HOW TO CREATE A PERSONAL ROUTINE DURING STRESSFUL TIMES

This WU-authored article has been edited and is reposted from May 6, 2020.

Look for magic in a daily routine.

– Lou Barlow

Your routine may still be off these days, but your life, despite the disruption from the global pandemic, can still maintain daily flow. Now, more than ever, we need to have continuity within our daily lives making room for the changing life parameters that have arrived uninvited in the fabric of our lives.

Enter your “new normal” daily routine; revised and revamped, on your terms, and with your own needs covered instead of smothered.

Almost all the normal structures that were built into how we fashioned a routine have changed, especially with the teeter-totter of social regulations. At every change, you need to adapt and craft for yourself and those in your home some sort of structure, in the form of routine. This is for healthy energetic boundaries that build and foster positive energy and wellbeing, amidst all the happenings is during this still stressful time.

Here Are 5 Key Areas for Crafting Your Personal Routine:

1. Sleep

You may find yourself staying up late, engrossed in newscasts hoping to hear about a positive change in our current situation. If you have little ones, you may be using this time to get “work” done or carve in late night “me time.” Doing this derails your body’s sleep cycle and potentially brings forth health and wellbeing issues, including weight gain, lack of focus, and possibly increased issues with anxiety and depression.

Follow these steps to get on track with sleep:

• Determine the best time to get up according to your work schedule or your need for alone time before attending to your household and workday.
• Reverse engineer this by knowing how much sleep you need (the typical range is 7-9 hours for most adults). Create a go-to-bed time and a wake-up time based on your sleep needs and start time for work.
• Build-in an intentional, calming downtime before going to bed so your body and brain are connecting with the revitalizing task of sleep.
• Gather some tech help with one of many calming and sleep apps available today on smart devices.

2. Work

Keep your work schedule as close to possible to your office schedule if you are still working from home. Start and stop your workday as it was in the office. Set up a space, whether in a separate room or within a room, that is “office” space.

The same applies to homeschool space for moms with children and all that is required with managing the ebb and flow school activities now being done at home.

Have a time structure with meals, homeschool work, breaks, recreation, play, and chores. Make this reasonable for your household and needs.

3. Childcare (if you have littles and school-aged children)

If you are not only working from home but also have children at home, you will need to build a schedule for yourself and for your family. If your children are old enough to handle themselves, then work together to plan a schedule to make the best use of their time to keep them on track as your work.

If your children are young and need more hands-on attention, then you will need to work creatively with your partner to get your work done.   

4. Exercise

In some ways, fitting in physical activity is easier with the elimination of your workday commute or on-the-go meetings and travel. The challenge lies in carving out time and setting intention for exercising. Our typical routines were built around going out to gyms, studios, or sports centers. These spaces that we depended on to achieve our fitness goals are for the most part still closed.

Get creative and commit to exercise. Use your smart device or prefer exercising with others log in to virtual classes like yoga, Zumba, or cycling. You can even go outdoors for a walk, hike, or bike ride.

Set up and schedule your exercise time as if it were a “client meeting.” Choose the time of day and days of the week that this will work best for you.

5. Recreation, Rest, and Creativity

Setting aside time to recharge and regroup is essential to your physical and emotional wellbeing. Intentionally limit your time on social media, watching the news, and your favorite shows. Find something each day that brings you true happiness and inner calmness. This could be time spent in quiet prayer and meditation or connecting with friends and family on a video call. You can also try listening to music, cooking, crafting, reading, or going outdoors for a peaceful nature walk. Do what speaks to you and brings you smile and joy from within.

By creating a personal routine that’s right for you and your household, you can make the most of what is happening in the present, while being in flow with more balanced energy. This will help you handle all that is happening right now in our world and communities.

Please share what you’re currently doing to “center” your life and craft your own personal routine in the comments section below.

– The Wellness Universe

Connect with The Wellness Universe & Walk Away Feeling Better!

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