Friday and routines

Friday is a day most people look forward to, eventhough if they're working on either Saturday or Sunday. One steps away from the weekday routines and eats later than usual while sitting in the living room, watching TV untill late, sometimes very late. You know you'll be tired in the morning, but it doesn't matter because it's Friday!

Even before I got diagnosed with a mental illness I didn't like vacations too much. Don't get me wrong, I loved not being at school and all that. The ambivalence was ever so present because school was also the arena of my social life. So no school basically meant little social life and I spent most of the at home doing nothing. Perfect example of cabin fever, really.

I've always been told that daily routines are the fuel to keep the body and mind going. Lack of sleep makes you feel down, physically and mentally, and more receptive to anxiety. My impression is that it doesn't matter if you're up late, as long as you don't wake up late. You'll catch up the next night if you don't get enough sleep.

Back in 2008 when I only had one class, the danger of cabin fever was looming. I had this route I walked everyday, basically it was a big circle. I remember what I was thinking after each walk. Since I felt it as a burden, it was mostly "thank goodness that's over with". But I went through with it; I knew deep inside that I had to. Same thing a couple of years ago when I didn't have a job, lived a bit remote compared to my friends, and didn't know what to do. Again I found a new route to walk. This time I listened to a certain cd everytime. Now I knew how fast I was going by how far I had walked and which song I listened to. I got motivated to go as ast as possible.

So where's the point in this post? Keep doing your daily routines, even if you have a day off from work. Routines take away your option to skip them. Let's face it, routines and chores are boring and easy to avoid, and even easier when you're the only one it affects. Maybe gathering your fanclub and do it together might help?

I doubt I'll post anything tomorrow or Sunday. If that's the case I wish you a happy weekend!