Schedules are a part of life.
Whether it be our agenda, the corporate calendar, academic outline, financial planning or even imaginary schedules (like that trip to Europe I have yet to take) they are a part of our day. We use them. They help us navigate life. Schedules offer order and measurability. Some schedules are shared, while others are avoided. Unfortunatley, only a few are pro-active.
Living with POTS can feel unpredictable. Health care professionals stress the importance of routine. The importance of scheduled exercise and salt. So why aren’t POTS individuals viewing their schedules in a pro-active mannor to help make these goals a reality? It’s time to challenge our mindsets and view our schedules to our advantage.
Assess your current schedule
Schedules are important. I believe we have clarified that. I now encourage you to review your current schedule. Grab a sheet of paper and roughly sketch your daily demands Monday- Sunday. Any house chores, events, re-occuring appointments, exercise sessions, hobbies and/or extra-curricular activities. Once complete, consider the emotions you have tied to this schedule. Become aware and note if you feel any positive or negative feelings. But ultimately, ask this->
Does your current schedule allow you to :
- Feel accomplished?
- Destress (if not, what are feasible and accessible activities you can jot down that will reduce stress?)?
- Complete desired prescribed exercise?
- Succesfully shop and meal prep?
- Hold a routine bedtime routine?
If you answered Yes to more then 3 of the 5 questions above, then you my friend have a balanced schedule. If you answered No to more then 3 of the 5 questions above, it is time to shift gears and restructure your daily commitments. Seek support to help prioritize tasks and possibly share your current workload. Your health care team, family and friends are great for this!
Now let’s take your schedule a step further…
Easy as 1,2,3
Beyond bringing awareness to our daily demands, schedules have a habitual side. Less planning is required in these areas. We simply just do it. Think about the events and or activities that you jotted down that make up your current schedule. I would bet a bag of Ghirardelli chocolate (that is like gold in my eyes), that you didn’t list the scheduled time you brush your teeth. You don’t nessecarily schedule this event, yet you complete this task at least twice a day (maybe 3?)? Right? Now, what makes this habitual? Is it the amount of times we’ve had to complete this task, or is it the value in knowing this vital self-care practice saves our teeth? Value is everything. Value forms habits.
Secret Sauce
One day you will view your current prescribed treatment plan as habitual. During the early stages of diagnosis, it is important to pro-actively choose to schedule your health care teams recommended therapies. You will assess your schedule and feel as though you are creating more demand to your day. I promise you this. If you stay accountable, the value in the reward of such efforts will take place. Your behaviors will become habitual as you note the changes in the increased quality of your days. This pro-active midnset and benefit of non-pharmacological modes will never leave you as you feel as though, now, you have achieved a state where your schedule works for you. You no longer feel victim to it. You will continue to offer your world the best version of yourself, you’ll now tackle your everchanging schedule effortlessly and over time feel less scheduled and more free.
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