As someone with OCD and anxiety, I thrive off of routine, but quarantine has challenged me to find a new way to live.
Check out some of the ways that help me to maintain a routine during the time quarantine and social distancing:
1. Start the night before
The beginning of a good day always starts the night before, so take time to put yourself in a healthy mindset before lying down to sleep.
Before you go to bed, jot down a few notes about what you’d like to get done.
Once you do that, do whatever you need to do to clear your mind to sleep soundly.
I always try to schedule something I look forward to in the morning — for me, this is drinking coffee and reading a good book — so I want to get out of bed.
2. Wake up around the same time daily
This time can be whenever you want it to be but keep it consistent.
With a set time to wake up in the morning, you’ll have a way to maintain normalcy in a time that’s anything but normal.
Whatever time you choose, consider whether you’re an early bird or night owl — that way, it’ll be easier to maintain the habit.
3. Try to eat regular meals
For me, I find a lot of structure in scheduling when I eat.
While I usually stick with the same breakfast every morning (hello, blueberry bagels), I get creative with my lunches and try new recipes.
Plus, the healthier these meals are, the better.
Personally, I know my healthy eating habits slip when I’m home with my family — and an abundance of delicious quarantine snacks really isn’t helping my self-control.
Making the effort to eat healthier can be hard, but it’s so worth it in the end.
4. Have one scheduled “appointment” daily
Before social distancing, our days were filled with appointments and meetings, whether they were because of school, work or our social lives.
You don’t have to keep up the same productivity as before, but make “dates” — with your friends, family and yourself.
Tell yourself that at noon, you and your dog will go for a walk, or after dinner, you’ll watch movies with your siblings.
Setting these times will give you a new structure.
5. Change your clothes
I’m as guilty as anyone of lounging around in my pajamas all day but changing into new clothes can put you in a healthier mindset.
Even if you’re only changing from night to day pajamas, putting on fresh clothes can help you get a fresh perspective on the day.
You can also take the opportunity to experiment with new outfits in your closet for fun photoshoots (that are social-distancing safe, of course).
6. Maintain a to-do list
In my opinion, nothing feels better than looking at a completed to-do list at the end of the day.
If you know what you want to do during the day, write it down!
Don’t feel pressure to zoom through the list; rather, pace yourself throughout the day to stay busy.
7. Keep up with personal hygiene
Showering, taking a bath, or simply brushing your teeth can do a world of good.
If you’re feeling ambitious, you can embed some luxurious self-care or a new skincare routine into your day, but don’t feel pressured to do so — especially if you’re struggling a lot.
Depression or depressive symptoms can make personal hygiene difficult, at times.
In these situations, a good goal would be picking one thing to keep up with: showering, brushing your hair, washing your face, etc.
8. Try to do a variety of activities throughout the day
Let’s be real — it’s so easy to spend all day watching Netflix.
That’s okay every once in a while, but when that becomes your day to day existence, it can become unhealthy.
Try to find new hobbies you like or rediscover old ones to fill your time.
As someone who easily becomes obsessed and loses track of time, this has been one of the hardest challenges for me; however, I’ve picked up baking and bullet journaling to fill my time — two things that will keep me away from my screen, too.
9. Spend (virtual) time with friends and distant family
Like many people, I truly miss the TGIF and weekend vibes that accompanied hanging out with my friends.
While it may be different during quarantine, you can still achieve those hangouts virtually.
Zoom is typically associated with classes, but you can also use it to host a virtual girls’ night, or even a games night.
Plus, Chrome extensions like Netflix Party will let you host a movie night.
Maintaining the social events that you love will improve your mental health and make it feel like your friends aren’t so far away.
10. Acknowledge that nothing about this situation is normal
We’re in a situation that nobody else has lived before.
You can’t be expected to function exactly as you did before quarantine and social distancing practices.
If you have a day where all you do is watch Netflix or don’t finish that to-do list, practice self-forgiveness and acknowledge that the next day is a chance to achieve what you’d like.
Similarly, don’t feel pressured to take every tip on this last — you’re allowed to pick and choose what works best for you.
Routine and structure shouldn’t be a burden, but something that will carry you through to better times.