Do we struggle with Routine 🤔

Rag_793
Rag_793 Community Member Posts: 650 Empowering
in Everyday life

I don’t know about anyone else, but I know personally that I struggle to maintain a structured daily routine.

Living with Mental and Physical Health Conditions, it is like living on a tightrope as each day is a fine balancing act. You can go one way and overdo things or go the other way and do very little.

It is all about what we can manage each day, depending on how our mind and body feel. Sometimes like myself, I get stuck in a huge rut the size of the Mariana Trench!! Which means that I neglect all sense of personal care, my housework gets pushed to one side and I literally sleep, eat and watch tv which is not a good way to live.

I have had to do a lot of sole searching over recent weeks and I am embarrassed about how I don’t have a healthy diet, I probably spend over £150 on take aways each month 😔 I blame energy levels for not cooking a simple healthy meal, both at Breakfast and at Dinner. I am 43 and my scales tell me that I have a body age of 47 which is shocking to say the least.

I have now had to start looking at myself both as a Service User and also as a Support Worker. I have bought a magnetic set of boards that will go on the fridge and have set out a weekly routine of Personal Care, Housework, Exercise and Going Out for a Coffee. I have also now got my Diary set out on the fridge so I know where I am up to with medical appointments, cinema viewings, Area Coordinator visit, and housing repairs.

Alongside this I have also put a simple menu that is healthy and balanced for each day.

I have to now start recognising triggers and learn to manage flare ups which can lead to me falling into old habits and stagnating.

Does anyone else struggle to maintain a routine, what works for you and what doesn’t work for you?

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Comments

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 4,792 Online Community Team

    I think having these calendars is a great idea! It clearly shows what you should be doing and what you have got coming up. I just noticed your menu as well which is great if you're wanting to spend less on takeaways.

    I like to have a routine and I use a calendar too. It means I can make sure I remember my appointments and see the fun things that I have planned. It's good that you have leisure activities on there. It's important to keep going out and doing things that make you happy. I feel like this could be helpful for a lot of people.

  • Rag_793
    Rag_793 Community Member Posts: 650 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1149331#Comment_1149331

    Thank You 😊

    I guess something stuck with me when I was talking to the Area Coordinator from my local council, in a way I am my own support worker. Skills learned from that job and probably my gardening job aid me to keep going, have entries in the calendar and know what to do to help make my life better.

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 6,274 Championing

    Do we struggle with Routine 🤔

    Yeah, we do 🤨 I didn't even know what it meant at my autism assessment and answered 'no' when he asked if I liked routine - I was thinking of school, work etc. Luckily, my daughter next to me reminded me that I needed order, like lists, and did things in steps.

    Like you @Rag_793 my health and sense of stability can change with the wind but I find my way back and start again. I've kept diaries since my early teens but could never plan or see ahead.

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