Do routines help you or hold you back?

[Alex]

When I am a little stressed or anxious, I find routines can help you focus and you do things and you just carry on. The 'but' is whether they hold you back and get you stuck in a rut? I know at one point I used to have coffee and a cigarette each morning before I could face people, but now I don't need that. I also used to have to have a bath before I could face the day, but when I wasn't able to do that I had to adapt and found I didn't need it. It made me feel comfortable though, and while I don't depend on that ritual any longer, it's more of an act that calms me than one I need now.

 

[sidney]

Of course routines can help you fight or conquer anxiety, because it diverts your mind from it, so when you are busy you will eventually forget about what makes you so anxious in the first place.

 

[janemariesayed]

Not having structure can lead us to procrastinate so routine is paramount for mental illnesses. By having structure it means that we do things at certain times on certain days and that does help us to have focus.

When I don't give myself structure I get despondent and bored. Then I start playing games and procrastinate. Then I start feeling bad about myself because of procrastinating instead of doing something productive. It's a vicious circle that is a battle, a constant struggle for me.

Having structure doesn't help with my anxieties though. If I have to go outside, it's guaranteed I'll have a panic attack at some point that day.

 

[misszerable]

Having routines can help anxiety sufferers in the same way that it helps children or people dealing with developmental or behavioral problems. These routines have to be activities that you can perform without obstruction or you'll end up even more stressed if you fail to do them. Having structure on your life can be comforting and calming as you feel more in control of yourself and your time. At some point, however, you will want to do something different and move on. I don't feel that routines can hold me back at all. I know that I can live without them or change them anytime. Oh, except taking a bath before leaving the house.

 

[Sweed1]

I have found that having routines can be a blessing, as at work where I do the same things every single day thus it lowers my anxiety and produces a calmer me. On the other hand having a routine at home can put you into a rut where you don't get much done and find yourself doing the same things everyday instead of going off on new adventures. Like sitting down in front of the computer then wasting an entire day.

I have a friend who is in her late 60's that was in the military, and her whole life follows the same routine every day. From the time she gets up in the morning everything she does has to be done a certain way at a certain time. She takes no concern of anyone else's health issues as in if you are invited to walk with her you must go her way and walk at her pace, and even walk out in the street without looking for oncoming cars. These little quirks have made it difficult to do things with her as I just can't keep up and I always look for traffic before going out into the roadway. lol

But most of us are more inclined to not be ridged in our daily patterns and usually adept as things revolve within the hours of each day. So I think routines can be an asset if used in moderation.

 

[Concernedgal]

I put my life in a schedule. I wake up make sure I have breakfast to assure that I don't have a hypoglycemic episode and second... If I work that day , I go and I get that over with and third.... I come home and I unwind from being a t work because let's face it .. having a job and an anxiety disorder is exausting. Have to cook dinner at exactly 5 and try to eat by exactly 6, wash dishes, take shower . Try to be in bed by 10 (if my body decides to that night) lol. So yep... I don't know where I would be with out my routine. A routine is so wonderfully predictable.

 

[Danes]

Routine and structure can be of great help to anxiety sufferers because it helps to promote the feeling of being more in control and I think that can assist in lessening anxiety episodes. I just think that we should be careful not to let those routines block us from experiencing a full and productive life.

 

[janemariesayed]

All the Therapists that I've been seeing lately have mentioned this to me. I don't have any structure in my life at all. I've never really thought of it before but I suppose they are right. It would be really challenging for me to follow a time table. I do still get what I want to be done finished but not all at once. That is down to my illness though, so as hard as I try, I still fail to complete tasks.

I have made lots of schedules but whenever I make one, I don't stick to it. I've had better luck listening to YouTube videos for anti-procrastination. I listen to them for an hour then I'm up and about getting things done.

 

[Concernedgal]

Stcking to a routine is essential to my day. I keep myself on a strict one. I have a bed time and a time of waking up. A time to eat and time to bathe. Btw. Here's a bambam pick for you. For some reason it wouldn't let me send you one at the conversation podium.

 

[Concernedgal]

 

[Natasha0717]

I love routines, I have one I follow daily. If things get a bit messed up and I feel I go off schedule, I do get anxious. It's probably why I don't do well on vacations/trips. It's impossible to follow your usual routine (and also impossible to sleep) around other family members all in one hotel room.
*Side note: Cute, SWEET dog above this post, ^ reminds me of my little Angel.

 

[Concernedgal]

Thank you. That's my son. Unfortunately he's about to pass away from anal cancer. I'm not ready for it either. I got him when I found out I couldn't have children 12 years ago. And now i'm about to lose him. I don't know if I can do it.