This has not been the easiest time for me, and I daresay it hasn’t been the easiest time for most people. During this unexpected season, I have learned that whenever I find myself in days of unease or uncertainty I must implement a new routine.

I am a person whose personality requires a routine in order to be productive, and I did have one – before (insert foreboding music). For the first couple of weeks during the ‘stay-in-place’ restrictions I was in a state of shock, sort of frozen in trying to figure out what my new normal would be. It dawned on me after about a week (because that’s how my brain works), that I needed to start a new routine. It may not be my favourite, it may not go as smoothly as I would like, and I may have to make some concessions and rearrange it a little, but, nonetheless, it is necessary.

One place I have begun implementing my new routine is with my meal times. For example, if I know I can expect tea time to happen at 9:00 a.m., a meal to happen at 12:00 p.m., and tea time to happen again at 3:00 p.m., I have anchors to which I can look forward throughout the day, even if the rest of it isn’t as smooth.

Another place I have tried to start implementing a new routine is with my wake up time and bed time. Since I know I work better early in the morning, then part of my routine is trying to go to bed at a certain time so I can get up when I want and still get the amount of sleep I need. This forces me to order my day in such a way that things get done by the time I need to go to bed.

I realise for some people the word ‘routine’ causes anxiety. I’m not suggesting you have your day timed down to the second, minute, or even half hour. What I am suggesting is that you find things which can anchor you. Having these little traditions can help not only during times of crisis, but also in the sometimes daily monotony of life.