[stillgrowing]

It's been recommended to me countless times in one way or another, but I struggle so much with routine and always have. I've done okay (not well, but okay) with it when I wasn't feeling too bad, but when I'm struggling mentally it seems just about impossible. I'm not talking a schedule every part of your day out and stick to it routine, but even doing simple things like moisturizing my face is a struggle.

Am I alone in this, or is this something that is a struggle with bipolar disorder? I know that as much routine and structure as possible would be helpful in managing my illness, but even starting small seems so overwhelming.

Do you have experiences or tips based on what has worked for you?

[Werewoman]

Routine? People have routines? Huh.

Seriously, what you are describing is normal for bipolar. I simplify things. For instance, buy multi-use products. I use Noxema in the shower which cleans and moisturizers and then a BB cream as a foundation since it contains SPF, concealer, moisturizers and slight, natural color. If I had to do the whole anti-wrinkle, anti-aging, anti-sun, moisturizers, concealer, foundation, and God only knows what I'm forgetting....you get the idea. Use that bipolar creativity. What we lack in some areas we make up for in others.

[Miss Laura]

I have no wise words of wisdom sorry. I can sympathise with you. I struggle with every inch of a routine. I'm unemployed so I don't have a purpose in life. I live alone no partner or kids so I don't have purpose in life. I do nothing other than a weekly appt with my Support Worker and seeing family. Even the appt and seeing family is a chore. I had routine for 25 years then I was left to my own device.

There is no purpose in life for me so I have no structure to my days. Getting up is a struggle going to bed is a struggle even lying in bed is a struggle. God life is just a struggle for me.

I've been told for the last 8 years to get a routine but it's just not happening. If I could just stay in my house all day every day I would. Not wash not do anything I would be fine. But I can't so I force myself and it's draining. But hey ho. Least I make a wee bit of an effort

[Unrigged64072835]

Some things I have down pretty well. My cats get fed at regular times. I know when to start dinner. Stuff like that.

Other things--even with reminders and alarms on my phone--just get forgotten.

I'm on disability and I don't work, but I try to do things around the same time. It works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't. Routine is useful for things like meds and sleep.

[~Christina]

I use to be good with a routine. About a year ago an event happened that sent me spiraling into a ptsd hell.

My routine was gone totally. I’m still in a struggle . I clean a whole room a day which is just ocd, and make dinner but beyond taking a showing and doing my eyebrows its out of reach. I don’t like going out into the world unless I have too.

Today a friend wanted me to go shopping and lunch , no no no .. I finally really tried to get her to understand ( again) that some days I just can not hangout or be real talkative. I don’t think she even understands 29% of what I’m trying to say and that’s okay , I can only do so much.

Some days I have to just do the 15 timer trick.. get up and work on X for 15 mins and take a break... wash rinse repeat.

I have no set bedtime or wake up .. I have insomnia so I sleep when I can and for as long as I can no matter what time of day or night.

I do struggle with routines, especially being on disability. I do have a few things I do every morning for my dear husband, but as soon as they are done I'm back in bed. Then I don't pressure myself to do anything until my mad rush one hour before my husband gets home. It's as if what I do as "routine" is mostly just for him.

I do take my morning and evening medications at the exact same times daily, but only because I take them with my husband at the dining room table. Everything else is when/if I manage. My self-care could use some work. It used to be better.

At different periods I studied a little or wrote reliability in my blog, but that has become much less frequent.

I do get to my psychiatrist and therapy appointments reliably.

Before my disability, I worked extremely hard and met and exceeded deadlines, but usually something had to give. Usually something from my home life.

[Movingon69]

Putting some routine in my life was one of the first things I did when I was dx. The type of work I do has absolutely no routine. Every day I'm working on new things. I started with simple things. I rarely made the bed before diagnosis. Now I do it right after I take my medicine. I took a bit to get in the schedule of things. I'm a Christian so I actually scheduled a specific time to get at least one prayer in a day. I put routine in how I do my laundry. Again, I did this slowly and added something after I get use to the former one. Now, I use my ability or lack thereof to monitor my moods. If I start to give up on the routine I know I'm edging towards depression. If I do it all too quickly I start looking for signs of mania.

