Do you make your bed in the morning? And why am I asking this? Making your bed is a simple task that keeps you organized and focused all day. In fact, it can help you feel more at peace and feel like you have more control over your life. Being in power can be valuable when everything seems to be going wrong. Making a morning and evening routine, with a small effort to do specific tasks, can improve mental health.
Small routines such as tidying or organizing can bring structure, predictability, and stability to one's life. On the other hand, waking up to clutter can prevent someone from completing daily tasks and doing self-care. Accomplishing simple tasks helps in coping with everyday problems and stress and helps to lessen confusion, disorganized thoughts, fears, and worries.
Disorganized thinking is one of the primary symptoms of schizophrenia and dramatically has a negative impact on quality of life. There is a lack of concentration. Thoughts and emotions may feel jumbled. A structured day may help to organize thoughts.
Setting up something that offers purpose can help someone with depression get out of bed and shake off some of their depressive symptoms. For those with bipolar depression, a routine can also help them find some stability.
Those experiencing anxiety (which is everybody) find more calm in life with set routines. Engaging in the same basic routine in and day out dramatically reduces the stress of not knowing what to expect.
Not wanting to face the day can stem from knowing the number of tasks ahead. You may be overwhelmed by a small task because you need to figure out where to start. While a daily routine comes naturally for some, someone experiencing depression may feel it is nearly impossible.
Of course, creating this structure in your life may not be easy when dealing with depression, but it can be approached step by step. Starting with a few small goals to incorporate into a routine can do a lot of good.
Individuals living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, (OCD) experience uncontrollable thoughts, “obsessions” and behaviors, “compulsions” with the urge to repeat over and over. Those with OCD tend to strictly adhere to their daily routines as doing so combats anxiety.
Making your bed in the morning sets you up for success. By making your bed, you've accomplished at least one thing. The simple act of tidying up your covers lets you begin your morning with a small success that will encourage many more throughout the day.
"If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the day's first task. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another." Author unknown
Your bed doesn’t have to look perfect. Straighten out the sheets, pull up the blanket, top it off with the comforter, end with the pillows, and you are good to go!
—By Susan C. Mader, MSSW, CPS
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