If you suffer with mental illness, chances are pretty good that you struggle to stick with a schedule.
This could be due to symptoms, or maybe your brain just doesn’t want to function the way you need it to right at that moment. I get it! Problems like the latter are exactly why I wrote 7 Brainstorming Methods.
But there is more to keeping a schedule than brainstorming!
In fact, brainstorming often happens before the schedule is created … which would make that step #1.
Step #2 (in our greatly condensed version) would be the schedule itself. So, how do you stick with a schedule when symptoms or some other problem present themselves?
Sticking with a Schedule:
Please keep in mind that these are suggestions, and cannot replace proper medication (if applicable).
- Give yourself plenty of space around tasks and events – the really draining events may need a whole day (or more) to themselves, and there’s nothing wrong with that!
- Do NOT use times for chores or activities (unless they involve another person). It’s much easier to tackle what equates to a “to-do” list each day, and to work those items around timed events or activities where a time cannot be avoided.
Typically, I get more done without the time associated stress, and can work on the tasks my brain is able to focus on in that moment instead of trying to force myself to finish something just because it’s on the schedule at that time.
- Meditation. Now hold on a minute. Before you click away, let me explain. When your brain wants to go in every direction except where you need it to go at that moment, my husband always suggests I meditate … and he’s right.
Too Long, Didn’t Read:
Here for the “how-to” and not for the explanations? Here’s the summary:
- Give yourself plenty of “wiggle room” around tasks and events
- Do not add times to tasks or activities unless required (or they involve another person)
- Meditate
See the above paragraphs for the explanations if you read the bullet points and are like, “what?”. Meanwhile, how do you make your schedule work for you?
Christian, wife, “hybrid” mama, I run the site All Behind A Smile to help others like me.
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