OTH for Creatures of Habit in a COVID World
I love structure. And then the world turned corona-upside down.
But I’m not alone here. Everyone has their our own flow that dictates how they work, find creativity, and stay healthy. An intentional routine breeds success. But when the pandemic turned that notion on its head, I went on the hunt to find out how people are keeping the fabric of daily life in tact.
Grace is married and runs a prominent, ceremony string ensemble throughout the Midwest. Rachel flies solo and is a successful wedding photographer in New York. Grace gets up early each morning with her hubby, and Rachel winds down each evening with her puppy. When I asked both of my friends to shed some light on the rituals and routines that power their days, I polled them on three specific questions: Are you a morning, daytime, or night person? What habits are sacred to you? And what would you want to change or implement if you could? Their motivation and accountability are empowering, and the steps they take to stick to a schedule (while still leaving time for fun!) might inspire you if you’re feeling caught in a rut. Below, I share Grace’s and Rachel’s daily routines (as told by the ladies themselves), as well as my own.
Three women, one mantra: Not today, corona.
Grace’s story:
I’m an early-daytime person, but my husband is a morning person. As we both work full time from home, we’ve been working hard to be a balance for each other: my hubby has pushed his typical 5 AM wake-up to 5:30, and I’ve pushed my typical 7 AM wake-up to 6:30. He starts each day with a run first thing, and then once I get up, we have a Facetime workout with my personal trainer three days a week. It is so important for us to start our days with movement. It sets the right tone for our minds, bodies, hearts, and energy levels.
Keeping up with my workout routine is what scared me the most. I typically work out in-person with my trainer three days a week, but we’ve bumped it up to FIVE since our quarantine began. Mondays and Fridays are our “easy” days with 45 minutes of yoga starting at 9 AM. But Tuesday through Thursday is our time to work hard: one day for chest/back/arms, one day for legs, and one day for full-body cardio. My second most important routine that I refuse to let go of is a walk to end the work day. Every day at 5 or 6 PM, we head out for a mile-long walk, at minimum. This is so important for us to help switch our work brains to our at-home brains, especially when all work and play is in the same space right now.
If there was something I would change, it would be our bedtime. We try to always have lights out by 10 PM, but it doesn’t always happen. With our early wake-up time and long, long days, I think it would be best for our bodies to start getting ready for bed at 9 PM with lights out at 9:30. The hard part is that I view that change as lost time together, but with my hubby’s early alarm, he really craves that extra sleep. I’m working on getting better at it and seeing this as something that will help, not hurt, us!
Rachel’s story:
I’m definitely more of a nighttime person but am trying to transition into becoming more of a morning person. While trying not to “force” my body into waking up so crazy early that my natural cycle is thrown off, I’m also trying to go to bed earlier so it’s easier to wake up in the morning.
Some things that help me sleep well are Bach Rescue Melatonin Gummies, plant-based CBD oil, stretching or light yoga before bed, and drinking a full glass of water. In the morning, I also drink a full glass of water, wash my face right away, and try to write in my gratitude journal as soon as I’m up. I usually eat breakfast closer to noon these days— eggs & toast, yogurt/granola/fruit, etc.
If I could change something, it would be to get to bed earlier on a more routinely basis. I’d also like to shut off my screen sooner and instead fill that precious time before bed reading. Having my phone charging next to me is tempting, and I know that it’s not great to be on screens before bedtime.
My Story:
Mornings and evenings are equally sacred to me, and the routines I keep during this uncertain time help bookend my crazy, unpredictable days and signal some “me time.” BC (before corona), my mornings were their own kind of marathon: 6:30 AM alarm, a blur of coffee and clothes to get me out the door and to the gym, sweat it out, blowout, clock in. Time! If there’s one thing I’m grateful for, it’s the ownership I now have to take charge of my mornings. Without the 45 minute commute and expectation to always have dried hair during the workday, I can tailor the hours before work to best suit me. Some days that means an extra bit of sleep, and other days I’ll use that time to write or go on a long run. I’ve found that while working from home, transitioning into an “after-hours” mindset requires greater discipline since everyone seems to be plugged in for longer hours than we are used to. Like Grace, I will often take a walk to mark the end of a work day, and I’ve even generated an automatic “out of the office” response to my work email between 5:30 PM and 8:30 AM. Although work can serve as a helpful distraction right now, it’s so important that we prioritize self-care and give ourselves the rest we deserve!
The rituals I have at the start and end of each day are quite similar, although they serve different purposes. Lighting a fragrant candle in then morning (I love lemon verbena or eucalyptus) helps awaken my senses, while burning lavender or rose in the evening relaxes my nervous system. Guzzling down a warm beverage in the morning, like coffee or matcha, gives me an energy boost, while sipping a fizzy cup of Natural Vitality’s Calm Magnesium before bed (raspberry lemon is my favorite) prepares my body for rest and digest mode. Even the time I devote to doing nothing but sitting and thinking feels very different while the sun is coming up than once the sun has set. In the morning, quiet time is a chance to daydream about future plans, set goals, and align my thoughts for the day. In the evening, I wind down with a bit of reflection on what I learned that day and what I have to look forward to the next.
If I could change anything, it would be to be have more mindful check-ins during the workday. Like most of us, I am constantly juggling projects and requests, and it’s easy to become bogged down and overwhelmed by expectations. Compounded with the fear and frustration so many people are feeling right now, it’s especially crucial to take a step back and be present. I like to do this by stepping away from my screen, get the blood pumping for a few minutes with jumping jacks or squats, and take a few rounds of deep Ujjayi breathing (the “ocean breath” used in various schools of yoga). These “reality checks” make such a huge difference in my concentration and allow me to power through with heightened awareness and clarity.
Wherever you are right now—mentally, physically, emotionally—own it and make the most of it. Take stock and form a routine that works best for you, as well as those around you if your quarantine party isn’t a solo one. There is no right or wrong answer; there is only what you are capable of doing, and I empower you to do whatever it is to the very best of your ability. Chat with friends or family and exchange ideas on how to stay healthy and motivated. At the end of the day, when life feels messy, tidy it up with a tailor-made routine just for you.
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