Healthy Habits

Eleanor Macleod shares her thoughts on the importance of keeping a routine during the winter months – and beyond!

My name is Eleanor, and I am an online facilitator volunteer for Bipolar Scotland. In my volunteering to date, I have noticed that members sometimes mention routine as something which is important to them. I wanted to write about my experiences of routine so I can help others with this important topic.

Routine helps you organise your day-to-day activities – for example, when you eat meals and go to sleep. It is also important to make time for hobbies and relaxation. For those on medication, routine can help with learning to take this regularly and managing the side effects.

Tips For Managing Routine

There are many helpful gems that can gleam bright for you with managing routine. I have found that having a mini whiteboard can help plan your list for the day. Include ‘to-do’ tasks for the day, as well as mealtimes, bedtime goals, med timings etc., and any relaxation activities to break the time up. Placing the whiteboard in clear view can aid memory. This helped me greatly during the lockdown period and I have used the technique since then.

Scheduling in specific times for phone calls to family and friends is also important, as is making sure you spend time outside. A few ideas on this include the following:

• If you can, go to your front door and take a few deep breaths

• If you don’t feel like walking, simply take in some light and stretch your arms

• If you do feel like it, go for a gentle stroll –sometimes just a short walk can lift the spirits

• Stand at your window if you are unable to go out and appreciate what you can see outside

• Practice gratitude on a daily basis and schedule this into your day

• Make your bed in the morning after showering – this way, if there is a tidy bed, you may be more unlikely to jump back in