In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has become more aware than ever of the importance of hand-washing , disinfecting surfaces and taking care of our immune systems .

But while youre physically separated from your social support systems and your routines are disrupted, minding your mental health is just as important as caring for your physical health. Major mental health organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness recommend keeping your getting ready routines intact as a way to do just that.

So, why do waking up at your usual time, showering and dressing for work will help you stay mentally well? DeVon Patterson, a psychologist at Baptist Behavioral Health , said humans like knowing whats going to happen next and that uncertainty can lead to anxiety.

A lot of what people are experiencing right now is a disruption of their routine, he told HuffPost. When you dont know whats coming next, that can be a challenging thing for some people, so a lot of it is about having some semblance of what your day and week looks like. Knowing whats coming next can be comforting.