The Benefits of Having a schedule
Having a schedule helps us have a healthy attitude towards time. When my mum taught me to have a routine as a child, she stimulated and helped me develop healthy thoughts. For example, time is the one resource that we can't buy, but we often waste it or use it ineffectively. Scheduling or having a routine helps you think about what you want to achieve in a day, week or month, and it keeps you on track to accomplish your goals. Having a routine keeps me mentally healthy, and I am ambitious in striving after my goals.
Having a routine can also help people who seem never to have enough time as it aids them in good time management, helping them achieve a good work-life balance.
In previous relationships, I made the mistake of being with people who did not have a routine or whose routines were incompatible with my own. So, I ended up getting rid of a routine for myself (needless to say, it was a bad mistake that I am never making again). I mention this because when I was in the relationship and shared with them the importance of having a schedule or a routine, they were not so keen on the idea of scheduling your life and setting goals as to them it sounded restrictive. This made me wonder if other people feel the same way. In actual reality, schedules and routines help you make more time for the things you love without sacrificing your work or hobbies along the way. It helps keep you stay active as well as being ambitious. Creating a schedule helps reduce stress, improve organisation and time management. It also gives you time to relax and recharge every day.
Reader, if you are interested in creating a routine or a schedule, there are many great resources online about time management or how to schedule your life or put your life into a routine.
Having a routine has always been important to me and is one of my core values. I am blessed because I am also very flexible and spontaneous and know how to strike a balance.
The Tea
When I do not have a schedule or a routine, it makes me very anxious. My brain goes into shock, and I do not know what to do with myself, and l feel at a loss. Sometimes I start to panic; I feel like the world is coming to an end because I am not active, I am not meeting any goals, I am not meeting a reasonable amount of people in a day. You can imagine my emotions; I am in distress!
I voluntarily put myself in this state of emotions by giving up my security of a routine
In previous relationships, I made the mistake of being with people who did not have a routine or whose routines were incompatible with my own. So, I ended up getting rid of a routine for myself (needless to say, it was a bad mistake that I am never making again). I mention this because when I was in the relationship and shared with them the importance of having a schedule or a routine, they were not so keen on the idea of scheduling your life and setting goals as to them it sounded restrictive. This made me wonder if other people feel the same way. In actual reality, schedules and routines help you make more time for the things you love without sacrificing your work or hobbies along the way. It helps keep you stay active as well as being ambitious. Creating a schedule helps reduce stress, improve organisation and time management. It also gives you time to relax and recharge every day.
Change of routine in the sense of transition can be quite challenging for me. Even though it happens quite often, in the last 4 months I have moved to 3 different locations twice in wales and temporarily to England. I think this is because every time that I move, I have to develop a new routine and a new social network. Every time I develop a new routine, I have to go through the anxiety of not knowing what to do with myself, feeling at a loss, feeling that the world will end and just being distressed. On top of the normal worries and excitements of moving somewhere new. Until I settle into my new routine, then the distress is a thing of the past.
I often have a change of routine because I have ME/CFS, so I often have to change my routine to fit around what amount of activity I can engage in each day. I call this pacing. I tend to list an activity stress level from high to low and plan my day accordingly. Sometimes I have to make tough choices, for example, the other night I had to choose between watching a movie with my house mates and socialising, which would be good for my mental health as I had not done it in a while or having a bath. I feel each day different, and I have to take each day at a time.
What adds gravity to my emotions is that I am generally a very happy social butterfly. So when I am not doing anything, it is the worst thing that could happen to me. I love the countryside, but I wouldn't say I like it if I can go a full week without seeing a single person or spending a full week only seeing the same three people.
How I handle the period of transition
I have found that surrounding myself with people who have a routine helps me get over the anxiety of starting a new routine faster. They help me channel my thoughts back to a positive can-do attitude. I have also found that people who have routine, goals, and ambitions, no matter how small they are, come across as interesting people and are interested in me.
I love to work. Work gives me stimulation and allows me to meet so many people in one day. It is gratifying.
Spending time with my good friends and good family. This makes me feel grounded and positive, especially when I have something to say and they listen to me, vice versa. It is so great. They are wonderful. I love them so much.
Gardening
Massages/ aromatherapy
Go to the sea it is my happy place. Or go on a walk along the coast, very calming and clears my thoughts.
Pilates and basic yoga stretches
Giving back, giving back takes the emphasis off my self, and it is so rewarding.
Overall I believe having a routine has so many benefits, and it is the path to freedom, productivity, happiness, and fulfilling our true potential. I am so grateful that schedules were something that my mum took the time to teach me from a young age. I also believe that it is never too late to start your personal routine.
Comments