Routine in the Time of Corona – Social Distancing in London
9th April 2020, Social Distancing in London Day 22
Guys, I’m acing social distancing and lockdown LIKE A PRO!
The last time I blogged was my Day 2 of social distancing; today is Day 22 and I’m neither bored nor restless, neither tired nor worn down. On the contrary, I am productive, motivated and on top of things.
My secret to this social distancing bliss is having a steady routine.
I like routine. I might not be as crazy about it as Sheldon Cooper, but I am crazy alright. I enjoy the idea of doing the exact same activities in the exact same sequence day in and day out.
Therefore, when lockdown and social distancing hit London, my routine got smashed into bazillion pieces leaving me utterly overwhelmed and overly confused. I was waking up much later in the morning and spending the first half of the day roaming around the house, lazing in one room and then sulking in the next one. Within a couple of days, work started piling up, mood swings became stronger than ever and headache became my constant companion.
Soon I realised that because of the sheer unpredictability of Covid-19 and its accompanying lockdown (and because I do not reside in the Netherlands or Sweden), it might very well be that I’ll be stuck at home for not just weeks but months. So the only way I can survive the seemingly endless lockdown struggle is to come up with a new routine.
And that I did. With a bit of trial and error, I perfected my routine within a week. Now I wake up every day with a sense of purpose and a clear intent of what I want to achieve on that day. I’m not going to claim that every day I succeed in achieving what I seek, however, because of a solid routine to follow, I stay focussed enough to continuously work towards my goal.
So here’s my Covid-19 weekday routine that is keeping me busy, inspired and on my toes.
Morning Routine When Stuck at Home due to Covid-19
6.30 am
When I wake up late, my entire to-do list keeps dangling and the day becomes a drag. So if I want to ensure a productive day, I have to wake up early.
But half past six is too early. So this is the time when I wake up but only to shut the alarm and I go back to sleep.
6.45 am to 7.15 am
Quarter to six is when I wake up properly and the first thing I do is to roam around the house opening curtains in every room. I love feeling the gentle warmth of sunlight filling up the house. I also do my random morning chores at this time.
7.15 am to 7.45 am
We had a very active and healthy lifestyle before the lockdown and I want to ensure that my family doesn’t lose it just because we aren’t going to the park.
Therefore, we spent about 30 minutes a day working out. Depending on the weather, some days we workout outdoors in the backyard and the other days we work out indoors. My go-to app for indoors workout plans in Nike Training Club. I’ve been using it for the last couple of years now and haven’t found anything better than this for me.
Today morning, we had a 30-minute jog in our backyard.
7.45 am to 8.30 am
That is when I prepare breakfast, take a bath and get ready for the day.
8.30 am to 9 am
This half an hour is spent by taking a break, enjoying breakfast and catching up with both sets of parents over video calls.
9 am to 10.30 am
This is the most crucial work chunk of my day. I start my work by writing a to-do list and then get on with ticking stuff off that list! Mr B deals with his office work while Miss B goes through her home learning tasks related to maths and literacy for the day.
We make a weekly learning schedule for Miss B over the weekend which is loosely based on her school’s home learning schedule. We take print outs (if required) and arrange tasks according to a certain order (have a look at the list of some online resources for kids at the end of the blog). Don’t worry, her overall schedule is relaxed with more focus on reading and learning than filling up a certain number of worksheets. The preparation eats away a few hours of our weekends; however, it ensures that during weekdays, everything keeps going like a well-oiled machine.
Miss B simply follows her schedule for the day. She is an independent learner and in case she needs help, we are just a stone’s throw away.
10.30 am to 10.45 am
This bit was added to our routine by MrB (heart emoji). Around half past ten while Miss B and I stretch ourselves and take a break, Mr B prepares herbal tea for us. Because we have an early lunch, a simple hot beverage is a perfect snack to have at this time. Last week we went through a pack of chamomile tea while this week we are sipping on fennel tea.
10.45 am to 12 pm
Everyone goes back to the work they were doing before the break, that means more work-related stuff for Mr B and I and mathematics and literacy for Miss B.
Afternoon Routine When Stuck at Home due to Covid-19
12 pm to 1 pm
That’s our lunch break. I prepare lunch a day in advance so there’s only reheating to be done.
Miss B goes out in the backyard and plays for a bit after finishing her lunch. Mr B and I finish off our daily laundry and catch up on news.
1 pm to 3 pm
Mr B goes back to work. Miss B focusses on other subjects like science, geography, computing, and history.
I do not necessarily have work to do at this time but that doesn’t mean I’ll waste these precious 2 hours away. I have reserved this time for me to dive deeper into my existing skill set and add more skills to my quiver. I’m currently enrolled in a couple of online classes dedicated to designing and typography.
Online learning is a great way to stay motivated during Covid-19 lockdowns. Several online universities have made plenty of online courses free during this time. So if you feel you are getting bored because there isn’t much to do at home, enrol yourself in an online course and learn new skills (have a look at the list of some websites offering free online courses at the end of the blog). And do you know you can learn loads from YouTube as well? Miss B is learning water colouring from YouTube!
3.30 pm to 6.15 pm
This is our second snack break of the day.
After this, Miss B’s studies are done for the day and she is free to spend the rest of her day doing whatever she prefers. She often steps out in the backyard to play some outdoor game or practice violin or gardening. Depending upon Mr B’s and my schedule, we sometimes play or garden with her. If indoors, Miss B either plays video games by herself or online with her friends. She also indulges in activities such as water colouring or building Lego. Miss B is currently hooked on to Tate Kids website which offers many exciting activities for kids. Miss B is making this Andy Warhol art piece from the instructions provided on the website. (Have a look at the list of some online resources for kids at the end of the blog)
I hang with Miss B for a bit and then start my cooking for the day. I cook the same day’s dinner and next day’s lunch and make preparations for the next day’s breakfast as well. I also finish up on other household chores such as folding laundry and cleaning. I often call my sisters and catch up on their day while doing the chores.
Evening/ Night time Routine When Stuck at Home due to Covid-19
6.15 pm to 8.15 pm
We prefer having early dinner because then everything falls nicely into place. After dinner, we often spend some time together as a family playing board/trivia/card games and even doing a bit of light night-time yoga. Currently, we are enjoying playing a Dr Who board game.
Around quarter to 8, Miss B brushes her teeth and does a bit of independent reading. We tuck her in bed by 8.15 pm.
8.15 pm to 11 pm
This is sort of Mr B’s and my personal time. Depending on our work commitments, we either work or watch television or do a bit of both. Around half past ten, we are mostly snug in our beds either reading a book or reading news online. We are mostly asleep by 11 pm.
Are you following a routine during lockdown or are you taking each day as it comes? What are you doing to stay physically, mentally and emotionally healthy these days? Do share in the comments below.
Websites Offering Free Online Courses
Online Resources for Kids
