Sometimes, change isn’t our problem. I know it feels like a weird time to say this, as change is all many of us have experienced this year. Not only that, but many of the changes that have come our way, haven’t been good.
The difficult part of change, isn’t always the change itself.
Only the difficult part of change, isn’t always the change itself. Rather, it’s the many minuscule reactionary changes that it sets off in its wake. I’ve been feeling this especially since our move last month.
As I shared two weeks ago, after eight years of trying to figure out where we should put down roots, we finally bought a house we love in a new city. We are exactly where we want to be for this season. This is a good change. But it hasn’t been easy.
If you’ve ever moved as an adult, you’re probably not surprised by this. Packing up your whole life doesn’t mean it fits exactly and perfectly into your new place, when you unpack it. Not only that, but there are things you often remember packing but you can’t seem to find once you get into your new home. Things that used to be a part of your daily routine.
Ah, routine.
The unsung hero of our lives. The foundation on which our health, relationships, and jobs thrive. And yet, the very thing that can make all of those things feel shaky, when it’s been thrown off.
Change messes with our routine.
In effect, messing with us. In big or small ways, it throws off everything predictable about our lives. The time we wake up or go to bed. The place where we get our coffee. Our usual opportunities to meet up with friends. Sometimes, even our ability to sleep or find time to eat healthy meals.
Good or bad, change can be difficult. Not only because of the big picture details of our lives that it alters, but also the seemingly insignificant ones as well. What time we wake up in the morning may not seem to matter. But how much sleep we get can affect our moods and ability to function. For many of us, missing our morning coffee can impact our outlook for the rest of the day. And unmet social needs are a much bigger deal than our culture lets on.
For many of us, altered routines have been one of our biggest struggles with all the change the pandemic has brought to our lives.
For many of us, altered routines have been one of our biggest struggles with all the change the pandemic has brought to our lives. Whether we’re talking about our daily routines or even our weekly trips to the grocery store, the ways (and timing) of how we do things have shifted. For some of us, multiple times over since March.
When our routines are off, both our mental and physical health suffers. We can handle a lack of routine for a short period of time (like say when you’re moving into a new house). But as soon as possible, we need to be building routines back into our lives to help us thrive.
The problem we’ve all found ourselves in however, is that collectively, we are facing new changes each day. We’re experiencing trauma. And, we don’t know when all of this will end. The question is,
How do we (re)build healthy routines in the midst of an ever changing world?
For the rest of this month, it is my hope to help us answer this question, by sharing what I have learned and experienced about routine building. As fall is quickly approaching, our lives will change once again. Building routines will help us not only survive, but feel less like we’re all hanging on by a thread.
How has your routines been messed up by the pandemic?
What pre-pandemic routines do you miss most?
Feeling a little adrift in this strange, new normal of being at home? Sign up for my email list and get your free copy of my Social Distancing Survival Guide: Everyday Routines. Sign up here.
