Compartmentalizing your time

[white knight]

We often talk about acceptance of our illness, as being part of ourselves. This acceptance once accomplished, is a huge step forward in our recovery towards existing in a society that for us is challenging.

I've found that carrying out procedures like meditation, muscle transitioning exercises, mindfulness, and the like used to be carried out on a needs basis. If under stress- do some deep breathing, my heart rate is high- do some muscle sanctioning exercises and so on. But there is a problem...that is a needs based routine, a little like bandaging a cut rather than preventing the injury in the first place.

I've found it is of great advantage to put in place a routine of these techniques as a preventative rather than a remedy. As an example my muscle mentioning exercises have been a nighty ritual for several years now. Just prior to sleep I tension up each set of muscles for 15 seconds. The bonus is I fall to sleep easily, the prevention is that it assists in preventing a racing heart and anxiety.

So, try introducing routine processes into your daily schedule. No different to those who regulate their time for religious prayers or hobbies or study. Preventative measures for our illness demands the same time allocation.

Do you have set times for relaxation etc?
TonyWK

[quirkywords]

Tony

I need a routine, no changes but in lockdown I have had to have no routine dependent on outside people but I have to do a personal routine. I find it hard to motivate myself all the times as unlike working even for myself not having outside work it is hard to stick to a routine. I try to walk every day, go on the forums, write and read.

[white knight]

I hear you Quirky.

Routine has intrusions. People visiting, calling, emailing etc, the weather prevents walking or any outdoor activity.

Then there is the multitude of daily tasks without mentioning them all.

Unexpected disruptions- an electrical item on the blink, pet not well, blocked drain and the list goes on.

So we all really need, in fact it's mandatory in life, to be capable of carrying out basic routines. If not then someone has to take up those jobs placing more workload often on carers already stretched.

This all means that routine by description is immovable but needs to be flexible because of life's unexpected occurrences.

If we accept such flexibility well feel better within ourselves that we set to a routine with conditions

TonyWK

[Banksy92]

Great topic White Knight, I 100% agree with taking preventative action rather than only responding with strategies when things don't feel right.

Not sure if anyone will relate to my experience but I wanted to share something here...

I have a tendency to be a bit overly structured and planned, controlling if you will. In lockdowns, with more free time at home I set myself a goal to increase my strategies in an attempt to curb my stress and depression from staying at home. So in addition to my meditation and yoga, I added in a whole range of other activities that have helped me in the past. I soon found myself doing a strict regime of 3+ hours of 'self-care' a day in an attempt to curb my anxiety symptoms, and yet was still experiencing them.

After a great chat with my psychologist, we discovered I was actually stressing myself out subconsciously by trying to fit in too much. Once I stripped it back to just one or two things a day I was instantly relieved.

The lesson for me here really was about learning to 'go with the flow'. I still plan for self-care and do preventative exercises everyday, but I am cautious not to obsess and over do it.

Everyone is different 🙂