Support Thread for Needing Routines

[mrskennedy]

Hi Mamas,

After reading so many posts here from those who must have a routine to function reasonably well, and being one myself, I thought I'd start a thread for support and encouragement for us. I know I need a routine, but it's still hard to stick to it. I'm taking supplements for depression, etc, and I can't even remember how many I've taken so far each day b/c I don't have a routine for when to take them. It frustrates me, and this is just a small example. I'm a WAHM, and I don't work nearly as much or as often as I should b/c it takes me so long to get motivated each day. So I really need a daily routine! But I need help... Anyone else like this? Post here as often as you want. If there's interest, maybe we can have a new thread each month, like other MDC support threads.
to all!

[MamaChel]

Hey. I'm here with you. I am a FT student about to enter into my senior year (complete with internship) and I have several other things I am responsible for.

One thing that really helps me is to start small. My wallet and keys go in the same place every night. It took so long to just get that down. Now it's automatic: remove from pocket and set on shelf. In the morning I get up, pee, and check email. After checking email (and only email, not email plus several websites) I shower/dress. I do this every morning, whether I have anything else to do that day or not.

Anyway, hi. I'll sub to this because I am crazy busy and will forget to check back.

[AnyMama]

I have been working very hard at getting us into a routine. I've finally established one for bedtime for my little ones, now if only I could get the rest of us on one.

It is hard but so helpful. I'm actually contemplating sending them to pre-school just for the routines it would help us create

[epdeans]

I would love to join into this supportive environment.

I went through about a 5 year period where I did not have a routine for anything. At that time, it was exactly what I needed. I had worked night shift for about 2 years and when I resigned from that position I needed about 4 months to adjust my sleeping. Then I started working part time unpredictable hours but during the day.

The last 3 months I have really craved routine and have tried to implement them into my life. I am comforted by routines now and do not feel stifled by them as I did in the past.

I look forward to this thread.
Elizabeth

[jlpumkin]

MrsKennedy I could have written your post myself - right down to the not working as much as I should. I hate routine, but it's the only thing that keeps me productive and feeling secure. There have been times in my life when I've been great about it, but since my ds was born I've just been floundering. I started a couple of weeks ago restarting small routines like putting my lic. & keys in a basket every evening. I hope to continue to grow them to my comfort level again. What a great support thread!

[mrskennedy]

I've made a list of the small, but important things I have to do. I even have trouble doing these, and for the past 2 days the list has helped me remember them and actually do them, instead of just knowing I should but not feeling like it.

Get up and go to bed same time daily: 7:30-8:00AM, 10:00-10:30PM

Morning:
Take supplements
Eat
Bath
Dress for day
Brush teeth

Noon:
Take supplements
Eat

Evening:
Take supplements
Eat

Night:
8:00PM: BC pill
Write article until 9:00
Eat healthy snack
Brush teeth
Put on PJ's, don't sleep in clothes
1 hour Reiki
Sleep

I've done everything on the list, except I'm still having trouble getting up, going to bed, and sleeping when I do get there. But I feel better now that I'm doing most of the things.

[Krystal323]

ooh, i need a thread like this! i feel like my life has been in varying states of upheaval for over 3 years now--moving, depression, money troubles, relationship drama, ETC.....

it's even more essential to get my sh!t together now that i have a new baby, and that my middle dd is of school age too this year. i want to exercise, i want to remember to take my supplements and eat healthy, i want to get to the library every week, i want to not have mountains of unfolded laundry everywhere, i want my kids to not whine about bedtime, i want to be finished with their lessons before i have to think about dinner everynight!

i've tried flylady's approach, and it works well for a little while--until i get perfectionistic and throw in the towel because i messed up two days in a row or something

I've also been told jokingly that i have ADD, because if something new, shiny and interesting comes up, i have to really try hard not to abandon all previous plans and dive headlong into the new cool thing. like, i might have in mind to clean out this shoebox on the top of the closet, then i find a picture in it that belongs in that photo album in the living room....but i need to get the scrapbooking stuff out to affix it....then i notice some of the pages are falling out of the album, and i spend two hours fixing that before i realize the closet is half torn apart and i've run out of time to clean yep. i'll be in here frequently, i'm sure

