488 - The Mental Health Benefits of a Routine

Tiny Leaps, Big Changes

In this episode, we look at the mental health benefits of having a routine.

1. Take Control of Your Sleep Cycle

"Routine can liberate your mental health, and it can have incredible psychological benefits, including alleviating symptoms of mental disorders, and insomnia. Creating a daytime routine for yourself or a loved one can promote better sleeping cycles." (Dr. Danielle Forshee)

2. Know What to Expect

"The importance of mental health has been associated with a variety of mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, addiction, depression, among others. The reason behind this is that when we organize ourselves and know what to expect, it’s easier to actively work towards counteracting the thoughts and symptoms of any of the aforementioned mental health conditions." (Psychology Today)

3. Take More Time Off

"Creating a routine allows us to build in time for the important things. This includes time to rest, relax, and have fun. It’s not perfect – there are always going to be days when something overruns, a job takes three times as long as we expect it to take, or someone pops in unexpectedly. But structuring our time to include some downtime increases the likelihood that we’ll manage to have that time most days." (Blurt It Out)

Resources:

https://drdanielleforshee.com/psychological-benefits-of-routines/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-gen-y-psy/201810/the-power-routines-in-your-mental-health

https://www.blurtitout.org/2018/11/08/mental-health-benefits-routine/