After I had my first son, one of my best college girlfriends said to me, “Here’s my advice for how to feel like yourself again. Start everyday with a shower. Get dressed in something you love, apply your make-up and fix your hair.” It seemed so obvious, but it’s easy to get off track when we feel scared, unprepared, and anxious. Little did my friend know that this routine has gotten me through some tough times in my life, this one included. I’m beyond grateful to her.

So I want to share with you one of the keys to life–routines are important to finding peace and order in this uncertain time. Your routine might look different than mine, but if you continue to do things that create normalcy and structure in your day, your mood will be lifted.

My morning routine consists of showering, applying (minimal) makeup, drying my hair, and putting on “real” clothes. I try to complete these tasks by 9 am. This routine not only makes me happy, but it gives me strength. Strength is what we all need to work from home despite loud distractions; homeschool our anxious and stubborn kids; cook every two hours for a hungry crowd; clean every surface, light switch and door knob what feels like three times a day; and referee fights between siblings. And that is just the beginning! My outfit is my “supero hero cape” that gives the energy and know how that it takes to tackle my new (and ever evolving) life!

In addition to this important morning routine, I plan every day around our meals 😊. I try to eat at 9 am, 12 pm, and 6 pm and then tackle tasks in blocks of time surrounding feeding times. Here is my schedule:

8:00 am – 9:00 am Prep for day: shower, hair, makeup, dress
9:00 am – 9:30 am Breakfast
9:30 am – 10:30 am Clean high traffic surfaces
10:30 am – 12:30 pm Catch up on work/Help kids with school
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Games with kids, house projects, read, exercise
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Dinner prep and dinner
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Movies and tv shows
10:00 pm – 10:30 pm Prep for sleep: apply essential oils, listen to a guided meditation
10:30 pm Bedtime

What are your “life-saving” routines? Send them to kristen@threadsofhershey.com

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