The Benefits of Routine in Stress Management

The Benefits of Routine in Stress Management

Life does not always go the way one plans and when it does there are inevitable detours, twists, and turns that can sometimes make us feel off-kilter and out of sorts. That feeling tends to create anxiety that is sometimes accompanied by uncertainty. That uncertainty has the potential to lead to fear, kicking off a cycle of anxiety and stress. Now, mindfulness and awareness and a stress management program can assist us with understanding and channeling that nervous energy which is usually an indication that our stress response has been activated. 

Our stress response does not have to be a bad thing. Remember, our stress response is there to help us get through these challenging times. It is there for a reason. We can use it to get us to the next level. However, sometimes when you are in the middle of it, understanding that and doing what is needed can be hard to put together. 

With consistency and reps and routine you're going to achieve
your goals and get where you want to be. - Mandy Rose

Adding a routine or adjusting our routine can help with reducing stress and help us manage life events a little better. Researchers have found that routine can not only be beneficial in stress management but also help with improving sleep habits, healthier eating, and increased happiness. It also helps to ground us and keep our minds tethered to reality and things we can actually do to impact our lives. Routine provides me with a comfort and sense of accomplishment which helps positively shift my mind frame. 


There are a couple of simple steps that we can do first to recognize what we need and do something that will get us going in the right direction.. 


  1. Pay attention. Pay attention to your mood, your mind, and your attitude. Just pay attention to yourself. There are many ways that you can do this. You can journal on a regular basis. You can start your day off with regular meditation. You can start your day off with an introspective question. Knowing your baseline and paying attention to when your attitude and emotions shift is a very important step in taking care of yourself and starting your mindfulness journey. 

  2. Start a small routine or update your routine. I know it seems like I am saying opposite things. If you do not have a routine then start a small one. Pick something small that will have an impact on whatever the issue is that you are going through. It does not have to fix the entire problem. Let’s face it, you will not fix the entire problem but you will give yourself a small level of control. If you already have a routine or multiple routines established then make an adjustment because something in it is not working for you at this time. Making that small adjustment shifts your focus on what really needs addressing. 

  3. Re-assess, adjust and keep going. Sometimes when we start doing something different, we do not go back and look at how it is working for us. Do we need to make small adjustments? Are we on the right path? Are we getting results? Assess our situation, your mood, and how you are progressing. Do not fall into the trap of ignoring yourself and remember not to give up on your journey forward. 



Related Articles

Health Benefits of Having a Routine

Psychological Benefits of Routines

Why routines are good for your health

The Importance of Creating Habits and Routine



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do Something Different

Image
Do something different. Shake your life up a bit. Our brains are funny little 3 pound masses that can take us for a loop and we are still learning so much about it. As much as I enjoy having a routine in my life because it gives me the illusion of having control, variety is also key for cognitive health. Soomi Lee, PhD, assistant professor in the USF College of Behavior and Community Sciences reports "findings suggest that active and engaged lifestyles with diverse and regular activities are essential for our cognitive health." I am not a regular baker but I wanted to do something different. I have not baked in quite some time and I probably won't even eat all the cake but it was a fun and different activity to do. So even if you do not do something drastic. Shaking things up even a little bit can help change the trajectory of your thought, attitude and day.  Article Source:  Variety and consistency are essential to keep the mind health My related Tiktok below @wandatob
Read more

Redirect Your Focus away from Lizzo

Image
Redirect Your Focus away from Lizzo Scroll down to listen to the podcast here Recently a comedian has been under fire for making hurtful comments toward the artist Lizzo about her weight. Aries Spears in an attempt to be funny mocks Lizzo about her weight and her looks. He also goes on to say that he can get away with being a big dude and women cannot. He then attempts to pivot in a spectacular show of hypocrisy that instead of supporting her expressions of confidence women should be pointing out potential health issues linked with obesity. Sir! What are you doing? I really wanted to take this opportunity to point out that we as a people, as a nation should be less focused on individuals and more on the industry that’s putting crappy overprocessed foods on the shelves. They are appealing to our need for convenience. They are using science and psychology to influence us to buy these crappy foods. And let's face it, who doesn’t love a good sweet or salty snack or fast food that we ca
Read more

Bust Off That Gut With the Insanity Workout

Image
Bust Off That Gut With the Insanity Workout By Carl Barton It can be quite the dizzying experience trying to find the right workout regimen when a person decides to get back into shape. In many cases, it takes a high level of commitment to stay on track with whatever kind physical of activity and/or diet that is chosen. For people who truly desire results and have a high motor, the Insanity Workout could be the right option for a variety of reasons. The Insanity Workout is a high energy workout routine that works on the interval training method. The interval method stresses a period of high activity followed by a period of low activity. This is the key to workout regimen because it warms up muscles, builds them up, and acts as a lactic acid conditioner. By building up a lactic acid tolerance, muscles become stronger while building up someone's endurance. When applying this kind of aerobic training to the human body, the pyramid system is a base model for the workout routine.
Read more