[mrskennedy]

[QUOTE=Krystal323;8643288]ooh, i need a thread like this! i feel like my life has been in varying states of upheaval for over 3 years now--moving, depression, money troubles, relationship drama, ETC.....

i've tried flylady's approach, and it works well for a little while--until i get perfectionistic and throw in the towel because i messed up two days in a row or something

I've also been told jokingly that i have ADD, because if something new, shiny and interesting comes up, i have to really try hard not to abandon all previous plans and dive headlong into the new cool thing.

Yeah, I'm like that too! So I've started writing down the cool things when they come up, and I look at the list once a week or so. If it's something that costs a lot, which it usually is, then I leave it on the list for a month or so or until I have the money to buy or do it. If the thing still seems cool when I can afford it, I go for it. But if not, I take it off the list. Most times it's lost its appeal, and I've saved that money. But it's not easy!

I also moved recently, DS was born in March, and I'm dealing with depression, not to mention that DH and I are having marriage problems... So I know what you mean.

[imnotsupernanny]

I also suffer from depresion on and off for years. When I was 19 I was so happy! I had a job that I loved as a nanny and a cute little apartment and I was healthier too. I am sure it was b/c I had alittle routine going on! I'd get up early (I hate early mornings) and shower,get breakfast and walk to work. After work I'd make some dinner,tidy up a little and relax. My wondows would be open all the time and I'd get fresh air and listen to the birds outside! It was great. There was oc course a little more to it then that.

Now I'm 31 and have NO routine at all! I don't even clean the bathroom on a regular schedule.

I know I need to have a routine. I know I need to make one and stick to it.

I am not working now at all,though am trying to open a home daycare.

I am desparte to re-capture all those wondeful feelings I had at 19 and had the perfect routine going on.

I am going to start soon....I hope!

[Krystal323]

HEY so here's my latest bright idea--i should use that alarm-feature on my cellphone and set it twice everyday: i should wake up at 8, and wake the kids up for breakfast and school. then i should set it for 8pm, so i'll have at hour/hour-and a half warning before i want the kids to go to bed, that way i can warn them it's time for bed soon, hve us all help pick up the house a bit, read a book to them, etc.. instead of looking blankly at the clock at 9:55pm and going "oh man i didn't realize it was so late, hurry and go to bed guys!" just a thought. let's see if i have follow-thru, now shall we??

[imnotsupernanny]

Alarms are great! Warning kids about bedtime is a great idea!

I love to tidy up before bed that way I can wake up with a nice tidy home the next day. It only takes me 15 minutes really. At least that whay Fly Lady says!

[MamaChel]

I need to fine tune my routine over the next month or so because I am starting some new heavy responsibilities. (Field internship and potentially developing and running a program if my grant gets funded) This is on top of my FT courseload.

The boys are doing better with their bedtimes now. our alarm clock is broken so I need to get a new one.

[Katiemare]

a) I shouldn't be up this late!
b) I am working on this, too.
c) Food shopping/meal planning/cooking are at the top of the routine needs.
d) kids are on a decent bedtime routine, but I need to set the alarm for my own bedtime.
e)manage time on internet, mdc included, more strictly.

[jlpumkin]

I too need to manage my time on line more effectively. Which sadly means less mdc time. I will work on less surfing mdc and more just following up on the threads that are really important to what I'm doing right now... though with my own little version of ADD - is something different a few times daily.

My dd is starting K this year so I feel like we are getting a little outside help in the routine department which I'm very thankful for. Growing up my house did not have any stability at all. I think it has really affected me negatively and am trying desperately to change that for my dc.

Anyway we've gotten into a nice am routine but it falls apart a lot in the afternoon and evening with computer time... so I guess that's the next area I'll tackle. Of course weekends or days dh is around it all seems to go to pot anyway.