Lately, a building in Manhattan has been in the news because its support columns—the structures that hold the building up—were never reinforced when it was converted from an office building into housing. As a result, the building was in danger of collapse.
It perhaps goes without saying that strong support structures are absolutely essential for buildings of all sorts. Without them, whole edifices can simply crumble to the ground.
It turns out that something similar can happen when it comes to your mental health. A lack of structures in your life can mean your mental health is on shakier ground than it needs to be.
Let’s take a look at how strong structures—you might also call them regular routines—can support your mental wellbeing.
Structure Can Reduce Anxiety
If you are struggling with a mental health disorder—especially one related to anxiety or panic—you want to do whatever you can to ensure you have some structure in your day-to-day life. Uncertainty tends to turn up the dial on anxiety, working against you rather than for you. A set of routines can limit the amount of uncertainty you experience throughout the day, lowering your stress levels and keeping anxiety at bay.
A predictable morning routine, for example, can help you get your day off to a good start. That might mean starting each day with a few stretches or a mindfulness exercise; eating a healthy breakfast; and getting out the door on time. Nailing the morning routine reminds your brain that you have things under control.
You might benefit from different routines throughout the day. Knowing what you will do on your lunch break, for example, can help that time feel purposeful rather than haphazard. And a good nighttime routine can help your body and brain know when it is time to sleep, which can lessen your anxiety about having trouble drifting off. The sleep itself can help you manage anxiety better, too.
Structure Can Lead to Improved Physical Health
Your mental health and your physical health are deeply intertwined. That means improving your physical health will have a positive impact on your mental health. A set of healthy routines can help you make progress in both. Those daily structures might include:
- A commitment to healthy eating: Routines around eating might include replacing a sugary snack with a piece of fruit; being more intentional at the grocery store; and doing more cooking for yourself.
- A commitment to regular exercise: When it comes to your physical health, some movement always beats no movement. Adding a daily walk to your routine is a great way to get started. Yoga might also be a good activity as it encourages you to stay present in the moment, which can be helpful as you work to improve your mental health.
- A commitment to quality sleep: We have already mentioned the importance of getting consistent, restful sleep. It is important enough to mention again, however, because a lack of sleep can truly undermine both your physical and mental health.
- A commitment to relaxing and recharging: It might seem like you are too busy to take regular breaks during the day, to enjoy your weekends, or to pursue a hobby you enjoy. We might argue that you are too busy not to add intentional periods of rest into your schedule—by which we mean actually putting the time into your calendar. Rest and relaxation are central to your mental and physical health (and as it would turn out, taking breaks can actually improve your productivity; this article offers some great insights and advice).
Structure Can Underpin Progress
Settling into a set of healthy routines can give you the structure you need to make and maintain improvements to your mental health over time. The structures you build into your life serve as the foundation for the work you undertake to lessen the impacts of a mental health disorder.
We are not suggesting that you should schedule your life down to the second, conforming to a routine with no flexibility. Instead, we are arguing for a few structures to make getting through your day easier. And since one of those structures is scheduling time to rest and relax, you will always have time for things you truly enjoy.
We encourage you to consider ways you can build more structure into your approach to each day. Starting small is just fine. Starting at all is the main thing.
Let Us Help You Build a Strong Structure for Your Mental Health
Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Peak View Behavioral Health helps individuals struggling with a mental health disorder with personalized treatment plans grounded in evidence-based practices. That’s a complicated way to say something quite simple: We help people renew balance in their lives so they can embrace hope once again.
Taking the first step to get the help you need can be challenging for a host of reasons. But the best time to get treatment for a mental health disorder—whether it is depression, anxiety, an issue centered on traumatic experiences, or something else—is always right now. You can count on the staff at Peak View Behavioral Health to treat you with compassion and empathy as we work with you to address your unique needs.
