If there is a piece of advice that has really been repeated during the confinement, it is that it is very important have a routine.
As our lives lost their usual structure, we were urged to grasp any semblance of normality in the form of a regular plan, whether it was go for a walk every day or doing a fake trip.
But now that the lockdowns are done and dusted off (hopefully), it’s vital that we don’t throw those best practices out the window.
Having a routine is still a crucial part of self-care and can be very helpful for your mental health.
One reason why: if you know yourself have doing certain things every day, this eliminates the mental stress of vacillating and deciding. that means less choice fatigue.
“As soon as the alarm goes off in the morning, your mind will be awake and active and you, consciously or not, will start making decisions,” explains Giulia Guerrini, Principal Pharmacist at medina. ‘Thoughts like “Do I need to wash my hair?”, “How many meetings do I have today?” I have had the opportunity to even open the curtains.
‘These morning thoughts can cause stress. However, by eliminating these thoughts and decisions, you can start off on the right foot and start your day better.
“Creating a routine will allow you to not have to think about what you’re doing throughout the day, as most things will fit into your daily routine.”
When you struggle with motivation (oh hello, comrades with depression), this is essential.
Think of it this way: We usually find it difficult to do things that we know are good for us (exercise, eat nutritious food, go to therapy) because they require some kind of choice.
The things we do without thinking, because they are just part of our daily routine, do not require motivation. So in theory, if we can make the things we want to do for ourselves routine, through tactics like accumulation of habitswe won’t even have to consider not doing those things… we’ll just do them automatically.
Routines also help us feel a little more in control of the general chaos of existence.
You may not be able to control what happens in a day. You spill your coffee, the news is grim, and work is very stressful.
But if after a bad day, you know you can still have a relaxing bedtime routine, at least that’s something may take care of.
Routines are a way of mapping out the life you want.
“One of the biggest benefits of a good routine is that your stress levels are likely to go down,” says Giulia. ‘You will feel like you have more control over yourself, your day ahead and your life.
‘You’ll make decisions ahead of time and you can make sure you’re making good decisions throughout the day.
You’re also more likely to sleep better, since you’ll have established a bedtime and/or evening routine. Because you have your day planned, you won’t stay up at night thinking about the stressors for the next day. A good night of regular sleep will also give you a psychological boost.
“In addition to this, forming a routine will surely make you feel happier. With a schedule, you can plan downtime to do what you love.
“You won’t forget to take time to focus on yourself and prioritize your mental health, because it will become part of your routine.”
Everything sounds good. So how do we start?
How do I get into a routine?
Giulia says: ‘It can take time to establish a good routine, but as long as you stick to it, it will become a habit in no time.
‘One way to make the routine easier is to create three separate routines: a morning routine, a daytime routine, and an evening routine.
“Your morning routine will focus on when you get out of bed, when you eat breakfast, and when you get ready for the day; it could also include a morning walk or some morning yoga.
“Your daytime routine will take into account your day job and any other commitments and obligations you may have, whether it’s dropping off your kids at school, making your daily commute, or scheduling a 15-minute lunch break. reading your favorite book.
‘Your nightly routine should include things like making dinner and getting ready for the next day, but more importantly making sure you have some free time and a healthy bedtime routine.
‘Relaxing before trying to go to sleep is very important; turn off your devices, make sure there are no reminders of tomorrow’s tasks in your sleeping space (like doing laundry or remembering your laptop from work), and take the opportunity to escape the outside world before you go to sleep.’
To discuss mental health in an open, nonjudgmental space, join our Facebook group Mentally Yours.
Follow us on Twitter at @MentallyYrs.
PLUS : Can a sunrise alarm clock make waking up easier? I tried it
PLUS : How anxiety changes the way our brains see the world (and how to reset it)
PLUS : I couldn’t see a way through my depression, and then I started running.
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