Routines, Rituals and Rest 

Nationally, we are bracing for the toughest week thus far in the curve of people falling ill from COVID-19. Globally, we are either self-quarantining by choice or by mandate, many of us already several weeks into this experience. It is a time that we will eventually look back upon and tell our children about, but sitting in the midst of it makes it difficult to know where we are in the present. Where exactly are we? We are in our homes and we are connecting virtually. We are trying to reinvent ourselves. We are trying to distract our minds, and ourselves, and we are trying to stay active. One thing is becoming quite clear: we are just at the beginning of what will take years to recover from economically, culturally, spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

Much of this is completely out of our control. Even what we can control feels a bit illusionary while in the midst of it. We hope that self-isolation will work to curb the curve of the disease, and we equally hope the self-isolation will soon come to an end. Without knowing or understanding how or if life will get back to normal, it is clear that “normal” is forever altered. Will students continue learning mainly online? Will large corporations decide it is cheaper to have employees work from home forevermore? Will people start to attend live theaters and concerts once again? Before I digress into all of the what-if’s, I propose we focus on any silver lining that we can find, for our perception and outlook is something we can influence.

With the disruption of regular daily activities, I encourage you to find meaning and structure in creating new routines. Routines keep us productive and connected, and give us a sense of needed control over our time and our lives. Which new habits are you building and are they conscious? I suggest trying to honor any routines you are falling into and see if you can consciously decide what is working for your physical and mental health, and perhaps what is not. Try writing down your intentional routine for a few days. Do you find joy in exercise or movement first thing in the morning, or do you find yourself more productive for work? When do you do your housework? Does writing this down help you build a solid routine to work from, or are you better at listening to yourself in each moment and deciding what to do from there?

I began writing this before realizing that it was one of the holiest weeks in the Judeo/Christian world. Due to my own secular upbringing, I have found my personal rituals to be individualized and purposeful. For instance, practicing my clarinet on a regular basis has been an important ritual for my entire life. This remains so now, even though I have no concerts on the books for the foreseeable future. I encourage you to reflect on all of the rituals that define your day, and to take the time to really enjoy them and give them new meaning. Be present in each activity: from your morning coffee routine, to exercising, reading, writing, working, spending time with family, cleaning your house, and even managing boredom. Turning your attention to these rituals and seeing them clearly can be deeply comforting in this time. How can you honor your rituals during the holiest of weeks, in a new and refreshing way?

The irony of being self-isolated, and yet highly digitally connected, is not lost on anyone right now. I notice myself wavering between excitement to “see” and connect with people online, and a deep and visceral sadness about people falling ill, struggling economically, and dying from this virus. There’s a desire to be on top of it all:  to connect with everyone who has ever meant anything to me, and to find new people that I can work with to deliver wellness to. I want to be up to date with the latest counts and recommendations, while simultaneously feeling deeply concerned for loved ones scattered around the globe. In all of this, I’ve realized that resting from the onslaught of technology is imperative. I encourage you to join my quest of finding ways to rest and to unplug. Be silent on social media and online, and turn off the news for a few hours. Unplug from students and find moments when you can reconnect yourself to a less stimulating electronic time. Perhaps this purposeful rest can become part of your daily ritual, and scheduled into your routine. 

Stay well.