Three Tips to Find a New Routine

We all find ourselves needing a new routine sometimes. Sometimes we choose to, other times we’re forced to. No matter if you’re forced suddenly, or choose to on purpose, here are three ways our family is settling into our new routine.

We found ourselves, like all of you, thrown into a new routine we didn’t see coming. Where I live, kids are home from school for 6 weeks or more, businesses are closed, and many counties under stay-at-home orders. No craft or home decor stores because they’re non-essential to life. I mean, that’s all relative, isn’t it? (I am kidding, obviously). We are doing our part to just stay home unless necessary, and I have been doing a project per day to keep myself from eating the quarantine snacks.

I see so many people pressuring themselves to fall into a new routine immediately. JUST STOP. That is ridiculous. How do you expect yourselves to be ripped from your normal, kids ripped from their normal, income stripped or changed, then plopped into the unknown normal, without toilet paper and chicken and craft stores, and expect yourself – and family – to just…  adjust overnight like nothing is happening around you?

Guess what?  You’re not. I was there for the last 2 weeks, and it sucked. While binging chips, I gained some perspective.

It’s taken 2 weeks for us, here are 3 things that are working to help us find our new routine

No Pressure, Just Grace

I am giving myself the grace to settle into the routine. We are figuring out the flow of each day as it comes, and we take note of what works and what doesn’t in our house. We all have to find our way through the day, but that’s OK because adjusting to new things is hard. Sure, there are a few more outbursts, arguments, late bedtimes, late dinners, undone schoolwork, and chicken nuggets for dinner, and that’s all OK because I know we’re working on it.  Each day has gotten better, and everyone is different. Added pressure just makes everything worse.

Some of you can adjust your sails quickly and this doesn’t affect your household much.
Some of you work at home and have older kids who are independently studying.
Some of you work at home and have little ones, elementary schoolers, or all the kids.
Some of you have no income because your job is closed.
Some of you are still working outside your home.
Some of you are working outside the home, and have to leave kids in the home. Maybe there’s another parent, maybe not.
Some of you are stuck in the unknown trying to tread water.
Some of you have children who need therapy services that are in limbo.
Some of you need therapy services that are in limbo.
Some of you are expecting yourselves to immediately turn into the most amazing Homeschool Mom ever.
Some of you can’t afford to not work, because you need to take care of your four walls.
Some of you can’t school your kids at home because you don’t have the means to do so.
Some of you can school your kids at home, but find the adjustment impossible. Carry the one, friend.
Some of you think this is a joke.
Some of you think zombies are coming.
Some of you are panicking, feeling angry, anxious, worried, stressed, heavy.
Some of you are doing just fine.
Some of you are not.

Whatever you’re feeling and wherever you are…  is OK. What is not ok, is pressuring yourself to get it together immediately, panicking, buying all the TP, and being hard on yourself. Pressure does not serve you or your family well. That homeschool schedule on Facebook? No. Adjust your expectations, and allow your family time to adjust to new routines and rhythms.

Organization & Routines

The two things helping me keep it together in this area are brain dumping and setting a timer. Every day, I brain dump into a master list. Everything goes on it. Laundry, mopping, school things, meetings, major things, vitamins, grocery items, whatever is floating around my brain goes on the paper. After I’m done, I take about 5 minutes to sort it into a list for kids/school, house, and personal/work. Once that’s sorted, take inventory of what you’ve got that must get done today (be advised that must get done and want to get done are 2 different things), and put a star there.

Set a timer for 25 minutes, and get attacking what has a star and cross it off. I do that a few times a day and work through the list. Sometimes it all gets done, and sometimes it doesn’t. The important thing is that it’s organized so I know what I’m supposed to be doing and it helps to not forget everything. If your kids are old enough, give them the responsibility to help, or take ownership of their list and stars.

Being unorganized and out of routine invites anxiousness. I can’t live in that, and you probably can’t either. It’s important to stay somewhat organized and in a routine that closely resembles the normal one while you figure things out.

Mindfulness

I gained almost 5 pounds in Week 1 from a combination of the world events unfolding, sudden stress, not drinking enough water, not tracking in my WW app (sidebar, if you do the WW thing, follow me on Connect @kimtritz), no real sleep, 3 out of sorts kids, White Claw, erroneous crusts from sammies, and a bag of potato chips… so those DIY’s didn’t quite work out as planned. Mindless social media scrolling, worry, and overconsumption of media isn’t serving anyone. Being mindful of what we consume, in all aspects, will.

Week 2 was much better than Week 1, I lost almost all of those extra pounds and have been extra mindful. Mindful to eat well, sleep well, control what I can. Mindful to make lists, be grateful and write that down, release the added pressure, stay organized. Mindful that this too shall pass, and this is not lasting forever. Mindful that my house will do the best it can. Keeping a clear mind (work out, go for a walk, go to the trees or beach, read, meditate, whatever grounds you) will help you be mindful throughout your day. For me, when I’m mindful, I’m calmer, make better choices all around, and am more focused on what’s important.

These things take time.

I feel like we’re sitting on Lonely Mountain, just watching things unfold. Uncertainty is scary, and we all have a lot of it. You are in control of you, and while this whole situation is scary and unknown, remember this too shall pass. Breathe and handle one thing at a time. This is temporary, you and the kids will find new routines and settle in, but it will take time. Let go of the pressure, and do the very best you can.

We will figure it out. Together, friends.

Since I know you’ve got some time on your hands, come to my Instagram account @farmhousemade and follow along with my stories. I even write horrible haikus.

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Encouragement. Boom! A post I wrote in a parent group for my school, appliesnto all of us. I just wanted to hop in here and say that it is Friday, and week 1 is almost complete! You guys are all doing such a wonderful job at being thrown into schooling kids at home, teaching from home, administrating from home, working from home, ______ from home. If you're struggling, you're not alone. If you're killin' it, you may be🤣. Just kidding! Some of us are struggling, and that's OK. Some of us are doing wonderful, and that's OK. Some of us are a mix, and that's OK. All that matters is doing the best we can, being grateful for what we have, and pushing through to another day. Enjoy the weather today, enjoy the coffee, tea, and/or wine, white claws, beers, and just know we are all together, from a socially acceptable distance apart. Also, my kids are eating potato chips for (first) breakfast. So. There we are. 🤣🤣🤣 Happy Friday, everyone!!!!! 💙💛🐺 #iamagcs #wolfpackpride #AGCharter #agcharter #reluctanthomeschooler #staystrong #stayhome #washyourhands

A post shared by Kim // Farmhouse Made (@farmhousemade) on Mar 20, 2020 at 7:47am PDT