A Repetitive Rhythm

 

An easy win for gaining control of mental health issues is having a routine.  Something as simple as the order in which you get out of bed, brush your teeth and wash your face can change the way you start the day.

I've heard a lot of people say that they have a certain way of doing things that just seem normal to them - that they don't consider it routine - but when you think about it, the order in which you wash in the shower is part of a routine.  How often do you shower and do wash body parts in a different order?

If all you can face some days is getting out of bed and brushing your teeth this is still part of a routine and this routine can lead to bigger things.  It can help you to focus on the bigger picture by taking things one step at a time.

My morning routine has two different routes: if I want a shower, I wait until my daughter has left for school then shower so I'm not rushing around whilst overheating or, if I don't want a shower, I still wait for my daughter to leave for school but have a basic wash and get dressed.  Once dressed, I play the same three games on my phone every day.  It sounds stupid right? But to me it helps to shake off the grogginess. 

Now these games are actually brainteaser games where I complete the daily challenges and they are all produced by the same company so they follow a similar pattern.  I start by playing word games, then mahjong and finish with solitaire games (card games).  These are just what I find challenging enough in a morning but not frustrating.  

Another thing that I do each day is read a few verses on a Bible app (I will explain my reasons in a future post) and go onto the Finch app which is a self care app and also helps with my daily routine.

These steps may seem silly or pointless but I struggle with aches and pains each morning due to fibromyalgia and these help me to relax my body whilst waking up my brain!

Where do you start with a routine? Take a mental note of what you do when you get out bed and see if you do the same things every day.  You can then gradually build on this with whatever feels right for you but you need to set yourself realistic goals.  Why aim to do the dishes every day if you can't even face leaving your bedroom? Small steps can lead to big changes.

An important thing to remember is be kind to yourself if you can't face doing the next step in your routine.  Whilst being repetitive with actions each day can help, you shouldn't panic or punish yourself if you can't face it.  Some days are hard and that's OK.  

Given that this blog was originally intended for knitting and crochet projects, the repetitiveness of working each row forwards and backwards can be relaxing in itself.  And seeing the project come together gradually and slowly gives comfort that you are doing things right.  Life can be exactly the same.  The excitement of adding new yarn to your collection because you finally found the right colour, the pride you feel when you've mastered a difficult stitching technique and completing an item that you had procrastinated about for months is very satisfying.  Taking back control of your day can be just as satisfying but it all starts with a few small steps.

Photo created by Google AI.