The health benefits of having a routine

Is a routine really important?

For the third time this week, you have hit that snooze button too many times. You’re now late for a shower, let the dog out, and forget breakfast- you don’t even have the time to grab a cup of coffee before logging in for back-to-back Zoom meetings. You are already exhausted and overwhelmed.

Have we hit a nerve here? This lifestyle just does not work.

So, how do you come out of this miserable way of life? The answer is Routines.

Having a regular and easy-to-follow morning and evening routine helps you focus on work, health, and personal life because it creates discipline, help you achieve more, and gets some important things from your to-do list done.

Though forming a routine is easier said than done, there are many health benefits to it. Here are six health benefits of having a routine.

1.  Have a Healthy and Balanced Lifestyle

The key to setting up a routine is to sleep and wake up at the proper hours. Go to bed and wake up around the same time every day. Set an alarm if required and you will feel energized and active if you give your body sufficient rest and allow it to function well throughout the day.

2.  Breakfast sets the day

Your first meal of the day affects your entire day. Therefore, one should always have a hearty breakfast filled with proteins and other nutrients that will help set the stage for focusing on getting the work done and making good decisions. You will also feel full and keep your hunger pangs at bay.

3.  Creates Structure in Our Lives

Having a routine also means having some sort of logical structure in your life. You know what to do next or where to be next unlike lazing around in bed, eating a bag full of chips, and binge-watching some trashy show on OTTs. When you have a familiar and comfortable framework to live by, there will be a certain flow to go about.

4.  Helps Prioritize and Save Time

When we carefully design a personal routine, it helps us figure out what’s important to us. Rather than making these decisions impromptu, we can carefully plan and prepare as a predetermined, set routine provides us with sufficient time which can be utilized to spend with friends and family.

Further, once we start to follow a routine, we can also master our skills. After all, practice makes everything perfect.

5.  Helps you stay active

Having a routine helps you stay active. You would have time in hand for exercise or a brisk walk in the neighborhood, increasing your overall energy levels. Simple tasks like blocking out time for grocery shopping, playing, or hitting the gym can easily be inserted into a routine. These activities will motivate us and promote positive self-care habits.

6.  Better mental health

We know by now that establishing a daily routine can improve our relationships, physical health, productivity, and focus. There are many studies that prove the importance of routines being associated with depression and anxiety.

Setting ten minutes every day to make your bed or tidy your home reduces not only the clutter but also helps reduce stress.

Each of us has different goals and priorities and we hope that you take time for yourself to set a routine that would benefit you in all walks of life. Let us know in the comments what changes you would like to bring to your life that would work best for you.