Routine and Processes: Thriving Through Social Distancing and Quarantine

“My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon.” ― Mizuta Masahide, 17th-century Japanese poet and samurai

2020 will be the year that we will remember as a forced catalyst for change — undoubtedly, we will all arrive on the other end of this with an even deeper, more profound understanding of virtualization. It is impossible to encompass in words the extraordinary ways in which our professional and personal lives have changed. And for many of us, our professional and personal lives have now merged under one roof in the form of social distancing or quarantine.

This presents an opportunity for building a steady foundation of routine and processes that can help us thrive during uncertainty. There are plenty of hilarious work-from-home memes getting circulated around that add some levity to our current reality, but the truth is that we as humans like our rituals and routines because they offer comfort. “People are creatures of habit, and routines offer a way to promote health and wellness through structure and organization. Having a routine can greatly improve your health,” says health experts at Northwestern Medicine.

Adapting to life through a solid routine can help in a myriad of ways from better cognitive functions to overall improved health. According to Northwestern Medicine, health improvements include better stress levels, higher quality sleep, improved health, and encouraging the best in those around us.

Working from home is vastly different from a workday before social distancing. Here are five tips for staying proactive and engaged, no matter what your situation:

1. Understand the flow of your energy and when you’re most productive. Maximize times of the day when you know you have the most efficiency and adjust accordingly. For example, start the day with creativity and dedicating time to projects; and schedule video conferencing emails, and short communications for the afternoon.
2. Block and batch activities. Rather than jumping from one disparate activity to the next and then back again, block out time and batch activities. Set a timer for yourself, shut off notifications, and lean into an interval-productivity mode. Take regular breaks to reset.
3. Utilize project management and collaboration platforms. Organize with technology tools that can automate task reminders and can enhance process improvement.
4. Create a dedicated space for consistency and mental commitment. From kitchen counters to desks to ironing boards, people are getting creative with makeshift spaces for working from home. No matter what it looks like, make it your space for dedicated work.
5. Don’t forget to eat, move around, and be open to inspiration. Create a routine for stability, but leave room for flexibility, trial-and-error, and spontaneous action. It’s your space, you make the rules.

There is no better time to embrace the technology tools that were made available before a global time of crisis. The world needs our collective creativity. Technology will keep us connected, informed, and productive. We are in a position of having to make a change, rather than having an option. Even after the initial threat of COVID-19 has passed, organizations will face a new reality of forced transformation and virtualization. We can embrace this new challenge and start taking proactive measures to become more adaptable and mobile by embracing new routines and processes now.