Making a Routine

An important part of life in lockdown is keeping a routine. As well as offering stability, a good routine will help keep you focused on what you can do and change.

Here are three rules and a few tips to help you make and keep to a routine during self-isolation.

Firstly, write your routine down and put it somewhere noticeable. Having a physical copy of your routine helps you keep to it. Without it written down, you’ll soon forget about it and risk sliding back into old habits.

Secondly, make it manageable for you. There are only so many hours in the day, and what can be done varies from person to person. When planning what your new routine will look like, don’t try to fit too many things in. We’re aiming to avoid stress here, not add to it.

For the first version of your routine, keep it light and then add things in where you know they will fit. A little bit of trial and error can go a long way.

Thirdly, don’t beat yourself up over missing something. The routine is for your benefit alone. There very second that you find it becoming detrimental to your wellbeing, it’s time to stop and go back to the drawing board. If something doesn’t get done or gets missed, that’s ok. It’s important to focus on the moment, and not worry about what’s next.

With those in mind, here are a few things you can put into your routine to help you find a bit of balance in your day.

Start With a Devotional and a Hot Drink

I am a firm believer of ‘start as you mean to go on’. Beginning every day with a moment of reflection and prayer will help you keep focused on what’s important. A good devotional will also offer spiritual food for thought to get you through the day.

Drink Plenty of Water

One thing I am as guilty of as most people is not drinking enough water. Keeping yourself well hydrated will not only aid your health but help you keep a clear head. Six to eight glasses of water a day is what is recommended.

Keep Regular Meal Times

It’s easy to let mealtimes slip in self-isolation. Breakfast first moves to midday, lunch to late afternoon, tea (or dinner) to late evening. Then you find yourself going to bed later, sleeping in later, and the cycle continues. As well as being good for your health, set meal times help with structuring your days in a practical way.

Keep Regular Sleep Patterns (Where Possible)

Sleep is both hugely important and massively underrated. Both getting enough sleep and making sure that sleep is regular touts significant bodily and neurological benefits. I know that is easier for some than others. For anyone with children, you’ll know first-hand who gets to decide when you sleep and when you don't. So, where possible, try to sleep regularly and wake up at the same time each day. Just don’t stress about it too much.

Set Aside Time to Talk to People

Social engagement is vital right now, but with everyone going online the number of difference chats and conversations can soon dominate your day. One way to manage this is to set yourself designated social time (not social media time). This can include phone calls, responding to messages, group chats, etc. This will also help you be more present in your relationships as you aren’t replying distractedly, but with full focus.

Limit Screen Time

Following on from designating social time, limiting how much of your day is on your phone or watching TV is also important. Phones are a black hole of time. Before you know it, hours have gone by. As it requires a lot of discipline to not look at your phone, screen limiting apps are available to help you manage phone time.

Create Two Lists of Jobs

Housework is a chore, but keeping on top of it will help you keep a positive outlook. One way to make the work a bit easier on you is to split the jobs into ones you don’t mind and ones you do. Then alternate. For every job that you aren’t a fan of, you’ll have one to look forward to. Chores are also a great opportunity to pick up a new podcast as you work.

Make Reading Time

Stopping is as important as stopping. It helps create a rhythm to your day and the space to find rest. With reading, you’ll find both engagement and escape. A good book helps you discover something new, take your mind of the stresses of the world and remain mentally occupied. If you want to make this a more social activity, check out our guide to running an online book club.

In that reading time is the opportunity to read more of your Bible. You can start a devotional Bible, try going from cover to cover, or even take up journaling as a way to deepen your Bible reading time.

Make Reflective Prayer Time

Similar to the previous idea, self-isolation presents you with the opportunity to simply stop and spend time in prayer and in God’s presence. If you are looking for resources to help you, we have put together some ideas for praying for the world and for anyone in self-isolation.

Go Out For Exercise

Right now, the rules allow for one period of exercise for up to one hour. Make use of this. It doesn’t have to be anything too strenuous. For example, my exercise is just going for a walk in a local field, sometimes with a good book. But getting out will help you keep fit, reconnect you with nature, and give you some much-needed space.