Do you have a routine that focuses on maintaining your mental health? So few people do; even when habits like self-care and mindfulness are a big part of our daily lexicon, it’s rare for someone to adopt them wholeheartedly into their life.
But when you focus on your mental health and what you can do to uplift it, you’re more likely to feel well during your days. It’s the kind of thing that’s easy to underestimate, but leaving time for yourself, your thoughts, and your feelings can lead you to a better place.
That being said, every person needs to have a mental health routine that suits them. There’s no cookie-cutter mould to make use of here. Every person is different and has different needs for their well-being. If you’re following advice that only seems to apply to someone who isn’t you, you’re going to set yourself up to fail.
That’s an issue we aim to unpack right here. While the ideas below are general, they can be used in various ways. If you want to use them to build the start of a mental health routine you can actually commit to, feel free to dig into our advice.
Have a Bedtime – But Don’t Be Too Strict
Aset bedtime isn’t just something parents set for kids! As adults, it’s something we should try to keep to as well. When you go to bed at the same time every night, you train yourself to fall asleep at this time, and you’re more likely to get the same amount of sleep each night.
But when you’re an adult, life throws quite a few spanners in the works. You’re not always going to be able to get to bed at the same time, and quite honestly, it’s going to be difficult to try and commit to this.
That’s why we recommend a more general approach to this general tip. Have a bedtime, but don’t be too strict about it. For example, instead of setting yourself a bedtime of 11 pm, set yourself a bedtime of between 11 pm and 12 am.
This way, you have wiggle room to work with, whether you’re out late, have to deal with something medical, or simply want to finish a Netflix box set before you drop off.
Don’t Use Up All Your Free Time on Other People
Your free time is for you. You should be able to use it in whatever way you see fit. Some of this time should be used to keep up with your social life, as you can accidentally fall into isolation otherwise.
But if you’ve got three evenings free this week, save one of them for yourself. The other two can be used to spend time with loved ones, or to attend a class you’ve had your eye on, but the last one is just for you.
This way you get to spend some time on yourself that you sorely need. Being alone for a bit gives you more time for essential self-care activities and a proper period of recharge.
Even when you’re an extrovert who gets energy from being around others, you sometimes need a couple of hours to yourself to do things that need to be done!
Keep a Mood Diary
A mood diary doesn’t need to be anything more than a simple record of your general mood throughout the day. You want to make it easy to keep up with noting your moods, with just enough information to know why you were feeling something more positive or negative.
So, bad morning, fine afternoon, good evening? Write that exact thing down! Then, underneath, leave a simple sentence to explain why each section felt the way it did.
Attend Therapy
Attending therapy is the cornerstone of a routine that supports your mental health. If you can find online therapy covered by insurance that works with methods you’re interested in trying, you can easily build this approach into your usual routine.
Go as many times as you need to during the month – it’s most common to attend once a week – and allow the insurance you’re already covered by to foot the bill.
Indeed, if you can attend therapy using your internet connection, it can be easier to apply yourself to the course at length. A lot of people can find it hard to attend therapy for more than a few consecutive weeks, as it can often be a bit of an inconvenience, conducted in an environment that doesn’t feel as secure as it should.
But if you’re attending your session in your home, in whatever room you feel most at ease in, it’ll be easier to navigate troubles like these.
Commit to One New Habit at a Time
You don’t want to overwhelm yourself when you’re on the way to building a mental health routine that feels properly supportive. However, you will always overdo it if you commit to more than one new habit at once.
So, is there anything you’d like to try on the list above? Get started with one until it feels natural, and only then slowly dip your toes into the water of another. You want the first habit to feel solid and second nature to you before you try taking on something else.
Let’s Come Up with a Routine That Boosts Your Mental Health
If you’re following a daily routine that actually works for your own mental health needs, the proof is going to be pretty obvious to you. You’re likely to find your rhythm, feel like you’re making a positive change in your life, and potentially even feel less stressed or pressured.
However, the goal of a mental health routine isn’t to change your life completely. It should be used simply as a tool to help you reach a point where you feel like your best self. It’s always going to take time to find this person, but a consistent routine will set you on the right track.
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