5 STEPS TO GET BACK IN THE “ROUTINE”
Routines have been blown up these past few months! It’s understandable. Our world was drastically turned upside down overnight. Many people’s days now consist of casual mornings without a commute to work and long evenings spent watching tv shows or movies. Let’s face it, our lifestyles have totally changed, but now’s the time to get back in sync! Check out these CE tips on how to return to balance.
REMEMBER YOUR OLD WAYS
It is time to revisit your pre-lockdown lifestyle and map out how to get back on track. Maybe you were an early riser with an hour commute? Maybe you had a set bedtime, allowing you take on that crack-of-dawn workout. Whatever your scenario, you need to visualize how it “used to be” and formalize it with a schedule.
It won’t be easy, and you might need to ease your way back. For example, start by setting your alarm closer and closer to your “normal” wake-up time each morning. At night, program your tv to cutoff at a specific time, helping to pry you away from Netflix and focus on getting rest. Ask yourself these questions:
- When should I be waking up?
- When should I go to bed to get 7-9 hours of sleep?
PLAN IT OUT!
Our weeks collectively used to be filled with lunch dates, workouts at the gym, meetings, little league games, happy hours, time with friends and family, etc. No matter the situation, there seemed to always be something to do.
Lately though, you might find yourself saying, “I’ll do it later.” The shift in our routines and limited access to events can trigger procrastination, morphing once normal activities into difficult commitments.
The key is to make plans and keep them in front of you. Do it the night before. Write them out and post them daily to your bathroom mirror. This includes scheduling your workout time, your lunch time, and even your happy hour Zoom calls with friends.
Other ways to be prepared for the week ahead and stay on track:
- Place your Clean Eatz Meal Plan order on Thursday or Friday to cover lunches and dinners for the upcoming week
- Segment your day into categories: Work Time / Exercise Time / Me Time / Family Time
- Schedule a reoccurring Zoom or FaceTime with friends and family
GET BACK TO TEAMWORK
Teamwork makes the dream work! Many of our jobs require us to collaborate with people every day. Without realizing it, our co-workers help hold us accountable by being a part of our constant routine. This same concept can be effective, even when we’re not necessarily face-to-face. Find an accountability partner that is ready to get back to normal as well. Connect with them – schedule virtual meetings, plan joint workouts, and use one another to drive individual results.
Ways to stay aligned include:
- Morning FaceTime to review goals – do it over coffee or breakfast!
- Share Fitbit/Apple Watch activity with each other
- FaceTime during a home workout
- Casual Zoom catch up at the end of the day
START ORGANIZING AGAIN
When was the last time you put on “real” clothes? Sweats don’t count! Maybe you haven’t packed your work lunch, handled carpool duty for school drop-off, or prepped for an in-person presentation in a while. Each of these actions require thoughtful organization, which was all but obsoleted during social distancing.
But as we gradually begin to get back, there are ways to transition smoothly without becoming overwhelmed. It all starts with keeping organized. Simple routines, like laying out our outfits for the next day, will help condition us again for proactive living.
Meal prep the next day’s lunch or breakfast the night before. Use your calendar to organize weekday events, even if they are as basic as family bike rides or a walk. Make mealtime more structured by dividing your Clean Eatz Meals in the refrigerator by “His” and “Hers” or writing the days of the week on each. When it comes to recommitting to a predictable workout routine, display five exercise outfits in your room so they prompt you to MOVE IT every day.
It all comes down to organizing yourself for success and normalcy ahead of time.
CELEBRATE THE RETURN: REWARD YOURSELF
Nobody said it was going to be easy returning to “how it used to be.” We’re all going to want to smash that snooze button, skip workouts, and dodge obligations. This is totally normal, but not sustainable.
Instead, take it one day at a time, using simple rewards as encouragement for getting it done. A healthy dessert, like Clean Eatz Buckeyes or a half cup of Clean Crunch, go a long way toward motivating! Whatever you choose as a pat on the back, remember, it doesn’t have to be fancy – just compelling. This includes:
- A nice Friday night dinner after a consistent week
- Personal time to yourself while your significant other watches the kids
Remember, routines last longest when they’re kept simple, deliver gratification and move you to results. It’s up to you to choose what that looks like, but executed with these pointers in mind, you can win some normalcy back for you and your family.
