What are YOU doing for yourself to keep the "normal" in your lives?

[ZephyrHawk]

Well, I still have to work every day, so that helps. In fact I'm working more hours now, as I'm volunteering extra time to try and help out (work administration for a hospital system). I just now communte to my bedroom, most days. I'm not dressing up or putting on makeup, though. Those are conccessions I make for the professionalism of the job, not something I personally enjoy. And I don't do video meetings. Calls only.

 

[mnrose]

My husband and I have taken a 4-5 mile walk every "decent" weather day since this started (which has been 90+% of them). This helps considerably to make me feel less a prisoner in my home. And, I do daily exercise on top of that (my 'normal' routine), which includes stretching .... super helpful with stress reduction! We've also gotten more extravagant with our meal prep. We've got time to do things we didn't before. So we are having "nice" meals at home, making it seem more like a restaurant. I keep my regular bedtime and get up time. And, I watch VERY little news, just enough to learn any "important" stuff I need to know.

 

[MaddieB223]

I'm a college student and my school has switched to online learning from home for the remainder of the semester (last day of classes is April 29), so I find that I am kept busy with school work during the week, which makes me feel 'normal'. On weekends, I go on a weekly (and socially distanced) hike outside with my cousins and sister. This helps keep sanity because it provides some social interaction! I've been watching Tiger King with my boyfriend via Netflix Party when we can, and also planning for his birthday which is May 5! Governor Baker (Governor of MA - where I live) has said (as of now), all non-essential businesses will remain closed until May 4, so I'm hoping I'll have time to get him a present still

 

[easyas123]

Honestly, at least during the week, our (my husband & I) normal routine is still the same. We are still going to work, and coming home to do yard /farm work. The only big thing that has changed is where we might go or what we might do on the weekends, but it's not to bad at the moment. Luckily???? this time of year is busy for us with spring chores at home, so we wouldn't normally be running all over hill and dale.
Of course, knowing that we can't is difficult.
I think the biggest difference for us is that we usually see our BIL/SIL & our niece 2, 3 times per month and we miss visiting with them.
My folks are in FL, so I'm concerned about them. My in laws are in WV, and not in great health so I'm sure that weighs on my husband.

 

[gillep]

Our work schedules are both busier than they have been in a while, so that keeps the weekday routine normal.

Weekends can be a little rough, but I am trying to take walks and clean. Plus I love listening to audio books so I have kept that up.

I am not wearing any makeup (I don't usually wear more than mascara and sometimes blush), or nail polish, I feel like it is a good time to just let everything air out and have a break. I should consider non sweat pants though, maybe next week.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

It’s hard to stay normal around here. I’m doing a lot more cleaning than I did before. It’s usually three of us here, all coming and going. Now we also have our college boy with us. We have four people eating every meal out of one kitchen. The dishwasher has to be run at least once a day. The bathrooms are being used more often. I’m trying to do extra disinfecting when we bring home groceries. I do take a shower every day, as usual. I needed more comfy clothes so I used my Christmas gift cards to buy leggings and sweat pants. I am staying on my healthy eating plan and have even managed to lose two pounds since this thing started.

 

[lifesavacation]

No makeup for me or even a bra I had to lay my employees off so it’s just my husband and me working at our business. I kinda dread the weekends without work. During the week I’m at least distracted.

I exercise and meditate everyday. I am also thankful for Kindle Unlimited. I read in the evenings, listen to music, and drink tea. Sometimes all this works and I feel relaxed. Other days, I’m climbing the walls.

 

[sequoia 14]

We are trying our best to keep as similar of a routine for our four kids (all under 5) as we can. The transition hasn't been too bad for me during the weekdays as I was already a SAHM so having my husband work from home gives us an extra two hours with him since he doesn't have to commute anymore. The weekends are harder as I loved exploring our town with the kids/hubby. The by far hardest part though is seeing my kids faces deflate each day when they ask if we are going on any "trips or adventures" and I have to say no again. I seem to be able to distract my oldest with elaborate art projects + long bike rides (and if my 1 year old twins could talk they would likely say they enjoy not being in the car as much), but it is hardest on my 3 year old. She LOVES LOVES LOVES the playground and playing with other kids. She is my extrovert and has understandably been acting out a lot as she doesn't quite understand the situation. We just take it one day at a time, remind ourselves of the blessings we do have, and hope that TPTB can find a safe solution to start opening things up again in the not too distant future.

 

[easyas123]

Does it count that I can't recall the last time I wore makeup pre-covid?!?!?!

So, yeah - not wearing makeup!
My hairstylist is gonna make a fortune off of me when this is over though!

