Building Daily Routine For Optimal Mental Health

Building daily routine is a pillar of good health.

It’s no secret that our mental health can have a big impact on our overall well-being. When we’re feeling good mentally, we’re more likely to be productive, happy, and healthy. However, when our mental health is suffering, it can be hard to function in everyday life. Building daily routines and habits are pillar to good health.

One of the best ways to do this is to build a routine that includes activities that promote mental wellbeing. Instead of telling you what routines you should have to promote mental health, today I talk about how to build a routine that will help you achieve optimal mental health.

I don’t know about you, but I am the type of person that needs to know why I am doing what I am doing. The logic behind doing things help me build more compliance than just doing it like an animal. After all, we are humans with large forebrain that helps us achieve more things than reducing to no sensical actions.

So, it is essential to build a routine that allows you to thrive. This can be done in a variety of ways. The steps include brainstorming a routine, planning and structuring your day, breaking down goals, testing out your routine, and keeping track of your progress.

Let’s get started by learning the first step to creating a routine.

1. Determine your non-negotiables

Before you start planning your day, you need to brainstorm what you need to do. I also call this step Reflection Time. Start by writing down your non-negotiables with a hard deadline. This could be something such as your start time for work, work calls, or dropping off the kids at school. Once you have those non-negotiables, brainstorm where you need to put those in your day.

For instance, if you need to be at work by 8 AM, you’ll want to factor in time for things like commuting, getting ready, and maybe even breakfast. Once you have your non-negotiables mapped out, you can start thinking about what else you’d like to include in your routine.

Once you know what your non-negotiables are, you can start to weave in your other responsibilities throughout the day. Examples of this could be fitting in a workout class or grocery shopping. These things are still important to do, but they may not have a pressing deadline.

Once you know what you want to accomplish for the day, you can move on to the next step.

2. Plan and Structure Your Day

Once you know what you have to do for the day, you can start to build out and schedule based on your non-negotiables. Start by opening your calendar or planner and write in your non-negotiables first.

Once you have those down, you can start to fill in the gaps with your other responsibilities.

As you’re planning out your day, it’s important to be realistic about how long each task will take. If you try to pack too much into your day, you’ll likely end up feeling overwhelmed and stressed. It’s also important to leave some wiggle room in your schedule in case something comes up or takes longer than expected. This tactic helps you be kind and compassionate towards yourself. This is the most important part of building daily routine that helps you thrive.

3. Break Down Your Goal

One of the best ways to make sure you’re productive and achieving your goals is to break them down into smaller tasks. When you have a big goal, it can be hard to know where to start.

For example, if you have a project for work due in two weeks, you should break it down into smaller deadlines. Some smaller deadlines can include having a draft due in four days, then feedback due in two more days then edits based on that feedback due a day after, and so on.

Breaking down your larger goals into smaller goals will help you stay on track and have actionable steps to complete your larger tasks. It is easier to tackle smaller, more attainable tasks than it is to tackle one large one.

4. Test Out Your New Routine

Once you have your new routine set in place, you need to try it out and be consistent with it.  Consistency is key to ensuring you are successful when building a routine.

It takes 21 days to form a habit. This means you need to try this routine for at least three weeks to get this routine to stick. Hold on a sec, that’s not it. It takes about 21 days or longer to build a habit, but that doesn’t mean you have a habit at the end of 21 days. Habit is considered a habit when you reach automaticity. An automaticity is an act of performing without thinking about it. That means, your brain is performing the action on its own without you having to think about it.

That’s why it takes longer than 21 days to build a habit. So if you’re trying out a new routine, don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t become a habit after 21 days. Just keep at it and be patient.

Also, don’t be afraid to try new thongs during this period. It is all about what works best for you and what you need out of a routine.

5. Keep Track of Your Progress

 It is important to keep track of the progress you are making. This is a great time to reflect on what is working and what is not. You should keep track of your progress as you’re testing out your new routine. This will help you stay on track and motivated. There are a few different ways you can do this.

You can use a daily or weekly planner to check off each task as you complete it. This will help you see visually what you have accomplished and what still needs to be done.

You can also keep track of your progress by writing in a journal. Set aside some time to reflect on your day and see what went well and what you can improve on.

No matter how you choose to keep track of your progress, the important thing is that you do it in a way that works for you.

Benefits of Having a Daily Routine

• High energy levels
• Calm morning
• Positive mindset
• Productivity
• Restful night and better sleep
• Better time management

Conclusion

Building a routine is a great way to optimize your mental health. It can help you be more productive, reduce stress, and boost your mood. Having a daily routine can help you with time management, stay on track with your goals, and implement structure into your life. It may take some time, but it is not an impossible task and this downloadable worksheet will definitely help you implement these steps in no time. By following these steps, you can implement a successful routine that fits your lifestyle.