Are you depressed? Here are 45 reasons why a routine might be just what you need
When I was severely depressed, I tried to change my life many, many times but failed just as often, until I finally understood that I needed, among other things, a routine.
I used to fear the word, routine, but I no longer do.
The way I see it now, a routine is a program whose sole purpose is to get me to do the things I know I should do but don’t usually feel like doing.
If I were to rely solely on motivation, will, or the desire to do those things, I would most likely never do them. Or I would do them once, then stop for two weeks, then do them once again, etc.
That’s not how you reach a goal.
And that’s because the things that are good for us are usually kind of hard to do. If it weren’t the case, all humans on this planet would be fit, serene, balanced, calm, individuals.
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But we are not. We are humans, and slaves to our own minds.
Enters, your routine.
According to Google’s Oxford Languages, a routine is a sequence of actions regularly followed.
In my book, a routine is a program adapted to your specific needs and designed to get you to your goals.
Once you set in place a series of steps that always occur in the same order, you significantly reduce the possibilities for your mind (and you) to be yanked around by the million different thoughts and envies that go through it at every second.
The point of a routine is not to suck the joy out of your life, remove spontaneity, and make you miserable, but rather to help you reach an outcome you have decided you want. It’s the key to living up to your true potential. And you still get to have spontaneity if you leave room for it (and you should). You create a routine that fits your needs.
If you feel like you have been wandering through life or if you are depressed, then you definitely need a routine to help you out.
If you are still not convinced, I’ve put together a list of 45 reasons why you need a routine to help you when you are depressed or anxious, or simply in need of a push.
1. You think less because your routine becomes your program: you just do it.
2. Consequently, you gain time because you waste it less overthinking or worrying about every single task and decision
3. You know what to do when dark thoughts start to creep back up.
4. When you develop a routine, you slowly condition yourself into adopting (and enjoying) a new set of behaviors.
5. Knowing what you have to do to gives you a reason to get out of bed.
6. When you develop a routine, you begin to understand your needs.
7. You begin to know yourself and your reactions in different circumstances.
8. You get a sense of accomplishment every day you follow your routine (or parts of it).
9. You make progress and you see it.
10. You have a reason to be proud of yourself every day.
11. You no longer feel worthless because you have accomplished something.
12. You learn how to respond and adapt to your needs.
13. A routine allows you to feel empowered because you took control of your day.
14. You eliminate the anxiety created by the never-ending “what should I do?” questions.
15. When you stay consistent with your routine, you start experiencing what self-respect is.
16. You become more disciplined.
17. You learn to appreciate discipline.
18. You begin to understand the value of a routine.
19. You gain new skills.
20. You become a role model for yourself. That’s a new feeling, isn’t it?
21. Your actions and progress become an inspiration for others.
22. You surprise yourself.
23. You derive joy from it.
24. The excuses you constantly told yourself start to lose their power.
25. You learn your strengths.
26. But most importantly, you learn your weaknesses and how to work around them.
27. You become more patient with yourself.
28. You become more patient with others.
29. You acquire mental resilience.
30. You learn the power of repetition and consistency.
31. You learn the value of persistence: establishing a routine doesn’t happen in one day.
32. You learn the value of incremental change.
33. External circumstances have a lesser impact on your mental state and your actions.
34. You learn how powerful your mind can be.
35. You gain organization skills.
36. You learn how to manage the child in you.
37. You start taking better care of yourself.
38. You see human beings in a new light.
39. And you can finally stop hating them, and yourself, so much.
40. You become a better leader and manager: you cannot manage other people effectively if you don’t know how to manage yourself.
41. You realize you can be your own savior.
42. You see how connected your mind and body are.
43. You learn your limits.
44. You finally understand the difference between listening to what you want versus how you feel.
45. But above all, and contrary to what you think, a routine brings you more freedom. The freedom to do the things you want and the things that serve your best interest, whereas the absence of a routine makes you a slave of your mind and envies.
Related posts:
- How to start over in life at 30?
- 26 Habits that helped me overcome depression without medication
- The one mindset shift that helped me overcome depression
Final thoughts
I used to think that a routine meant the death of freedom, boredom… a hard life. I was wrong, and it’s completely the opposite.
I’ve learned that letting your mind roam free wherever it pleases at all times does not equate to freedom. I’ve tried it, many times. It’s a recipe for disaster. Well, for me it was.
Becoming a total slave to my mind brings me a lot of pain. And to avoid this, I have to be the one at the driver’s seat, most of the time anyway.
Only then, can I truly do what I want, instead of just being a slave to my monkey mind.
Have you started implementing your own routine? What are you struggling with?
