Is your routine off kilter?
Keeping your normal schedule is probably next to impossible with kids home from school until who knows when and possibly being out of work.
We’ve talked about using routines (see: 3 Unique Ways to Make a Schedule Work for You) to help cope with mental illness symptoms – but what do you do when your normal routine isn’t working?
A flexible schedule like in the link above may work for some, but with each day being unpredictable, it’s hard to even start a routine at this point.
What the heck are we supposed to do?
- Be flexible – although it may sound obvious, firm, unyielding routines are not the answer in these unpredictable days. Try a flexible routine, or if you are more of an impulsive person anyways, be spontaneous!
- Play it by ear – possibly a combination of spontaneity and more of an established routine, plan a few things for each day that can easily be moved around or rearranged and organize your day as needed based on what is happening.
Wondering what that even means?
If you have kids, plan a few age appropriate activities (consider science experiments, cooking and/or baking, or games) that don’t require going out and can easily be done when you are available and (mentally) ready.
When it’s just you, or you and a partner, try to stick as close to normal as possible – but when it’s just not doable and your entire routine is off kilter already, create a basic routine outline and take it one day at a time.
Off Kilter Routines and a Basic Routine Outline:
A basic routine outline is a combination of anchored activities with random, unscheduled tasks mixed in. The anchored activities happen around set times (think: wake up, eat, sleep) and the unscheduled tasks are simply whatever fits in your day that needs doing (or something you want to do).
A routine outline could look something like this:
- 7:30 am – Wake up
- Eat breakfast
- Brush teeth
- 12:00 pm – Eat lunch
- Miscellaneous tasks
- 6:00 pm – Eat Dinner
- Misc tasks
- Brush teeth
- 9:00 pm – Bedtime
A typical schedule is made up of these tasks, and depending on the person every task could have a time or the schedule could already look much like the one above – a combination of anchored and un-anchored tasks.
If your schedule already looks similar, you’re set! If not, consider something like the schedule above (adjusted to suit your needs) in these uncertain times.
Do you have a flexible schedule or is your routine off kilter right now? Let me know in the comments below.
Christian, wife, “hybrid” mama, I run the site All Behind A Smile to help others like me.
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