Being proactive is one of the best ways to care for your mental health.

Waiting for things to go wrong is never a good prescription. Instead, it’s important to look for ways that you can actively ensure that your mind is healthy over time.

One of the best ways to do this is to create a good routine.

The Benefits of a Routine

A routine comes with a ton of benefits, many of which directly impact your mind and body and can help you find and maintain inner peace, including:

• Exercising: Fitness goals are some of the easiest things to go out the window — especially if you’re feeling depressed or stressed out. By having a routine in place, you can ensure that you’re getting exercise regularly, whether it’s at the gym, outside, or right in the comfort of your own home.
  
  
• Eating: Eating is a critical part of life. It’s also a chronically underrated aspect of mental health. If you are on a random schedule, it’s easy to make poor food choices, skip meals, or eat too much. By getting on a routine, you can ensure that you’re eating healthy foods consistently.
  
  
• Sleeping: Sleep is a critical part of life. It’s the time that your body uses to rest and recuperate. It’s also an essential activity for good mental health. For instance, good quality and quantity of sleep are great ways to avoid anxiety. By sticking to a routine, you can ensure that you’re getting at least the 7-hour minimum recommended by most professionals.

These are just three of the many mental benefits of routines. The point is, a routine isn’t just something you’re stuck following. It’s a mental health tool that you can use to your advantage.

Tips for Creating an Effective Routine

It’s easy to recognise the value of routines. However, it’s also important to realise that not all routines are created equal. On the contrary, a poorly designed routine can be boring or even detrimental to your daily life.

If you want to get the most out of your routines, invest in creating one that is genuinely helpful. Here are a few tips to help you do so:

• Start with the basics: Always start with the basic activities that you know you have to do. Brushing your teeth, getting dressed, and eating meals are all necessary parts of your day. Make sure each of your essential activities has a place in your routine before you add anything else.
  
  
• Add routine items thoughtfully: Once you have your basic routine in place, it’s time to beef it up. Don’t just add anything in, though. Consider time restraints and other restrictions first. From there, look for activities to add that will be beneficial, such as meditating or journaling.
  
  
• Find ways to stay accountable: It’s easy to slip out of a routine. Make sure you have safeguards up to keep you from losing your way. This could be a spouse or friend who you ask to check in on you from time to time. You can even get a dog to promote regular exercise and activity.
  
  
• Stay flexible: Finally, remember to adjust your routine whenever it’s needed. Don’t get stubborn. If things aren’t working out, tailor and tweak your setup until you get the results you’re looking for. Then keep that mindset up over the long haul.

By embracing tips like these, you can give yourself the best shot at building a successful routine.

Routines: A Path to Inner Peace

Routines are powerful tools. They can unleash a host of positive mental benefits in your life. If you’re willing to take your routines seriously, you can turn them from begrudging responsibilities to motivating strategies that keep you in motion, calm your mind, and help you stay at peace even on the busiest of days.

About the Author

Jori Hamilton is an experienced writer residing in the Northwestern U.S.

She covers a wide range of topics but takes a particular interest in covering topics related to health and wellness, including mental health awareness and addiction education.

You can follow Jori and learn more about her on Twitter and LinkedIn.