Routines and Mental Health

The word itself can fill you with a sense of gratification, or a sense of frustration, especially in the days of Covid. For those of us with mental health issues, having a routine, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, can be the difference between a good day, and a really bad one. I myself struggle to keep a routine, even when knowing just how important it is to my mental health. When I am on track, I feel great. I feel accomplished. The depression and anxiety take a back seat to the productivity and gratification that comes along with seeing a clean home, and a clean body in the mirror.

Having a daily routine is more important right now than ever in recent memory. Not just for those of us that struggle with mental illness, but for everyone that is quarantined. After reading loads of articles, and by trial and error, I have come up with a list of things that I feel are important to staying as sane as possible during these trying times. Things that once life gets back to normal, (if it gets back to “normal” that is), we can continue. Things I feel could possibly help lessen the load on our minds and bodies.

Now, I am by no means an expert on mental health. I am not a doctor, nor have I ever been to school for counseling or anything of the sort. I am just speaking from my personal experience.

The first thing on my list of “Must Dos” is to get in at least six hours of sleep. I know, the rule is eight hours, but let’s be real. How many people can get in eight hours of sleep every night? I am a mom of three and I suffer from insomnia. Eight hours is a just a dream, one that must take place in my six hours of sleep a night. Your mind needs its rest; time to reset and heal from the stresses of the day before.

The next thing that's on my list is making your bed. I've seen this on many of forums, but mostly I know that this works from personal experience. The whole idea is that one, you feel productive and two, it helps your room look and feel cleaner. Clutter is the mind's worst enemy. Clutter is like a giant Pandora's box. You feel anxious when you see clutter whether you realize it or not. when you're depressed or anxious you don't want to clean. Therefore, the clutter multiplies. The more clutter, the worst the anxiety. Making your bed is the easiest and fastest way to prevent the start of clutter.

The next must do on my list is to have a cup of coffee. Yes, yes, I know, caffeine and anxiety do not mix. It is a personal preference and I feel as if I cannot function without that first dose of caffeine in the morning. It is probably more of an addiction than anything. My kids even know not to engage with me until I have had it. I only drink one cup a day, so my Keurig is a life source in my house.

This is the one I use on the daily.

Number three on my list is just as simple as the rest, but it is probably the most important thing I do for myself. I must take a hot shower. Yes, you read that correctly. A clean body can lead to a clean mind. I don’t always wash my hair, in fact I usually only wash my hair once or twice a week, ( it isn’t healthy to wash your hair everyday), but other than the soaping down, the only thing I must do in the shower is to wash my face. If my face feels dirty, I feel dirty, no matter how clean the rest of my body is.

I have used expensive, name brand facial cleansers, in fact I have some under the sink in my bathroom as I sit here typing. My favorite cleanser, and the one I use every day will only run you about $7 depending on where you live. It is called Clean and Clear Morning Burst. During the summer I use the one for oily skin, and during the winter, when I tend to be drier, I use the one for dry skin. They are both oil-free and leave my skin feeling refreshed without feeling dry.

Here is the link for the one I have in my shower now.

Of course, after my shower I have beauty products that I use daily. I highly suggest finding products that work great for you. Washing your face is extremely important, but there is more to taking care of your skin than simply cleaning it. Find at least one product that feels like you are pampering yourself. The only product that I use religiously is Advanced Night Repair- yes, I use it in the morning. I can not go a day without it. it prevents breakouts and redness from rosacea. Even if I use nothing else, I have to use this. I buy mine from my local Belk store at the Estee Lauder counter. A 1oz bottle will usually last me about three months. You can get yours here.

After this, it is all about consistency. I will dress in either normal clothes or put on a clean pair of pajamas depending on what is going on that day. I unload the dishwasher and reload whatever dishes are in the sink and clear the clutter from the counters. Even if I don’t do anything the rest of the day, I feel accomplished and good about myself. When I follow this routine, I have less of an issue with anxiety attacks throughout my day. The feelings of hopelessness and the uncontrollable urge to not get out of bed are but a distant memory.

When sticking to this routine, I am a better mother, and a better wife. You don’t need to follow my exact routine to feel better about yourself, just find one that works for you. No matter how small, doing something that makes you feel good, and feel healthy and doing it every single day, is guaranteed to make your smile a little bit brighter and put those demons in a corner.