Structure and Routines for Better Mental Health
During this past year my personal day-to-day routine has completely gone out of the window. I know for myself and others, lockdown has made it much easier to fall into unhealthy routines and habits and leaving the house can feel like a lot more effort than it used to. Going to bed late and waking up late seems to be the new normal for many students and I know I’m not the only one that feels like this. The lack of our usual daily structure, social life and plans has all vanished over the past year and staying focussed and on track sometimes feels like a major challenge.
Having a healthy routine is very important for humans as having a routine can help maintain good mental health and provide purpose to each day. Creating a routine does not necessarily mean you need to plan every second of every day but having a routine can help in times of unpredictability and uncertainty such as this. It can also improve productivity, reduce anxiety and help you to take control of your day.
But why bother sticking to a routine, you ask?…
Keep it simple
When introducing a routine into your life try not to over complicate it as you will most likely find it harder to stick to. When I create my own routine, I try to start off by keeping it simple and only adding around 5 activities to begin with and eventually add more when I am more used to the routine. If you find yourself getting bored of your routine, then you can always change it up a bit. For example, every time I go on a walk recently, I have been going to the beach and doing the same walk and to keep it more exciting I have tried finding new places to go which encourages me to go out more.
Creating A Routine
To create a routine all you need to do is get a piece of paper, a notebook or you can print off a weekly planner online and note down a few goals for each day. (I have attached a printable weekly planner at the bottom of the page!)
Here’s a simple routine that I created as an example:
Monday:
· Wake up at 9am
· Shower, get dressed have breakfast (DON’T STAY IN MY PJS)
· Do 2+ hours of Uni work
· Have lunch then go for a walk and get some fresh air
· Relax (skype a friend, read a book, start a new hobby)
· Make dinner (using a new recipe and get creative)
· Read a book
· Go to bed at 11pm
Here is a list of things you can add to your routine to help improve your mental health:
· Go for a walk
· Exercise
· Make the bed
· Clean the house or room
· Do some meditation
· Take the dog for a walk (If you have one or offer to walk a friend or neighbour’s dog)
· Write a blog!
· Cook or bake something
. Watch your all-time favourite film
. Start a diary or journal
· Drink more water
. Get up and dance!
· Go to bed early
· Go on a run
· Research a topic you know nothing about
· Do something you love (whether that’s reading, writing, drawing etc)
Link for a printable weekly planner template:
https://handypapertemplates.com/weekly-planner/weekly-planner-template-2
