Why You Should Maintain Structure and Routines During Stressful Times

When it comes to routines, some of us thrive on them. For others, the mere thought of a routine is enough to make them shudder. However you feel about it, there's no doubt that the structure routines provide can help you feel organized and like you have a little more control in your life. And in stressful times at work, routines can be absolutely critical to keep you showing up in the right headspace and staying on the path to Career Success.

Consider the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on workplaces around the globe. Suddenly, the normal routines of millions were disrupted, with many having to figure out how to get work done while working from home or in some other new situation. Add in the constant concern for the health of our loved ones and ourselves, and the beginning of the pandemic was one of the most stressful times in recent memory.

Even those who were known to complain about full schedules jam-packed with work routines started to see the benefits of structure. This was not surprising to mental health experts, who have long known about the benefits of routines and living a structured life. Psychology Today has reported that consistent routines help with a wide variety of mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, addiction, and depression. Let's have a look at why they say structure and routine are important during stressful times.

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The Benefits of Routines

Those benefits of routines that contribute to our mental health include:

1. Lower stress levels: Routines are shown to contribute to positive stress levels, as we have expectations of what our day will be like, making them seem more manageable.
2. A sense of accomplishment: Routines have a beginning, a middle, and an end, giving us benchmarks to judge our progress against.
3. Better health: Regular routines often include taking a shower, brushing our teeth, eating meals at the same time every day, a consistent sleep schedule, and other bits of self-care.
4. Showing others how we are doing: When we accomplish the daily routines that we are known for, it sends a signal to family and co-workers that we are doing well.

The net effect of all this is that we are better able to maintain focus, and better manage stress and anxiety. That improved focus is important when you're working toward your career success goals, even in the most stressful of times.

But where do you start? It turns out that doing the simplest things on a regular basis can form the foundation for strong and healthy routines.

Focus on What You Can Control

In stressful times, mental health experts agree that one of the best things we can do is focus on the things we can control. By focusing on what we can control, we are better able to cope with the things we can't.

Some things we all can control, that also lead to beneficial routines, include:

• Going to bed and waking up at the same times every day.
• Maintaining the same shower schedule, even if you are staying home.
• Getting dressed for the day, even when staying home.
• Eating regular meals, at the same time each day.
• Sticking to a regular exercise schedule, like a daily walk.
• Setting a time each day to be free of electronic devices.

These routines are simple things, and building lasting routines around them can instill a daily sense of normalcy, which is a comforting feeling during stressful times. Even if the world around us seems to be going crazy with things we can't control, you'll feel as if you are in control of your own life.

Schedule Your Day

Most of us have a calendar that we interact with on a daily basis. This might be your work's group calendar system, or it might be one of the calendar apps on your phone or computer. It could even be an old-fashioned wall or desk calendar. Whichever type of calendar you use, make the most of it by scheduling as much of your day as possible.

Those routine things that you can control that we mentioned above can even be included. Getting them on your calendar will help ensure you're making time for those healthy activities, and provide you with a list of tasks you know you can accomplish. But as your day fills up with other obligations, having your whole day's schedule mapped out on a calendar will make your day seem much more manageable.

Stress often makes it hard to concentrate. But having all your daily tasks listed out will make it all seem more manageable, and you'll get the satisfaction of marking them complete. The net effect of this is stress reduction.

While getting all your to-do items on a calendar is important, it's equally important to include things that you're looking forward to. Whether it's taking a walk, calling a friend, or catching up on some podcasts or YouTube channels, including some fun stuff in your daily schedule. This provides you with small rewards throughout the day, which is another way of reducing daily stress.

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Find And Maintain the Routines That Work for You...

No two people are alike, and it stands to reason that no two people are going to respond favorably to the same set of routines. Those of us who work from home often find work life and home life overlapping throughout the day. In cases like this, the strict scheduling approach may not work, and you'll need to be more flexible. So rather than blocking out times for events on your calendar, you can use a simple to-do list instead. This allows you the flexibility to do things when you can, but still reinforces the routine of accomplishing your daily tasks.

Regardless of the approach you take, make sure to identify which events on your calendar are the highest priority. Taking care of high-priority items first helps free up your focus, as you'll no longer be worried about the things that absolutely have to get done.

...But Remember it Takes Time

Starting and sticking to routines during stressful times can be a bit of a trial and error process. You have to trust your own instincts about what is working and what isn't. If you find yourself running into scheduling conflicts, it may be time to rearrange your routine a bit. Or if the new routine isn't providing you the stress relief you are looking for, think about the kind of schedule that will leave you feeling like you've accomplished your goals.

As traditional notions of the workplace are changing, you may have to go with the flow for a bit until you find not only the routine that works for you but one that meshes with the routines of your co-workers. If you have to scrap the routine you originally mapped out, be kind to yourself and remember it's a work in progress.

The Always Changing Workplace

The dynamics of the workplace are changing at a pace like never before. Rapidly changing technology, global crises, and a competitive marketplace have all created stressful situations that many couldn't have imagined.

If you're feeling uneasy with your approach to routines during stressful situations and wonder what better support around you could look like — contact us today to see how Uvaro's unique approach to career success and coaching will help you build the routines you need to feel grounded through stressful times. Our Career Success catalog is a great place to start!