I woke up this morning, stretched in bed, put my feet in my slippers and went to wash my face and brush my teeth. I then took my vitamins (with a 16.9 oz bottle of no-name water) and then proceeded to have my coffee (as I undid the dishes and listened to the morning news). This is how I start my day. It is the beginning of my morning routine that I am familiar with and it sets me on my path for the rest of my morning.
Having a daily routine can be a stress- and sanity-saver especially during this last year! Not only can certain repetitive actions benefit your physical health but they can also improve your mental health by reducing your stress levels.
When it comes to diet, sleep and exercise, having good routines are linked to improved mental and physical health. And people with more daily routines have lower levels of distress when facing problems with their health or negative life events.
I am often asked how long will it take to get to where I want to be? It takes an average of 66 days for a behavior to become automatic (a habit), but for some people it can take as long as 8 1/2 months. It is important not to give up!
Here are some ways to start on your path:
Create the routine that is right for you. We are all different. We all have different schedules that work for us.
Start small. “Go big or go home” isn’t the right mantra here. Pick one small thing each week to work on. Small changes add up.
Add to your existing habits. You probably already have habits that you enjoy. So, add something to that. For example, I set aside just 10 minutes to read the news headlines in the morning. Sounds obvious, but it’s a habit that I had to incorporate into my day.
Make swaps. If you find that every day you are doing something that isn’t healthy (like a cookie and coffee drink at 4pm) try having something like fruit and nuts or going for a brisk walk instead.
Plan ahead. Everyone has busy days, so plan for it. Making an exercise plan for the day and planning your meals will help set yourself up for success even when your life gets crazy busy.
We all know that life throws us curve balls and the more we have our feet on the ground the easier it can be to manage what comes our way. It is important to make time for ourselves and to enjoy what we do. It is so important to not beat yourself up if your routine doesn’t go exactly as planned. There are always more opportunities to get back on track. You don’t have to be perfect!
Have a wonderful Monday!