Keeping a “Normal” Routine While Staying at Home

The Power of Checklists!

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I have always been a fan of checklists and routines (you should see my holiday checklist binders). During this chaotic time of uncertainty we are all facing a disruption in our normal routines which can be stressful. We are feeling a bit stir crazy and overwhelmed (well, maybe that is just me).

One thing I have learned this past year from staying at home with my now 9 month old son is that checklists and routines are very important. They help me feel as though I am not aimlessly wandering around the house and prevent me from feeling unaccomplished at the end of the day.

Making checklists and maintaining a routine has kept a sense of normalcy in my life. Each morning I start my day by making my checklist list. I grab my yellow legal pad and physically write down my to-do list for the day. I keep it on the island with a pen and throughout the day I cross off each task that I complete. I write everything down! From laundry to yoga to giving my son a bath or even reading a book. At the end of they day I can look at my list and it helps me visually see that I was productive. 

Maintain a routine! When I was working I stuck to a very strict schedule,but once I started staying at home with my son I saw my routine fall apart and I ended up wasting a lot of time and feeling really lazy. Even while you are “stuck” at home start your day off how you normally would. Shower, make coffee, get dressed, even put on make up! The worst thing you can do is stay in your pajamas until noon. Act as you normally would throughout the day, but do it at home! Create a new “work” schedule, whatever that may be for you, then repeat it the next day.

normal routineMy son typically goes to music class on Wednesdays, but since we are now staying at home and music class is cancelled, it doesn’t mean music class has to end. On Wednesday at the same time of his normal class, we sat in his room with his stuffed animals sitting in a circle and played our musical instruments and sang the songs like we normally would do at Music Together.

I challenge each and everyone of you to wake up each day and make your own checklist and create a new at home routine. I promise you…. you will be surprised by how it helps you stay sane. 

2 COMMENTS

  1. I am a huge fan of checklists. A good notebook and a checked off list make me incredibly happy!

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