Why Routine is So Important
The last 18 months with COVID have shown us that, when it comes to helping maintain our mental health, routines are the key. But it can be tempting to allow our routines to become more relaxed, or even to do away with them altogether. When we dont have the same external pressures from being in the workplace, it can be easy to let expectations drop, or more likely, to not be as effective with our time.
For many individuals with Autism or mental health difficulties, a loss of structure and routine can be very disruptive; routine is something which guides us through the day, and any change to this can be extremely unsettling.
While there’s a lot of pressure to maintain a sense of normality for ourselves and our children, it’s important to remember that we are going through an extraordinary event, and therefore we shouldn’t feel obligated to maintain ‘business as usual’. Although routine is important, it doesn’t need to look the same for everyone, and it’s okay to let some things slide at the moment, as we get used to living a ‘new normal’ for a while.
In this blog, we’ll explore some of the benefits of having a daily routine, in addition to looking at strategies which can be used to implement new routines while staying at home.
Routines can anchor us and reduce stress
For many who experience anxiety in their daily lives, having predictable events such as regular mealtimes or social interaction can provide safety and security. In turn, this can help to minimise stress and make the day feel more ‘achievable’.
Routines can promote self-care
Taking time each day to complete self-care, whether that be as simple as washing and dressing, or more complex tasks like taking part in crafts or sports, allows us to meet our basic needs. Incorporating self-care practices into daily routines helps to make these events more concrete and prevent self-neglect.
Routines can promote improved sleep
It is essential for our physical and emotional wellbeing to have enough sleep. Engaging in a balanced daily routine can promote improved sleep by providing our body clock with a predictable daily cycle.
Routines can help us build meaningful activities into our lives
Now, more than ever, meaningful activities are essential to promoting our wellbeing. This can be anything that really gets you going – whether it’s throwing a living room dance party, playing an instrument, or watching your favourite TV show, it’s important to take time to do the things we love without feeling guilty about it.
Now that we know why a routine is important, we can look at how we can implement a routine while also not putting too much pressure on ourselves to get it right or to keep up old routines.
Here are some of our top tips to making a new routine work:
Use visual schedules
Use visual timetables with either pictures or words to ease anxiety. This will allow for predictability which can help to ease anxiety. Use markers, ticks or stickers to show when a task or activity is finished, to help your child to keep track and to ensure transitions are clearly marked.
Teamwork makes the dreamwork
With recent changes, your child may be feeling like they don’t have much control over their lives. Working together to plan out the week can be a great way to ensure that both their needs and your needs are met, while giving your child a sense of control. For a child who has difficulty generating ideas, give options between two or three activities for them to choose from.
Take time to talk
It is likely that you and your family will be feeling lots of things about the current situation. It’s important to take time to acknowledge and process these feelings, and to find strategies which work to manage them. Taking five minutes each day – perhaps over dinner- to check in can promote emotional literacy and help to manage current anxieties.
Do away with the guilt
The last and most important piece of advice, is to not place too much pressure on yourself to make things perfect. While it might look on social media like every family is perfect and making the most of their time together, it’s important to remember that social media is just a highlight reel, and that no routine is perfect. It’s okay for children to watch TV or entertain themselves for a bit while you catch up on work, or take a moment to breathe. While routine is important, this doesn’t mean that every minute of the day needs to be planned out – just having three or four key moments in the day, such as mealtimes and playtimes, can help to put structure in place without too much pressure.