Wednesday 25 March

It's Day 10 of lockdown here and we are obliged to stay home until at least 11 April. The last couple of days I have been thinking about the tension between having a routine that creates a sort of ‘container’ for these days confined at home, and going crazy with the dullness of repetition. It could very quickly feel like Groundhog Day over here!

As I’ve mentioned, on weekdays our days are built around Manu’s school timetable. We start the day together over breakfast and devotions, we scatter to our various activities and then reconvene to touch base at her break-time, sharing a snack and a quick football kick around on the patio. Then, after more solo time we have lunch and the girls hang out, or get outside (it’s been raining a lot). The afternoon session is followed by tea-time, piano practice, dog-walk, some reading aloud or a game, supper and reading or screen-time.

There’s variety but a lot of sameness. So how to ring the changes sufficiently to stay sane? I don’t know about you, but my mood can take a nose dive if there is too much of a mundane feel to my days. I need variety, things to look forward to and, if possible a little adventure here and there!

Here’s 5 things that are helping me right now:

1, Physical exercise that is different every day.

I already have a habit of working out at the same time each day, but I am REALLY missing running outside and the way a good run helps me to mentally and emotionally reset. So, instead of doing a workout program where there is a lot of repetition, I have chosen one that is planned so that every day is different. Somehow moving my body in different ways each day, challenging myself in different ways, helps my mental stamina when it comes to the parts of the day that feel samey.

 This is my 'wish I could run' face!

2. Creative celebrations.

I heard of a team that connected on Zoom and asked everyone to come in fancy dress! Other friends have declared Fridays ‘Fancy Friday’ and, even though working from home are dressing ‘fancy’ on Fridays. We have gone green for St Patrick’s Day and, since that was a Tuesday, are now choosing a different colour for every Tuesday of the lockdown. Upcoming we have Tim’s birthday - I’ll have to keep plans for that hushed up for now - as well as pyjama days with a family sleepover in the sitting room, and a four course dinner party (for four)! Celebrations break up the monotony of days that are otherwise repetitive.

Green for St Patrick's Day

3. Switch things up.

This is a time for breaking the rules somewhat, you know? Like eating cake for breakfast, or getting the kids out of bed after lights out for an impromptu dance party; playing cards in bed on Sunday morning, starting a water fight, or afternoon sex. True, there are limits to how crazy we get to go just now (I’m trying to avoid drinking gin in the mornings, for example, haha) but rather than getting into a rut, these are days to intentionally do the unexpected once in a while. Lean into your spontaneity within the confines of you own four walls. Christmas in April, anyone?

Impromptu dance party

4. Inhabit all your space.

We are fortunate to have quite a bit of space at home and we are trying to use ALL of it. It doesn’t matter how small your home, there are ways to live in the space differently to the ways you normally do. Hey, if people can play live music from their balconies, maybe we could also have a fire pit there, or a tent in the garden? Create a reading corner by putting cushions and draping fabric in the hallway (fairy lights are always good), or set up for date night on the driveway. We have been having ‘sundowners’ on the patio, date night on the balcony, fireside fun in the backyard, exercise class in the hallway and art-making in the laundry room. Somehow living in the space creatively helps to break the feeling of sliding into the mundane.

Date night

5. Do something for someone else.

Every day we need to turn our focus outward. All this being-at-home malarky could make us very insular very quickly. Apart from the people in other places we are praying for in the mornings, we are having fun hanging things on our neighbours’ gates: a jar of homemade marmalade, a loaf of homemade bread, a little note to say hello. We’ve dropped groceries outside friend’s homes, or left them a meal. Such small things, I can’t say we’ve sacrificed anything to do it, and yet even staying in touch with different friends by WhatsApp or FaceTime brings the outside into our home. Hopefully it’s a blessing to them and it sure helps to add interest to our day!

I realise the whole ‘routine versus boredom’ thing is only relevant to those of us who are not unwell, and who are not working as health care workers or in essential jobs. Still, if this is your reality then I hope these thoughts help.