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Routine Routine Routine!

Hey guys and girls!

So in tonight's chat, routines were highlighted and I felt it would be good to share with you why I try and keep to a routine and how it helps me!

I found it great when I was at university and at work to keep to a timetable, a daily routine kinda thing where I new exactly where I had to be and when, and I new when I would have meal times, break times, all that kinda thing. It gave me structure to my day, a sense of knowing what was going to happen and when. I'm one of those kinda people who need a plan - a plan to keep me in line and on the right track!

Don't get me wrong, even when I did have a routine during the week, I didn't always stick to it, and health and life happenings do get in the way, but overall, it was always helpful for me. We're not all the same but I do believe that a routine for everyone in some kind of way has a positive impact on our health and well-being.

For me, as soon as I was unable to work due to my physical health and mental health, and I lost my place at university, my routine went out the window - which felt like my life went BOOM! Definitely a big oh no! To start with, I was loving all the lay ins, getting up at silly o'clock in the afternoon, sleeping all day every day, going to bed when I wanted to, watching endless amounts of trashy TV and having continuous DVD marathons. Going out to see friends whenever I wanted - basically doing what I wanted to do, when I felt like doing it. Sounds so awful when I think about it as I type! But that's how life got.

Lazy, bored, tired, drained and rather poorly is how I ended up though. Which totally isn't good for anyone really. My sleeping was all over the place, my socialisation had gone out of the window, my eating patterns were upside down and back to front, and my mental health took a turn for the worst. It was hard for me to accept that this was all down to lack of routine (and don't get me wrong it wasn't JUST this) but it sure did influence the path my life was taking at the time.

So enough was enough, yes I couldn't work and I wasn't studying, but there was nothing stopping me going to bed and getting up at a reasonable time. So I decided to set myself a bedtime of 10.30pm (One likes her sleep!) and a get up time of 8am. Pretty reasonable I thought to start with. I would ensure I set my numerous alarms and got up. This would help me to actually see the day! I'd then be able to have breakfast and shower etc, and fit things into the day. I'd then plan to see people, go for a walk, do things which I enjoy (art, music, reading, baking, making things etc etc). Getting out in the day was a big thing for me, it's amazing what a bit of daylight and fresh air can do for our moods and physical health too (or some splashes in some puddles knowing the grey UK we live in!) Also, being in touch with someone, having a conversation with somebody can make a big difference too. When I was scooped up indoors on my own all the time, I became more and more depressed, isolated, an attitude of what's the point in even being here kinda thing. Going to bed at a reasonable time helped me get back into a sleeping pattern too which overall helps your mood, mentally if you're so drained and tired, you can't focus very well at all. Then we become unable to make clear and sensible decisions.

I'm rambling on and on now, but really why I wanted to share this is because I have first hand experience of knowing what life can get like when something as simple as a routine goes out the window! SO...if any of this rambling essay makes any sense to you and you can relate in any way, you want some help in how to get back into a routine, you want to share how a routine helps you or anything else, please do comment or share your thoughts or ask questions - i'd love to hear from you!!

Take care of YOU!!

Rach :) x :wave:
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Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I find it almost impossible to keep to a routine. I wasn't brought up with much of a strict routine and I've always struggled with it but I understand how important it is. I sleep a lot but not as much as I should for my health - I get distracted when I go for lie downs most afternoons, and napping seems alien to msny people. theres so many things i should be doing but find so hard to keep to. Any tips?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Fine line between a routine and a rut..... :yeees:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I would disagree when its doing thinks for the sake of your health
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    my routine went out the window - which felt like my life went BOOM! Definitely a big oh no!

    I definitely agree with this statement.

    Even though I'm only in lectures or seminar for around five hours a week, it's enough to form a basic routine around. During term time I know I need to be in certain places at certain times and plan for that. Not being able to work over my summer break due to health has impacted massively. I didn't have a reason to get out of bed, so I didn't. Mental health suffered and I made things worse for myself.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I kind of have this on a slightly larger timescale.

    A few years ago I used to attend two sci-fi events a year. They were certain points in my life and something for me to work towards.

    The last two years, I haven't gone to any (thanks to a lack of money and some bad former friends who ruined my experience of going) and as a result I slowly but surely sunk into a spot where it felt like I was merely plodding along, applying for work I never got and doing nothing with my life.

    This weekend, I attended my first ever gaming festival. And I rediscovered the joy of attending one of these events. Now I'm planning on going to the next one at the end of the year and my life suddenly feels less like a trudge through thick mud and somewhat like a gentle jog through a dense forest.
    By that I mean that it's still not an easy road through life, but it feels a lot less... hard to continue onwards.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    :yes: As well as daily routine, Fiend and I try to schedule Stuff to Look Forward To. So we went to a festival last weekend (and are planning to go back next year) and we've set up a weekend in God's Own Country in October, then we're making plans to see awesome people around Christmas.

    It helps to shape the year. We've both got histories of poor mental health and know from experience that vegging is fine sometimes (even necessary sometimes) but we feel better when we're busy.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I always prepare and maintain a daily routine to remain healthy and fit and it also helps to prepare every day activities and work according to it sometime due to some issue I am not able to follow a routine but I immediately start my interrupted routine.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I was talking to my PA yesterday and I think I need to rota in at least one day in bed a week. But I don't and I know I should!! It's hard when I feel like I have a never ending to do list.
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