How routine can sustain you and allow you to safely move through emotions in quarantine (a thread):

1. Our daily habits allow us to feel control and calmness when there is uncertainty and difficulty. Predictable schedules and routines can soothe our nervous system in trying times, and can keep us from entering longer emotional spirals.

2. Ask yourself, what are things that you can do each day that centre you, ground you and keep you focused on the present moment, and your right next steps?

3. Some ideas: a solid morning routine, mindfulness, movement, time spent with your thoughts journalling, therapy and/or coaching, allocated work time (set boundaries), time spent IRL or online with loved ones, watching your new fave show/series.

4. Make your list, then schedule them into your calendar and stick to your plan. Lean on your calendar right now, let it be your guide.

5. Routine and a strong schedule can safely allow you to hold space for your emotions and grief when they hit. You can break down, and make space for your feels, while knowing you have options planned when you’re ready to take your next productive or self-care step.

6. Schedules, rituals, routines, and habits are tools to help build resilience. Know that holding space for the hard is important, as is rest and staying in bed. However, this is our new normal for the foreseeable future, and at some point you will need to find your routine.

7. Make sure to have fun! Play games, make puzzles, scroll TikTok for laughs, make scheduled time for joy and levity to add pockets of happiness in your days! Last week, we watched the full Harry Potter series, and it sustained us with something to look forward to each night.

8. You deserve to feel as good as possible right now. Give yourself grace when you need to and know that a strong schedule will sustain you, and routines will help, I promise.

This thread was inspired by Episode 26 of our show, How Hope and Grief Can Exist Together. Listen now at https://share.transistor.fm/s/ca7888b5