7 Tips to Help You Build a New Routine Post COVID
It’s warm out, the pandemic in Southern California is getting under control, and people are quickly emerging from their deep COVID-holes and getting into human interaction at lightning speed. After a second round of intense lockdowns over the holidays, people are ready for normal again. So as we race to fill our weekends and nights up with plans, how do we actually transition well? Who else a victim of overcommitting yourself to too many things only to either feel burned out or start actually just bailing on plans? Neither are optimal, but take if from a first class extrovert, the last year was hard, so saying yes to every plan coming my way seems easy. But how quickly do we pendulum swing from one extreme to the other? Locked down for months, swing, book up an entire month of plans, swing, burn out and disappear for two weeks, swing, miss your friends and book up another week, SWING. It’s just exhausting.
How do you own your calendar and not let your calendar own you? All too often, the nights fill up while you deplete with the new demand on your time and schedule for getting together with friends after a long and lonely year. So, here are 7 tips on reclaiming your time, setting a rhythm and still enjoying time out with your friends.
1) Set aside a time each week to map out the next week’s schedule
If you have a traditional Monday - Friday work week, try mapping out your week on Sunday nights. Grab some tea or a fun snack and get excited about getting ahead of the weeks demands. Once you’ve mastered the once a week schedule, try looking at your schedule at the top of the month, mapping out what days to go out, what days to call loved ones, what weeks will be busier so a self care day may be needed.
2) Begin a daily routine
I’ve found that even as a creative person, routine is so helpful for my creative juices to flow. Try to get as much of a sleep routine down as you can, wake up the same time each morning, and start feeling out what would be a good routine each morning and each night. You’ll notice soon that having a good daily routine will help you keep your weekly schedule in general.
3) Set small goals to accomplish in your daily routine
Once you’ve set up your morning and night routine, try to set small goals within each day to feel successful. Even if a goal is to just take a 10 minute break to get up and walk around, do it. Baby steps really do help.
4) Plan in advance and give yourself breaks
Speaking of those breaks, be generous with them. Plan your days in advance and if a day is looking like it’s going to be packed, to try and squeeze one more thing in. Use that time as a break. Even if there are a few 5 minute breaks within your day or a big 1 hour break, be kind to yourself.
5) Track your progress
This can be as simple as journalling at the end of the week or taking stock of the week prior as you sit down to schedule your next week. Look at what’s working and what’s not working. Above all, give yourself space to figure it out, don’t just forge on ahead with the same schedule if it isn’t working.
6) Reward Yourself
Did you just successfully schedule your week and stick to it?! Reward yourself! Take a long drive out in a nice area, grab a glass of wine, treat yourself to a new outfit. You’re doing it! You’re owning your schedule.
7) Don’t be afraid to say no
Instead of viewing it as a no, think about how you can start giving you best yes. If your schedule looks tight, showing up to an event half alive, craving to be at home isn’t going to be your best yes. Know yourself well enough to know that you only have so much to give to everyone.
Take care of yourself, there’s only one of you to go around. We’re coming out of a very hard year that may have some after effects that may need tending to. Being isolated for so long and suddenly being thrust into social life as it used to be might take some adjusting and that’s ok.