Mental Health and the Barre: Part 2

What day is it? What month are we in? Is summer almost over?  All of this lack of routine and normalcy has us floating through the days and months with little, if any, regular routine or schedule.  While the lazy days of summer and a little vacation from our hectic schedules and lives can, and has been, nice for a short amount of time; extended nothingness can be detrimental to our sense of motivation and mental health. 

It has been proven time and again that routine and structure will benefit ones' mental health and lessen the severity of many mental conditions including bipolar disorder, addiction, depression, anxiety and many others.  Reason being, when we organize ourselves and know what to expect, it’s easier to actively work towards counteracting the thoughts and symptoms of any of the aforementioned mental health conditions. Right now, we are facing days with less demands, less structure, less social obligations and more stress, more anxiety and more fear.......a treacherous combination!
This week, this month, this fall, encourage yourself to get back to a schedule!!!!! 

• Have a consistent wake-up and bed time

• Have set meal times

• Organize your work and school day just as you would in the office or classroom

• Schedule calls with friends or social distancing gatherings

• Set some long and short term goals, develop your plan to achieve them and schedule time each day towards that plan.

Most importantly, make regular exercise a part of your daily routine.  As we said last week, exercise is imperative to your mental health.  Organizing your day around your workout gives you routine and endorphins all at once.  So, if you really want to go to battle in the fight for your mental health, get yourself scheduled to get cozy at the barre....