Routines

Wake up. Lay in bed for ~15 minutes. Get up. Use the bathroom and brush teeth. Put on tank top, shorts, and shoes. Do dynamic stretches. Go on a run or do 35-45 minutes weights. Stretch. Shower. Get ready for the day. Repeat tomorrow.

This is the first half of my morning routine, every day, Monday-Friday. Each night, I set my alarm for the next morning based on how long my workout is going to be. This has been my routine for around 3 years and is something I hope to never change. It’s a great start to my day - I start by doing something good for my physical and mental health before going off to class or work.

I’ve found that I thrive off routine. When the semester starts or ends, I’m jarred into a new routine that takes 1-2 weeks to figure out. And apparently, psychology backs up the value and importance of routines. 

A psychiatric study found that people who prefer an active daytime routine over a nighttime routine have better sleeping cycles. These healthier sleep cycles are associated with improved mental health and decreased likelihood to develop emotional difficulties. Furthermore, routines can lower stress levels and promote healthy daily habits. They can also boost productivity and focus. Not-surprisingly, routines are often recommended for individuals who have ADHD, insomnia, bipolar disorder, addiction, and depression. When you know what to expect and have some mental organization, it’s much easier to work through any symptoms of mental health conditions. Creativity can also thrive on structure! Creating a process for the everyday-things of life can release space for other, more important things (Plata, 2018; Cherry, 2020; Robins, n.d.). 

A lack of structure or routine sounds like it’s freeing - no responsibilities or things you have to focus on. However, this absence of a schedule can actually be more mentally taxing; it may be more distressing and draw focus to the source of your problems to the point of unhealthy rumination (Cherry, 2020). No one wants to feel worse, so establishing a routine can actually prove beneficial over time.

Creating a routine is easier than it may feel like. Take a moment to sit down and write down the things you consistently do throughout your week. Do you have to be at work or school at the same time everyday? What do you need to do before you go? Do you need to cook every night? Then, set a time for each thing. If you know you need an hour to get ready for the day, set your alarm for 1 hour 15 minutes before you need to leave. Write down the order you need to do your tasks (Robins, n.d.). The best part is that this routine doesn’t have to be what you follow until the end of time. If something isn’t working after trying it for a couple weeks, change it! This is to help YOU.

References:

Plata, M. (2018). The power of routines in your mental health. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-gen-y-psy/201810/the-power-routines-in-your-mental-health. 

Cherry, K. (2020). The importance of maintaining structure and routine during stressful times. Very Well Mind. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/the-importance-of-keeping-a-routine-during-stressful-times-4802638. 

Robins, E. (n.d.). The secret benefit of routines. It won’t surprise you. Headspace. Retrieved from https://www.headspace.com/articles/the-secret-benefit-of-routines-it-wont-surprise-you.

Challenges/Points:

• Routines are not suffocating, they actually help free up our minds for more important things.

• Routines improve creativity, focus, and productivity; as well as help treat common mental health conditions.

• Evaluate your week to determine what routines you are already doing and what you could add.

Questions:

• Do you utilize routines in your day-to-day life?

• What routines have been most helpful?

• What can you do this week to help establish a routine?

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