Mental Health Awareness Month: Considerations for Developing a Routine to Support Your Mental Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which is a great time to consider starting a routine that benefits your mental health. Experts say that having a structured routine can decrease stress, increase happiness, help with mental illnesses, and allow people to feel more control. Consider these 7 categories when developing a routine to best take care of your mental health.
Sleep - According to the CDC, 1 in 3 people don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis. Sleep is vital to taking care of your mental health. It is recommended to try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
Diet - No, I’m not recommending whatever the latest fad diet is. However, what you eat can impact how you feel. Pay attention to how you feel after eating various foods and consider making appropriate changes if necessary. Be sure to incorporate regular eating into your daily routine.
Activity - Most of us are aware that exercise improves our mental health, so participating in regular exercise is an excellent consideration for your routine. Exercise can take many different forms and look different for each individual. If you don’t feel ready for an exercise regimen, examine where you might be able to include more movement in your day, such as taking the stairs, walking around the kitchen while the microwave counts down, stretching in the morning or evening, dancing to a favorite playlist, or taking time to stand up during the work day.
Hobbies - Include time for your hobbies! Think about what brings you joy and make sure you’re getting enough of it. This might include reading, cooking, watching TV, listening to or making music, creating art, writing, or spending time outdoors. If you feel like you don’t currently have any hobbies, that could be a great opportunity to try something new.
People - Schedule regular time to socialize. Try to surround yourself with people who encourage you, support you, respect you, and challenge you.
Giving back - Find a cause important to you and give back to it in a way that makes sense to your life. This could be through volunteering, advocacy, and/or donating money or supplies. Research show that altruism is connected to positive physical and mental effects.
Therapy - As a therapist, it is basically mandatory that I include therapy on this list. But regardless of that, routine therapy can provide numerous benefits to your mental health, such as improved relationships, communication, self-esteem, and coping skills.
Some people’s schedules may not not allow for a consistent, structured routine. If that’s your case, then do what you can to prioritize these aspects when you are able.
