3 Routines for Wellbeing
September. The time of year when much of the world typically resets. Summer vacation is behind us, the school year begins, new intentions — and even excitement — for work projects lay ahead. But 2020 isn’t a typical year, and there are valid reasons why enthusiasm may be a precious commodity. When you’re in a rut, focusing on what you can control, and moving in that direction one step at a time, leads to a sense of empowerment that may take you by surprise. The opportunity for deeper satisfaction exists when we claim authorship and design our lives in a way that supports wellbeing.
Part of September’s lure is the re-establishment of routines. Shorter days, earlier bedtimes, fall sports, and back-to-school rhythms help not only kids, but the societies that surround them, to reset. These patterns that have always been, suddenly aren’t. If this has left you feeling adrift, you’re not alone. Most of us now long for a sense of normalcy.
Setting a new routine that aligns with our inner longings may be the pathway back to some sense of normalcy. Increased flexibility from remote work allows us new routines that promote wellbeing more than did our pre-pandemic lives. This may be a “hidden gem” of pandemic life.
Three examples of routines to help you get started on designing your ideal:
1. Routine for Calm – Make it a habit to bookend sleep. Create a pattern to transition towards calm in the hours leading up to bedtime. Softer lighting, unplugging from electronics, soothing music, and bathing are examples of routines that signal our mindbody that it’s time to unwind. Protecting the first waking hour from external stimuli helps to create a more peace-filled day. Quiet time for journaling, inspiring reading, meditating, and mindful eating are activities that invoke a calm energy throughout the day.
2. Routine for Eating Well - Choose one day a week to think about and plan meals. Simple, plant-slant meals with five or fewer ingredients are easy to plan and shop for. Take advantage of online shopping and order groceries ahead the same day when you meal plan. Once you’ve established a few favorites, it will be easier to rebuild your cart each time and keep the focus on foods for health.
3. Routine for Work/Life Blending – When you think ahead about your work week, do you include playtime, breaktime, movement time along with work projects and tasks? The key to creating a sustainable and productive work life, is to regularly weave in activities that bring you joy. Use a “focus timer” set for a period of productivity, followed by a break period to help maintain energy and enthusiasm. Use the break to do something that feels good (such as moving, breathing, singing, connecting with a friend). Put a non-negotiable playdate on your calendar once a week and gift yourself time to do something you love. Well-deserved rewards help us maintain our eagerness to repeat the cycle of a productive week.
Are you ready to start a new routine to better support your wellbeing? Choose a path, take a step, move slowly and courageously — bit by bit, you’ll get there.