What to do if your routine is “off” due to social distancing

1. Get Dressed

Get dressed as if you are going out for the day. Change out of those PJs you’ve been wearing for the past week. Don’t wear sweatpants every day (unless you normally do that).

2. Accessorize

Wear your glasses/contacts, watch, earrings etc. Adding these accessories as you normally would will make you feel as though not much has changed.

3. Eat

Eat your regular meals at their regular times. Try to have something nutritious. A lot of us have stocked up on ice cream and chips… try to focus on having meals with better nutrition as they will make your body and mind feel better than the empty calories.

4. Drink

Drink water. Our water is still running. Staying hydrated at home will do wonders for you. Drink more than you think you should.

Set a goal for how much water you will consume every day. There are many free apps you can use for this if you want.

5. Set Goals

Set a daily goal for what you’d like to accomplish while at home.

Maybe it’s cleaning your apartment. Maybe it’s purging your closet. Maybe you can work from home and your goals are work-related.

It feels great ticking things off your schedule and timeline.

6. Sleep

Keep your sleep schedule consistent. Try to stay within 30 minutes of when you would normally rise/sleep for the day.

7. Take Care

Take your meds. Brush your teeth. Wash your hands and face. Shower regularly.

All of these tiny steps ultimately help you feel better throughout the day.

8. Use Screens Sparingly

Setting limits for your screen time is a good idea even when you are not at home.

Enjoying more movies and TV time is likely but remember not to go overboard as these can make you feel lethargic and more drained.

9. Use Paper

Journaling and writing is always a great release during uncertain times.

Write about what is happening in your life but also about how it makes you feel.

This will be a good record of events and will help keep you in touch with reality.

10. Activities

If you’re off work, it’s a great time to revisit old hobbies or pick up new ones.

Pick up your paints. Go for a (solo) run. Learn something online. Read a favourite book.

If you’re working from home, take regular breaks to give your mind a break.

11. Get Outside

If you can, go for a run/walk. Or just spend a moment outside.

Sit on your balcony or take your dog out for an extended walk. Feeling the sun on your face is a relief.

12. Stretch

If you’re new to working from home or spending so much time in one place, make sure to get up and stretch every 45–60 minutes.

Turn on the “move alerts” on your fitness trackers/smart watches or simply be aware of the time and when you last stood up and stretched or gave your eyes a break.

There are many YouTube channels and free apps for at home yoga/exercises you can take advantage of.

13. Connect

Keep in touch with friends and family. Having a friendly conversation is especially welcome when you are more isolated than normal.

Having a virtual coffee/tea/wine/water with a friend or family is a great alternative to a bar/restaurant/coffee shop where you’d normally meet up.

Great apps for this are: FaceTime, Slack calling, Zoom, Skype, Facebook messenger calling, Instagram video chat, and Google Hangouts

14. Reach Out

If you are struggling with any aspect of this pandemic (social, economic, mental), please reach out.

Ask a neighbour. Call a friend. Look up a local resource online. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how ready people are to lend a hand.

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Finally, feel free to add your own recommendations and suggestions on how to keep your routine as normal as possible during Covid-19.

Always happy to chat and discuss ideas.

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