New Year Habits And Routines for OCD

To care about my body - exercise, healthy food, good sleep. Not in overdrive, but as good as possible. I'm doing simple (but not always easy) meditations, just sitting focusing on my breath - once a day. It really helps me to separate myself from the thoughts and to see that I can strength and ability to adjust my attention away från the thoughts and back to the present moment. Another thing: always make plans for next day. If I know what I want and need to do it's easier to not get caught in obsessions, because I have a direction already.

Being compassionate to yourself as well. Also starting every day with a short gratitude list. I read this somewhere and it hit me because I don't treat myself as well as I treat others. I'm really hard on myself and I could take better care of myself. And, my depression always worsens when I focus on the negative instead of things I'm grateful for. Two simple things that you could try that I think would improve your life.

I know these don't specifically target OCD but I think it makes exposures easier to accomplish when we love ourselves and know we need to do what's best for ourselves even if it's extremely difficult. We wouldn't let loved ones suffer the way we do. Think of treating yourself like you would your child or someone else you love. This mindset has helped me. Same with the gratitude, if you can be in a positive frame of mind then I believe you will have more energy and willpower to overcome the arduous ERP therapy. Lastly, accept all your fears with uncertainty. Practice being mindful so when an OCD thought pops up you can immediately label it as OCD and say to yourself" that may or may not happen" because you've embraced uncertainty.