How establishing routines can be good for us
Routine A sequence of action regularly followed; a fixed program.
At this point and time, it is feeling a bit like all of our routines have gone out the window. We’re trying to learn how to work from home, possibly juggling that with homeschooling, and doing more meal planning than we’d like. Not to mention trying to figure out the best way to just acquire food and other necessities. Do I risk going in the store or ask a shopper/delivery service to do that for me? And can I even get a window for a delivery before I run out of….?
Every day feels about the same. I’m wearing my lounge around weekend clothes even during the middle of the week. (kind of our dream before all this, huh?) I’m not out running errands or meeting friends for coffee. I’m spending way too much time on the couch. Things feel wonky.
Here’s the deal. In order to protect our mental health, we need to have some routines established – even when you have “nothing” going on. It is critical during this time that we get something established in the form of a schedule. Ugh! Schedule? Nobody likes that word, but we have to appreciate the fact that when our routine and schedules go out the window it leaves us feeling aimless and possibly helpless. So, let’s get on this.
Establish a regular wake up/bedtime. Set your alarm and get out of bed. I know, nobody wants to do this right now, but it is super beneficial to have a regular sleep pattern. By now you have an idea at about what time you are naturally waking up – but rolling back over and going back to “sleep” is actually counterproductive and can impact our mood – and not in a positive way. So set that alarm. Keep in mind – you don’t have a commute now so yeah, it’s ok if you sleep later than you did when you were getting up to beat Austin traffic, but be reasonable about your sleep routines.
And…. Go to bed! I know, we all have that sense that staying up late is kind of that privilege we get as adults that we were always envious of our parents or older siblings about when we were young. But staying up until the wee hours is not good for our productivity or mood the following day. So, start a bedtime routine. Don’t watch the news after say 8 pm. Turn off your electronics and hour before bed (unless it’s a Kindle – that’s permissible). Read, listen to some music, have a cup of hot herbal tea, things to bring your energy level down. (Check my earlier blog on sleep issues – lots of helpful tips there.) By creating a bedtime routine, you are setting yourself up for a better day tomorrow.
I think it’s important to do some type of devotional or meditation at the beginning of the day. It’s a good practice to take time to get centered in God’s Word and know Who is actually in charge these days. (And I don’t mean the World Health Organization). Being able to turn things over to the one who is really in charge means that we can relax and trust that He will bring us through this. If you need a way to find a devotional one of the best options is using the app or website YouVersion. http://youversion.com/ They have oodles of devotionals and versions of the Bible at your fingertips. Follow up your study with a time of prayer. If you are uncertain about prayer - in Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus gives us a “formula” so to speak on how to pray. You can take each part of The Lord’s Prayer and add your own unique situation. Prayer is nothing more than simply talking.
Also, as part of routine…. Keep to a healthy eating schedule. It’s easy to just nosh all day when the fridge and pantry are right there. Eat your 3 meals a day with a couple of snacks if needed. Eat early in the evening (again – a privilege of not sitting on the Mopac parking lot!). The big weight loss talk these days is intermittent fasting. The idea is that we need to give our digestive systems a break overnight. If you can put more time between your evening meal (no evening snacking!) and breakfast you might actually be able to notice a difference in your waistline.
Bringing me to exercise. We’re all cooped up. I get it. But this is the perfect opportunity to start an exercise routine. I know – I like my gym routine too. But I’m really enjoying my walks these days and checking out all that Spring presents to us in the way of flowers and budding trees. Just can’t see that happening? Here’s permission to turn on YouTube and find some dance routines, or Pilates, or yoga of maybe even some Circuit workouts. This is a great time to experiment and find out what you like.
Routines also include when you do laundry (Saturday at my house), when you shop (I know, that may be more up in the air, but you can create a ‘new normal’), when you do housework, and when you work or help kids with their school work. When is “movie night”? Set boundaries and limits on social media, shows, movies, video feeds, all of that. And I get it. Now and then during all of this we are going to need a “down day” when we aren’t burdened by all the to-dos. But with some intentionality you can keep yourself from going down a rabbit hole into boredom and isolation.
Part of your routine could be things like Online Church. Nearly every church in the nation right now is putting their services online. If you were in a habit of going to church and even if you weren’t, this is a perfect thing to create routine around. We all need a Sabbath. A day when it’s not about work, shopping or chores. Be intentional about how you set up your Sabbath day. Church, lunch (at the table – maybe with the china that’s only used on “special occasions” – how more “special” do we need right now?) with family members, maybe a walk together, and a video call or two to loved ones. What a great way to go back into the New Routine of the week that you are establishing.
Routines work best as something that works as a guide for our days. It doesn’t have to be a rigid thing. Be flexible. Sometimes you just aren’t going to be in the mood for or able to do things when and where you want. So, it’s time to get creative and adapt but with a basic idea of what your overall routine is for the day and week.