Daily routines can bring good mental health

I was shopping in Sainsbury’s this week and the customer in front of me said to the cashier that he had nothing to look forward to in his life. The cashier agreed with him. The weight of this stayed with me all day. So many things are out of our control and yet they are very much a part of our life. 

People are so feeling stressed and anxious right now. The Covid-19 pandemic, the variation, Brexit, etc. We are feeling the effect of all of these on a daily basis. Add to this the shorter days and little sunshine that comes at this time of the year and many are feeling overwhelmed.

Clients ask me daily - so what can we do about it? My response? Let’s take the control back for ourselves. Let’s each of us design our days to have some kind of joy, peace, a say in how our days are going to unfold. Of course we will get knocked off track by something unexpected but if we keep in mind how important it is to have some good happen to us every day then that can get us back on track. 

One option is to set up a routine for each day. You have choices in this and a real say in how your daily life unfolds, regardless of what is happening outside of yourself and in the world around you. It can be a gentle easily obtainable routine - wake up at a certain time, 15 minutes stretching or 15 minutes deep breathing while listening to the Calm app. Maybe it’s a cup of coffee while sitting in the garden breathing in the fresh (cold) air. How about a morning walk? Dance around the kitchen. An online course in pottery? What about 30 minutes just for you each day to write in your journal?

Whatever it is please make it obtainable otherwise if it’s not practical or doable you will be setting yourself up to fail and none of us need that layer added on to everything else we are dealing with in our lives! 

A routine is healthy - doing something for yourself every day to say “Hey I’m here and I matter” will really help with your self-care, your good mental health and your wellbeing. If you don't have structure and you will be sitting around with nothing to focus on then it’s more likely you will focus on hopelessness which can also lead to even more stress and anxiety and that feeling of being alone and helpless. You are not helpless!

Connect with someone else each day if even just for a few minutes. If you live alone then this is a positive way to use your screens. Maybe you could set up a "buddy system" in which you arrange video meetings with friends on a regular basis. I know there is a lot of this going on already. Well done. 

I’m wishing you all good mental health. Take good care of yourself.