While medication and psychotherapy are the typical prescription for bipolar disorder, there are many things you can do to take an active role in helping yourself stay balanced, recognize warning signs of manic and depressive episodes, and better manage your illness. One of the most important ways you can help yourself is to learn as much as possible about your illness, and share information about bipolar disorder with your family and friends, so they can better understand what you are experiencing. Experts say that keeping a mood diary is an extremely valuable tool for tracking your emotions on a daily basis, seeing how your moods fluctuate over time and becoming more aware of certain symptoms or situations that can precede a manic or depressive episode. Being attuned to your moods can help you better recognize early warning signs of manic or depressive episodes, enabling you to minimize or stop them before they start, and help you get the appropriate treatment faster. Keeping a regular schedule is also important. Routine and consistency may help you gain better emotional balance. Every day, eat three healthy meals, take your medications as prescribed and go to bed at the same time. A regular sleep schedule is important to overall mental and physical well-being. This may be challenging, however, as depression can make falling asleep or staying asleep difficult. At the same time, lack of sleep, or oversleeping, may trigger a shift in mood. Fortunately, another self-help strategy is regular physical exercise, which may lead to more restful sleep. Practicing yoga, taking a swim or performing aerobics for at least 30 minutes a day, several days a week, may help reduce your stress levels. Additionally, physical activity works to relieve depression symptoms, and may also reduce manic energy. Equally important is eating a healthy diet that ensures you're getting the nutrients your body needs for healthy functioning, such as lean meats, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. In managing your bipolar disorder, the things you avoid may be as important as what you prioritize. For example, self-medicating with alcohol or drugs may potentially worsen depression symptoms, affect your medication's effectiveness, or trigger a mood episode, typically leading to additional problems. Similarly, stimulants like caffeine and nicotine may affect sleeping patterns and potentially exacerbate your mood. So try avoiding, coffee, tea and soda. Finally, consider joining a support group, either in your community or online, where you can benefit from the shared experiences of others who understand what you're going through. If you or someone you know is affected by bipolar disorder, please see a mental health professional. To learn more, see additional videos about Bipolar Disorder on this site.