’m on your team.
If your project requires me to use a client-configured laptop, I prefer a Mac so I can work efficiently, as well as use VoiceOver for accessibility testing and personal use. I can work on a Windows machine if necessary, but it’s not my preferred setup.