Sorry this is so long !
May I share something I personally can't live without?
BURST OUT OF BIPOLAR - MY DAY TO DAY RITUAL
Whichever episode you are living through, ALL the manuals say 'adopt a healthy lifestyle' but the people who wrote them had OBVIOUSLY never lived in the skin of a bipolar sufferer.
For myself, my first need is a strict routine for each and every day - almost a ritual. This way you have a framework for your day and can set goals you can reach one bit at a time.
This will only work if you stick to it day after day without floundering !
Get up as soon as you wake up be it 8, 10, 12 or any hour beyond; take meds with 2 huge glasses of water with lemon or cucumber / make the bed / pull the curtains and open the windows (unless it's mid-Winter)/ close your eyes and take 25 deep breaths then open your eyes and let the light bring you to life / put kettle on / bathroom / put tea to infuse / shower. not a bath, a shower. Find a fragrance that pleases you. Use water as hot or cold as you like. Scrub dry vigorously. Then moisturize everything. Use whatever lotion you like. Unscented or something that makes you smell like a field of wildflowers? Starting the day with essential oils in the shower or in lotion can make a huge difference. / whilst drinking tea: check calendar / check phone (don't call) / check emails (don't reply)/ check post box / watch the news on TV or on the net / eat breakfast / make a and a 'to do' list .
Put on soft comfortable clothes then fix a nice cup of tea or coffee. If you can get outdoors even for 5 minutes, that will set you up for the day.
Maybe here - you have to go to work but if not:
When you get back you can attack all the mails, textx, messages etc Check your contact list and see who might like to get your news (write a standard letter and send to all.
Afterwards, find something mundane to keep you busy. Clean something. Doesn’t have to be anything big. Organize one drawer of a desk. Wash five dirty dishes. Do a load of laundry. Scrub the bathroom floor. Re-arrange your bookshelves, Play a game of patience or chess with a stranger on the net.
Blast music. Listen to something upbeat and dancey and loud, something that’s got lots of energy. Sing to it, dance to it, even if you suck at both.
Make lunch but don’t just grab a granola bar to munch, take the time to make food, peel and chop veggies (when did you last do that?). Even if it’s random, it tastes way better, and you’ll feel like you accomplished something.
Make something. Write a short story or a poem, draw a picture, color a picture, fold origami, crochet or knit, sculpt something out of clay, anything artistic even if you think you are useless. Create !
Go outside. Take another walk. Sit in the grass. Look at the clouds. Smell flowers. Put your hands in the dirt and feel the soil against your skin.
Call someone. Call a loved one, a friend, a family member, call a chat service if you have no one else to call. Talk to a stranger on the street. Have a conversation and listen to someone’s voice. If you can’t bring yourself to call, text or email or whatever, just have some social interaction with another person. Even if you don’t say much, listen to them. It helps.
Cuddle your pets if you have them/can cuddle them. Take pictures of them. Talk to them. Tell them how you feel, about your favorite movie, a new game coming out, anything.
Before you go to bed :
Factor in keeping up with family and friends (even if you don't feel like it, they deserve it) knitting, sewing, reading, painting,
You can list what you could do until bedtime.... making sure no screens for the last hour.
Then you can end the day with choosing clothes for the next day / meds with 2 huge glasses of water / put phone to charge / wash face and curl up!.
Having such an organized day gives you a sense of achievement which is so lacking on the bad days of bi-po.
Isn't it worth a try?
www.helpguide.org/articles/bipolar-disorder/living-with-bipolar-disorder.htm
Sorry, I forgot a bit. When writing my list of 'to do's ' I chose which day of the week to do these things and put it in my phone alarm: Washing the car / Washing the cat ! / Washing the windows / Washing my hair / Scrubbing the bathroom / Scrubbing the kitchen / Scrubbing the cat ! / Changing bed linen / Changing towels / Cutting flowers / Weeding / Shopping for food / Shopping online / Dusting living room / Dusting bedrooms / Dusting cat !