News  Mass4YOU: How can a routine benefit your health?

A new school year provides the ideal opportunity to establish a routine. Creating a routine offers many mental health and wellbeing benefits, including:

• Reducing stress, because you know what is coming and how to plan for it
• Helping you plan your time better, so you can make time for the people and activities you enjoy
• Building healthy habits for getting enough sleep, eating more nutritious foods and being active
• Strengthening your relationships with others, since you can better trust what to expect from one another

Tips to create your schedule

Routines can take many forms and shapes but, overall, should be simple and as easy as possible to follow. Start by thinking about your schedule.

• What time do or others need to get up for school or work?
• Are there any chores you should get done on a given day or during the week?
• Who relies on your help? When do they need it?
• Do you currently have any commitments you could let go of?
• Do you have any goals you’d like to achieve?
• What activities do you enjoy participating in?

Next, identify the actions that need to happen to complete the schedule. These will form the routine for you or your children. For instance, a high schooler might wake a younger sibling and help them get ready for school, while a younger child may be asked to brush their teeth and pick up their toys each night before bed. 

Once everyone knows their roles, you can all feel more comfortable and prepared to tackle the day.

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