The importance of routine

I was crazy busy before my depression diagnosis. My routine consisted of getting up, working multiple jobs, laying in bed and attempting to sleep, sleep for awhile, get up and do it all over again. Teaching, meetings, presentations and planning ruled my life. It was an unhealthy routine.

In a few months time, my routine changed to pulling m

yself out of bed to the couch, watching TV, taking a shower around 1 or 2 and then laying down and watching TV again. After the kids came home from school, I’d sit in the chair, have supper and then go to bed about 8. The bed couldn’t come soon enough some nights. This was also an unhealthy routine.

Finding a healthy routine was a foreign concept to me. I didn’t have a clue what a “normal” routine looked like. Is it even possible to have a balanced routine? When I was working a lot and not setting boundaries, it was crucial to be strategic and have my daily plan figured out. I’m more of a strategic planner by nature, but have started to appreciate the natural free spirit as I get older, especially since my depression.

Without having a daily routine, it’s easier to stay in bed longer, sit on the couch longer and take longer to recover. Knowing I had to be out of bed and take the kids to school gave me a kickstart to my day. Writing my to do list and recording my thoughts in my journal were part of daily routine, usually in the morning and evening.

Not having an established routine affects me much more now. Not having a routine makes me feel like a ball in a pinball machine. Life flying around me not having a particular direction or goal and bouncing of things that I encounter during the day increases my anxiety levels. Having a routine keeps me organized and focused. Routine gives me a way to get going in the morning.

My Daily Routine

1. Deep yoga breathing without getting out of bed.

2. Say a morning prayer and set my intention for the day.

3. Shower and get ready for work.

4. Read brief devotion and study longer if time allows.

5. Drive and go to work.

6. After work, go to the gym.

7. Eat supper with the family

8. Work on a few projects and evening study time.

9. Spend some time with the family.

10. Go to bed.

Your daily routine might change from day to day, but the goal is to stay balanced. Remember your routine should focus around your top three priorities. Understanding your routine helps lower your recover time when you are facing depression.