[Blueberrybook]

I'm weird with routine. I have certain things that I like to be routine and done by the book - laundry, taking care of the cats, meals, dishes, getting my daughter's homework out of the way when school is in session.

And in the morning, I'm pretty consistent about walking or running for exercise.

Other times...I don't really have much of one. Sometimes, I have things I am dying to do if hypomanic or manic and other times just wish I could sleep.

[cashart10]

Before I had my major psychotic break 6 years ago, my life was very routine. I got much accomplished, kept my house, my kids, my life organized, and I felt very “together”. Since, I have NEVER been able to set and maintain a healthy routine. I feel like my new normal is a messy one, even now that I’m stable.

[BipolaRNurse]

I suck at routine. I'm on disability so there is virtually no structure to my days...I can go to bed when I feel like it and get up when I want to, although I tend to get up around the same time almost every day. I do have a routine when it comes to my morning activities (use the bathroom, brush my teeth, wash my face, and comb my hair in the same order) and I take my meds at the same times every day and night. I think that gives me some stability, but I know there's a lot of room for improvement.

[99fairies]

I can't live without a routine. I feel lost without it and to do lists.

[Gabyunbound]

To tell you the truth I don't have good tips for you regarding routine because the reason why I follow such a strict routine is anxiety. Routine helps to keep the most intense anxious feelings at bay. If I can't do my morning routine (and I get up extra early for work to do it), I get very off-kilter.

So for me, its comforting and I don't know if that would help you. Perhaps if you think of it as a something comforting -knowing what comes next (I'm going to do this, then that, then the other thing), knowing what to expect- perhaps, as I say, this could be a comfort to you. It would just take a while and some practice to get there. I wish you the best of luck.

[wildflowerchild25]

I’ve heen unemployed since April 18 and I’ve had a horrible time establishing a routine. I’ve slept A LOT during the day because I’m bored out of my effing mind. I hope I never have to go on disability because I will lose it. I hate to shower so I don’t have a set time to do that but it’s usually at night unless it’s a weekend. The only routine I have right now is to get up to take my son to camp in the morning. But then the rest of the day is a wasteland. I’m really hoping I get a job soon so I can get back into a routine of going to work.

I love rooteen.

not everything in my life is rooteen (because every day is diffrent), well, uh, not really.. but you know what I mean
it helps me break the day down (especially on low depressing days), and it helps me devote an equal amount of time to what I need to do

for me it's almost like an automatic trigger in the brain now.

I've been in the same rooteen for years now, so things just click

it's not something I'm likely to forget

[*Laurie*]

First thing that pops into my mind is that a lot of people I know who have trouble with routine do not necessarily have BD.

I am a very routine person, and a lot of that has to do with my outrageous anxiety. Like Gabyunbound, if I don't do "this" at the "right" time I become extremely anxious and even that can set off a mixed state, which I so fear.

That said, for almost a year I have had major trouble with my sleep routine. Not insomnia (meds help knock me out), but actually going to bed. I used to be in bed every single night by 10 p.m. Usually even earlier. Now I am up until about 1 a.m. because I can't seem to stop doing things. And I'm messed up from doing that with my sleep schedule. The most obvious thing to me is that my mind is much more unfocused...like, 100 thoughts, sounds, feelings are happening all at once and ...well, that's what I mean: I have totally forgotten what I was writing about.

[pirilin]

I keep a strict routine of not having a routine.

Sleep, eat, make love, go out, etc. My time my way.

Never a dull moment.

I'm terrible with routine. I know it would be good though, and have fairly recently gotten to getting to bed at the same(ish) time at night. Work days are routine as far as getting up and going there. But other than that? Not good.