Many of us have been forced to change our schedules to accommodate the new normal of working from home. Even if you were previously working from home things are different now because, if you have a family with school aged children, everyone is at home. The individual days are long and start blending into one another making it is easy to lose sense of time. 

The pandemic has also had an impact on our daily routines. Understanding that we need to create new routines is one thing but developing new routines that are useful is another. A routine can give us an anchor and greater sense of control over our lives. And if you have children, creating a routine is especially important to give them a sense of normality. 

When exploring how to revamp your routine look at your daily “must haves” and make sure to block out time for them. Think about those things that if you do not do them make you feel a bit off. This list of “must haves” is not intended to be long and is not about the work that you do. This list of “must haves” is about who you are and what you need to show up in life as your best self. 

My list of “Must have”:

Quiet time, meditation, reflection

I normally do this early in the morning before my 11 and 12 year old boys wake up. I like spending time in the morning, while it is still quiet in the house, reading, meditating, praying, and reflecting. This helps to set my intention for the day. 

Physical Activity – Workout, Walk, Bike, Exercise routine

Before the stay at home order, I worked out at Orangetheory fitness 4-5 day per week. I am still working out 4-5 days per week, but the level of intensity is simply different from my in the gym workouts. This is still an important part of my day and I sometimes incorporate this activity with my family time.

Family Quality Time

This is a focused time of 1 – 2 hours for family activities. This is not the total time that I spend with my family, but it is time that is committed to some joint activity. The children enjoy this time and they usually pick the activity. This may include playing a game, a family workout, or a family evening walk. 

Spouse Quality Time

This is time dedicated to having open communication with my wife. This is our one-on-one time to talk about anything that is on our mind or just sit quietly with each other while reading, listening to music, or just relaxing. This does not always take up a lot of time from the schedule, but it is an important part of my daily routine.

It is easy to think about this list as being should have. My routine should have this or that, but for me what defines something as a must have is its measured impact on my day.  Create a routine for a sense of control and mastery over your environment and life circumstances. Reclaim what power you can over your own life.

What is your list of “Must haves” for your routines?