Normal life may be on hold, but routines shouldn’t have to be...

Several weeks earlier, my last post was titled “Life is Cancelled...” It felt that way when I got laid off from my job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At first, it was only supposed to be a two-week “extended” spring break, but obviously it’s going to be much longer. I won’t be working as a part-time tutor for the rest of the semester at my local college. Not having that normal sense of routine can elevate my anxiety levels to places unknown. To combat this and keep it under control, I am doing something childlike: pretending to go to work like normal.

This “pretending to go to work” agenda means that I plan to create and stick to a routine similar to my job. This morning, after the end of “extended” spring break, I set my alarm at 7:30 (not as early as a normal workday, but early enough) and took my dog for a long walk before the winds increased. After I returned from my walk, I sat at the computer and worked on writing projects as well as some tutoring stuff. However, there are some differences between going to work in a building and working from home:

1. At home, I am in my workout clothes.

2. I eat my meals and snacks at the computer.

3. If I need a break from the computer, I get up and do some little things like go outside to get the mail and check on the dog (who has been trying to dig for gophers in the backyard).

On the other hand, I am trying to treat this “new normal routine” like I’m at work. Just focus on those writing projects and brush up on my tutoring skills. I haven’t put myself on a rigid time clock, but I’m trying to maintain some order. My normal work hours are from 8-1 Mondays through Thursdays and 8-noon on Fridays. If I feel like working longer, then I will do that. My mother started working from home last week, so watching her follow a routine has motivated me to do the same.