Routines are an excellent way to promote health and wellness through organization and structure. People are naturally creatures of habit but having a routine can greatly improve your health.
If you don’t follow a routine, chances are one of these nasties are part of your life:
· Stress is a very real thing, and it can be debilitating. Having the constant worry about being able to get everything done puts you behind the eight ball to begin with.
· Poor eating goes hand in hand with lack of routine. Unhealthy diets become the norm when we can’t find time to grocery shop. We tend to rely on quick – usually unhealthy – substitutes, including the convenient but oh so bad takeaways!
· Poor sleep is another result of having no routine. You can end up playing catch-up each day, trying to finish off yesterday’s to-do list before starting on todays. This puts us on the hamster wheel of worry once again, causing us stress, which in turn, keeps us awake.
· Poor physical condition is a result once again of no routine. Of necessity, working out usually needs some advanced planning.
· Poor time management results when you have no routine too. It simply means you run out of time, and you are either unwilling or able to use your time productively.
Routines Can Be Fun!
Who says routines must be boring? The health benefits gains will make you wonder why you didn’t get into a routine earlier.
Let’s see if we can entice you by pointing out some of the gains you can get by starting a routine:
· Better stress levels lead to more time to relax, less anxiety and improved mental health. If you don’t work on lowering your stress levels, you can become a candidate for a greater risk of heart disease, as well as jeopardizing your overall health.
· Better sleep leaves you relaxed and refreshed. I’m sure you’ve experienced the difference of a decent night sleep at some stage. Did it make a difference? I bet it did! So why not make it a mission to turn your sleep into a routine? The best pointer in this regard is to make your bedtime and waking time consistent. You then become in unison with your body clock. Your sleep level affects your performance, emotional well-being, mental sharpness, and energy level.
· Better health is a goal you can reach with a little extra planning. By setting the alarm a little earlier (yes, I know what you’re thinking), you can have time to both exercise and eat breakfast. Both make a huge difference to how your day is going to go. You don’t have to go to the gym – although there are some huge benefits in doing so – just putting one foot in front of the other will help. Whether your energy allows you to jog or run, or maybe you’re more of a walker, just do it!
If you don’t seem to be able to justify creating a routine for yourself, how about doing it for your family? Routines are beneficial habits that will pay off in the long run. If you’re setting a good example, your partner and kids may gain a positive effect on their self-esteem, health, and motivation too.
Kick Start Your Life
It goes without saying that everyone is unique. What’s good for one person may not be the best for another. You don’t necessarily have to completely schedule your day to reap the benefits of a routine. Make the choices that suit your lifestyle, but no that the health and time management benefits will definitely be worth it.
Comments