Can Routines Save Your Life?

When I was a kid, making my bed every morning was not optional. Now it surprises me to read that people consider it a key point in self-care and mental health. (Moms are always right, aren’t they? 😉)

According to Admiral William H. McRaven, the simple task of making your bed can not only change your life, but may change the world. At his University of Texas commencement speech in 2016, he said, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” Admiral McRaven also released a book in 2017 about the subject, sharing that making your bed gives your “first small success of the day.” The book, Make Your Bed, has sold millions of copies, and he has also published a children’s book on the subject.

Other mental health organizations agree that his assertions have merit.
An article by verywellmind.com, tells us that the simple habit of making your bed every morning can have the following mental health benefits:

• A feeling of accomplishment
• A sense of calm
• Better sleep
• Enhanced organization
• Improved focus
• Relaxation
• Stress reduction

UCLA Health includes all forms of daily routines. They wrote,

“Organizing your day with planned patterns of behavior provides a sense of security that can reduce mental fatigue, decrease stress, and boost your emotional wellness. Research shows that people with structured routines have lower levels of anxiety and depression than people who live without routines.”

When ABC News interviewed 101-year-old Ann Angioletti, she said her first rule to her success is self-care. “You must shower. You must eat. You must take care of yourself,” Angeletti said. “If you don’t like what you’re doing, then change — make the most of that day.” She still works 5 days a week at her family jewelry store because it keeps her active and socially connected.

But can routines save your life? Indeed, they can. I heard a story several years ago from New York City. An elderly man who lived alone had the habit of ordering a small pizza from his neighborhood restaurant every Friday night. The owner and staff knew his name and delivered his pizza without charge. One night, there was no order. After several hours, the staff became concerned and called the police to do a wellness check. The man had passed out and hit his head. The police said that if the restaurant had not called them, he would have likely died from his injuries.

Developing routines can not only support your mental health but can keep you connected to others. Routines may just save your life!

Song of the week: “When I’m Sixty Four” by The Beatles, 1967.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25