Having and maintaining a routine can have very positive consequences for our mental health, with reduced stress being the main contributing factor to it. In other words, having a routine can simply make our lives easier, although sometimes it is easier said than done since maintaining a routine can be difficult at times. The purpose of this article is to outline the benefits a routine has on an individual and showcase how it prompts mindfulness. Further, it will outline different ways we can try and develop a routine.
Benefits of Routine
Having a routine means doing the same things in a regular manner. Although this may seem quite mundane to some, having a routine can actually play a big role in improving our mental health. It is a way of having a solid form of structure and being organized during the day, and this can do wonders, especially to a frazzled mind – referring to individuals with various forms of anxieties.
In fact, without a routine, your stress levels increase, and you find yourself unable to keep up with anything. This leads to a decreased amount of sleep because you would have to “catch up” with things you did not do due to your poor time management skills. Additionally, bad eating habits and staying in bad physical shape are also associated with no routine, because having a healthy and sustainable body build requires planning.
With a routine, your sleep improves, your stress levels decrease, and you just feel refreshed as a whole. Other than that, having a routine allows you to establish a very clear time schedule, which makes you “have time” for just about anything. Forming a routine can actually be classified as a very healthy self-care method because you would be clearing the overwhelming thoughts that can be developed when there is an overabundance of things you need to take care of. Routines can place things for you into perspective and help you bring your thoughts into focus.
How to Create a Routine
There are several factors which allow one to establish a set daily routine. These include –
- Making a to-do list. Take note of all that you need to take care of. Every single thing, no matter how small it is, is essential – because it helps you remember.
- Structure a daily schedule. Clarify what you will spend time on during the mornings, days, and nights – and be specific. For example, if you are going to spend some time on a task, tabulate an estimation of how long it should take you.
- Get specific. If it works for you, be specific when it comes to explaining what you are going to do.
- Schedule “time for flexibility”. This is probably one of the most important things to do because, sometimes, things pop up and occur during the time that you set for a different task. So, to avoid the stress that comes with this, you can just tabulate the hardest and most time-consuming tasks, or even most urgent ones, to be done during a time you are most productive.
- Finally, test the routine you have drafted. Ensure that this routine works for you and fix it based on the things that come in the way and what you feel can be improved.