Thursday, December 30, 2010

Keeping Your Routines During Non-Routine Times

There are plenty of times when we find it impossible to keep up with our already established routines. Vacations, snow days, holidays, major life events and having guests are just a few of the times when our routines seem to disappear. What can we do to save ourselves from a permanent lapse of routine while making the most of our relaxation time (if any)?

I have learned to rely on 2 strategies: let go and plan. I know that sounds like a contradiction, but give me a chance to explain myself.

Let Go:
Sometimes, we can't keep all of our routines flowing along perfectly. I am currently in the middle of winter break for my kids and myself (2 weeks) and holiday break for my husband (1 week). During this time, we have had two Christmas parties, Christmas Eve, Christmas day, a snow day, friends over for dinner, and friends over for day-long play dates with the kids. In addition, we have several events in the coming days, including New Year's Eve. As you can guess, I have had to let go of several routines and/or standards along the way. Sure, there are things that I will not "let go," but I have given it some thought and I know what I can and can not let go of. Examples:
  • My kids have not taken as many baths as I would have liked, but they are brushing their teeth at night and their rooms get regular daily cleanings (even more than typical).
  • Holiday meals and desserts are delicious but not always healthy. I make sure the family gets healthy food throughout the day even if not at every meal. Also, we are ALL exercising (even my 5 year old thanks to Wii Fit).
  • My kids are spending more time playing video games, playing on the computer, and watching TV/movies than I like, but they are also spending time reading everyday and some of their computer time is directed towards educational games.
  • I have not been doing laundry, but I am making it a priority to have my work clothes ready for the end of my break.
If possible, give this some thought before your next routine busting event. Will you enforce all of your nutrition rules during your next trip? When your kids are home from school, will you really spend everyday cleaning up the house or will some things wait until tomorrow? Better yet, develop a plan to help manage all of the routine changes. This brings me to my other important step.

Plan:
As with anything, planning will help you be more successful. Yes, I do let go of some things, but other things need to get done, and when my routine is disrupted, I need a plan to help me get it all done. I also need to write that plan down and refer to it during the day. It is the only way I will manage to get everything done. There are three areas I like to plan for:
  1. What needs to get done today? I plan for the chores I need to accomplish, the free-time activities I hope to enjoy and the meals I plan to eat. This may sound like a lot, but it is usually just a list of words on my planning whiteboard. (See Planning Free Time post.)
  2. Who can help me? The times when my routine is disrupted (like now) usually involve having other people home with me. When I evaluate all of the things that need to get done, I always delegate the jobs that can be delegated. Right now, there are 4 people enjoying a holiday break in my home. We all chip in to get things done around the house. For example, both of my girls are good with the vacuum, so I rarely do any vacuuming myself.
  3. How will I get back to our routines? Weather you are returning from a trip, settling down after a holiday or recovering from a major event or project, you need to know how you will ease back into your routines. As we look at the end of our holiday break, I am thinking about the following: when will the house be returned to normal (decorations put away), when will the holiday food be banished from the house,  and what needs to be done before the kids return to school and mom and dad return to work.
The next time you are facing (or in the middle of) a routine busting event, try to let go of some things and jot down what you absolutely need to get done. Hopefully you will feel that you have more control, find more time to relax, and enjoy yourself a bit more than usual.

Use the comment option to share how you get through routine busting events. Tell us what you are willing to let go of and what you absolutely refuse to compromise on.

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