Every weekday morning
I wake around 7:15 AM, take
my medication, and get ready for the day.
After returning for the day I wash the dishes and start dinner. After eating I sit and attempt to write for
at least an hour. After writing I have
about an hour’s free time before taking care of the cats and getting ready for
bed. I am usually in bed between 10:00
and 10:30 PM, and fall
asleep around 11:00.
Weekends are a
bit more lax, in the waking time, but I still go to bed at about the same time.
It is important
to have a routine, especially with bipolar.
Routine keeps me stable; at least it helps. I know I get very upset when my long time
routine is disrupted; specifically when I am informed of plans at the “last
minute.” I need at least a week,
preferably two, to process the plan and become okay with it. This is partially due to a disruption in my
schedule needing to be taken into account and worked around, but another large
factor is the anxiety associated with change.
Routine makes it harder
to forget things like showering or taking medication. Also, and perhaps most importantly, sleep
routine regulates my mood. If I stay
awake all night (something I haven’t done in over a year) I almost certainly swing
into a manic state. Going hand in hand
with this, I limit my caffeine intake to about two cups of coffee a day, in the
morning, and no more throughout the day.
This gives me the little pick-me-up I seem to need in the morning
without keeping me up at night.
My wife helps me
stay on track with my daily and weekly routines, making sure I do what is
needed. She also asks why I didn’t stick
to my regimen. Adhering to a strict schedule
can be difficult at times, but I know it is what is needed to keep me well, and
that is very important to me.
What types of
routine do you have? How does it impact
your life?
--JJM
No comments:
Post a Comment