The Importance of Creating Routine in Recovery
Structure and Predictability Help You Build Healthy Habits and a Healthy Lifestyle
“We are what we repeatedly do.” - Aristotle
A habit is an often subconscious action, behaviour, or thought that you do on a consistent, repetitive basis. Routines are made up of habits or actions taken towards accomplishing a particular goal. Good daily habits often determine success throughout life, while research has found that poor daily habits typically lead to negative behaviors or consequences.
Self-control and self-discipline are the foundation for establishing good habits and developing healthy routines that support success. Many successful people achieve greatness by establishing morning routines to help direct their days. Creating your own routine can help create a sense of manageability in life. Routines also can help people cope with a multitude of experiences, including change, stress, and mental health challenges, in a positive way.
Routine in recovery
In recovery, routine is a powerful way to create predictability when everything seems new and changing. It can also help you focus on your recovery since it offers structure and balance, reduces stress and disorganization, and helps you develop healthy habits.
With the change of lifestyle in recovery, unstructured time can lead to restlessness and boredom; two major hurdles to overcome. Routine can help you set and adjust to expectations in your day. As you develop a routine, your body will adjust to times dedicated to waking, eating, exercise, and sleeping. This is extremely helpful in recovery, as you learn new ways to have a healthy lifestyle. As your body adjusts, becomes healthier, and develops a routine, your mental health also typically benefits.
The power of routines
Here is a list of ways that creating a routine can bring positive benefits to your life:
Routine serves as an anchor
Routines can anchor you in daily life. When you maintain a routine, life feels easier to handle. This sense of manageability allows you to cope with unpredictable changes.
Routine gives us a roadmap
Everyone has a “to do” list, or list things they wish to accomplish. It can be overwhelming to keep this list bottled up in our minds. When following a routine, you eliminate the need for excessive brainpower, since you do not have to think so hard about every task. It provides you with a roadmap to follow and decreases stress by promoting feelings of order and direction.
Routine promotes positive self-care habits
Routines help create positive daily habits that promote self-care. It is possible to arrange your time around things that are important to you in order to promote happiness and fulfillment. Relaxation techniques, like meditation and yoga, and going to bed at a regular time, can become part of your routine and promote wellbeing.
Routine supports healthy sleep cycles
Creating a sleep routine is just as important as having a morning routine. Sleep is crucial to your mental, physical, and psychological wellbeing. When you consistently go to bed and wake up around the same time, your body develops a sleep-wake cycle that makes it easier for you to fall asleep, improves the quality of your sleep, and promotes an easier waking experience.
What can I fit into a routine?
There are many things in your life that you can incorporate into a structure and routine. Here is a list of things to consider:
Sleeping
Eating
Socializing
Exercising
Working
Hygiene or self-care
Quiet time or meditation
Hobbies
Engaging with your recovery support network