 

[1lilspark]

I’m still trying to run to clear my head since my job is stressing in these uncertain times—- also try to dress normally on my off days

 

[mikehn]

Im hosting my very first virtual happy hour this evening via google hangout. Got a pretty decent roster of family, friends, and even a couple strangers Ive never met in person. It bring your own booze

 

[PollyannaMom]

Some days I do well, some...not quite as well. But in general, I:

• always get dressed (though usually only wear make-up if I'm leaving the house or video chatting)
• set goals for the day
• keep up my exercise routine! (actually, I've done better lately - without work, no excuse to skip)
• get outside when the weather permits, even if it's just to take the cat out in the back yard
• as someone mentioned above, keep on the same approximate sleep/wake schedule

It's been a big help to me that my family goes through the work/home transition twice a year anyway. Pre-pandemic, I worked part time on the school calendar, and my DS is a student. So every summer, we adjust to a new "all of a sudden, all of us are home" way of life, and every fall, we adjust back again. There's a bit of a "re-learning curve" at first, but it normalizes pretty quickly.

I've been filling time with the increased cooking and housework that comes from all of us being home, and doing the type of projects I usually do in the summer - decluttering and that sort of thing. I'm also watching more on TV, and I have a 1000-piece puzzle going.

 

[Searc]

Other than having DH in my space all day, little has changed for me.

Oh, I'm not used to cooking so much!

 

[wvjules]

I set an alarm, get up, shower, get dressed in sweats, make coffee and start my day. That's the only part that feels "normal" to me. I find it difficult to take time for lunch or breaks during the day. I quit around 5ish and then it seems kinda normal except for the fact that I hate to cook now whereas before I looked forward to coming home and making dinner Weird.

 

[jesusfreak75]

Nothing out of the ordinary for me. Get up, go to work (mfg. plant is closed but I'm still working), come home and work outside on the lawn or take a walk with the family. I'm actually getting some projects around my house finished a little quicker.

 

[soccerdad72]

My wife and I have both been trying to do a normal morning routine - shower, dress, (albeit more casual than we would be normally), breakfast, etc. I'm back and forth to my computer a lot during the day, doing tasks around the house, taking the dog for a walk, etc.

My wife's schedule has been a lot crazier than mine with conference calls all day long, so I try to bring her lunch or other snacks when she's really busy.

We try to have dinner as a family every night (which is a change from 'normal' life) and I try not to do too much work off-hours. It's easy to end up working longer hours now, with my new home office (in my dining room). Fortunately for me, I'm not generally in a business that has odd hours.

 

[Minnesota!]

Mmm. I have always been an introvert, so hanging at home isn't new for me.

I am working from home each day now. So, now I get up at 615. I get to be lazy and hang on the couch, reading or playing Candy Crush and drinking coffee, until 715. Shower and get the kids up before I get online at 745.

They sit on the couch and do their work (one is currently doing Social Studies, one is attending mass online), and I am at my desk doing my work. Right now I am also cooking breakfast, which is a nice, new event, since I was usually running out the door with instructions to "just eat something healthy, please!

I guess just making sure that we have our meals together, still (even if we are sick of each other!), making sure chores get done as always (everyone makes their bed immediately), and making sure people are moving not always just "there".

My wife has noticed that I actually do very little. I've done yard work, spent more time with the kids, cooked more but I've also done a lot of nothing. I've had the last several days off and have to go back to work tomorrow. It's actually been really nice having a break. I went to the grocery store today and went to one a little further away because it's near my favorite Chinese restaurant. I was going to place a takeout order but they are now only open during dinner hours so that was kind of a bummer.

The one thing I actually really want to do is finish the latest season of Ozark but that's hard to do with little kids around.

We finished Ozark last night - I had 4 episodes to go and I was afraid of someone spoiling it. I gave my kids strict instructions that they were to announce themselves before coming into the living room so we could pause it. We don't typically censor, but with as twisted and anxious as the world is right now with the real stuff, I don't want the fake stuff infiltrating their brains, too..

I hope you get to finish it soon - SO good!

 

[Mom2Stitch]

I'm going to work daily and coming home, so aside from lots of hand washing and sanitizer, normal. I'm hearing that they are preparing things to get me working from home, fingers crossed for that. I'm currently driving into what is a "hot spot" for our state, I'm really nervous about it.

 

[RamblingMad]

Normal is hiking and watching La Liga. I can watch some old matches. But it’s hard to hike when parks are closed.

 

[gillep]

Other than having DH in my space all day, little has changed for me.

Oh, I'm not used to cooking so much!

Goodness, me neither. I will get excited about a recipe and then remember that I actually have to cook it, again, and then clean up, again.

This is exactly my life too, I normally work from home so now it is just adapting to DH working from here too. Biggest change is not being able to shop for unnecessary items at places like Target after work or have happy hour, book club, or brunch with the girls.

I put on real pants today, denim and everything!!!