Planning and Schedule 

Working, cleaning, cooking, working out, and taking care of family members are just a few of the things that we do every day, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. It can feel impossible to mark everything off your to-do list, especially if you’re struggling with a mental health condition like major depression, substance use disorder, or traumatic stress disorder.

By establishing a daily routine, we can set aside time to take care of tasks and focus on our mental and physical health. Routines are essential at every stage of life—from childhood and adolescence to adulthood. They help us cope with change, create healthy habits, improve interpersonal relationships, and reduce stress. Studies have shown that daily routines have far-reaching mental health benefits, from alleviating bipolar disorder and preventing substance abuse to managing the symptoms of other mental disorders.

Changing your daily routine all at once usually doesn’t lead to long-term results. Instead, pick a few small things each week to work on. You might choose to cut out a bad habit, like spending too much time on social media or to add something new and positive, like spending more time with family members.

Making changes to your daily life can be hard, and you might forget to follow your routine every once in a while. You don’t have to be perfect—if you miss a day, try to do better the next day.