I would expect you know when you have a good day and when your day goes bad. The point is simple. Just because you are having a good day does not mean you can increase your activity and stimulation level.

It is not uncommon for someone to say, I was having a good day so I went to the mall for 2 hours. They next day, they crash and complain.

If you can have good days when your activity levels have been a 5 out of 10 and your stimulation levels have been a 5 out of 10, then, limit your increased activity and stimulation to a 6.

5 out of 10 is a relative number that everyone needs to figure out for themselves. There is no universal formula.

For me, I learned to notice changes. If I was at a store or a restaurant, I might start to get confused as I try to read a label or sign or menu. This told me that I should not stay long. If I was on my computer, I might need to reread a line of text a few times to make sense of it. This meant I needed to take a break from reading.

If you have activities and tasks that you have to get done, then there may be a price to pay. I learned to prioritize. Not everything needs to get done. The house does not need to be spotless, just clean.

Everybody needs to find their signs that they are hitting their limit. I have found that most have similar signs. They have just not taken the time to notice so they push into these signs and make things worse.

Our lives changed. Expecting to live as if they have not is counter-productive. We may never be able to spend all day at the mall again or work a 12 hour day. Not everything is fixable for everybody.

So, try to find the level of stimulation and activity that can be maintained for weeks. Then, someday, you will realize, Ah ha, I spent 2 hours on the phone and did not crash. Improvements tend to sneak up on us when we give them a chance.