3 TIPS FOR A NEW NORMAL ROUTINE

So your normal routine has been ripped away from you. That’s tough, even when it is necessary for the greater good of humanity. Many of us are dealing with…

• employment loss or uncertainty

• stress regarding the risk of having too into work

• having the kids at home 24/7

• isolation

• moving our bodies less

• food scarcity

• feeling unprepared to go completely digital with our careers 

• caring and concern for loved ones

• keeping our own selves healthy

That’s a lot, and with all of that also comes a lot of unknowns. To help you create your “new normal” routine and decrease stress, here are 3 tips to consider: 

1. Create a loose schedule: Assess any household or individual responsibilities first to get a general sense of what needso be done. Though, don’t limit yourself to just chores, homeschooling, or business tasks; build in activities you look forward to. Think back to your routine before social distancing, and ask yourself how you can creatively incorporate some of these rituals at home. You might not be able to go to your favorite coffee shop with friends, but maybe you can create your own ritual at home and even Facetime or Zoom with your friends while enjoying it. Write a list or sketch out the week to see how things might flow day to day. Experiment and adjust as you go. 

2. Explore self-care: Take care of yourself by pursuing joy or relaxation each day. Focus on the sorts of activities that leave you feeling content, satisfied, and running on all four cylinders. For some, that might be...

• More sleep

• Taking a bath

• Walking in nature

• Meditation

• Drawing or doing a puzzle

• Showering

• Putting on clothes that make you feel good

• Pursuing a hobby or passion

• Listening to music

• Calling a loved one

• Spending time with your pet

• Gratitude journaling

What fills each person’s cup will be different, but regardless, most can benefit from scheduling those self-care activities otherwise they might not happen.  

3. Move at home: This option gives you a lot of bang for your buck because moving our bodies helps release that stress AND can be incorporated into a daily routine to provide structure and grounding that carries over to the remainder of your day. You might have to rethink your normal exercises, duration, or routine, which is frustrating, but keep in mind it’s not forever and it’s OK to change your goals and approach. Gently remind yourself that something is better than nothing, and focusing on progress will get you further than focusing on perfection. 

To help you be consistent, try creating a temporary workout space, make a playlist with your favorite jams, and change into your workout clothes as you would normally. Set labeled notifications or alarms to go off when it’s nearly time. 

If you want to take the guesswork out of safe and effective home workouts, check out our new Bodyweight Workout Guide. It’s a 4-week program appropriate for most fitness levels, uses no equipment, and targets the upper body, lower body, core, mobility, and metabolic conditioning. It’s chock full of 35+ descriptive videos, detailed and thoughtful programming, and spreadsheets to track your progress. Check it out HERE. 

Like what you read?  
Sign up now to get the latest tips and advice

About the author:  

Ryan Healy, BS Exercise/Sport Science, CSCS, has been a certified personal trainer for over 13 years and is a Level 2 certified nutrition coach through world-renowned Precision Nutrition. She is passionate about helping people change their lifestyle habits with support, guidance, and compassion along with helping clients train around their injuries so they can move better, feel stronger, and get more of what they want out of life. 

You can follow her on:
Instagram @coach_ryan_healy
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CoachRyanHealy

For training and nutrition advice, follow us on:
• Twitter http://twitter.com/tdathletesedge
• Facebook http://www.facebook.com/tdathletesedge
• Instagram http://instagram.com/tdathletesedge
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/tdifranc1
• Sign up for our newsletter and follow our blog at http://www.tdathletesedge.com

Have you started to create your own “COVID-19 new normal” routine? How are things going? Let us know in the comments below!