ROUTINES IN LOCKDOWN

Our lives just got turned upside down and we’re having to rearrange everything. It feels like we just got dropped onto another planet. How are you organizing and managing your days, while not leaving the house?

The best thing we do is 20-30 min of outside activity (today we played 2:2 basketball) before we settle into morning school which always starts by 9am and everyone - myself included - has to be out of Pjs. My kids are at their best in the morning so getting things done early leaves afternoon for reading, science experiments or videos, crafts, art + play. - Laura in Orinda

I think for me the most important thing for me is to change from the pajamas I slept in into day pjs/athletic wear ect... put on a day robe and take off the “nighttime tv time robe”.  - Brittney in Orinda

I’ve been keeping my same routine of having a hot water with lemon as soon as I wake up - and doing a meditation on Headspace. Now that I’m working from home, I plan my day around my meals. I cook a proper lunch every afternoon and have been sneaking siestas in pretty regularly. - Vanya in Redwood City

We are not doing a routine but the girls do their schoolwork at the same time first thing in the late morning, after breakfast.  We let them sleep in as long as they want.  Each kid gets takes a turn picking what to have for lunch or dinner each day - they create the menu and help prepare and serve that meal - Jami in Orinda

I keep trying a schedule and then I keep breaking it! The one thing I stick to is school work from 9-11AM. That is when brain power in my household is the best. Then meals and snacks are always at the same time - Sondra in Orinda

Our family starts each day doing the following, 1.  Bible inspired reading 2.  Family hugs 3.  Pledge of Allegiance. God. Family. Country - Vanessa in Moraga

I had high hopes for creating a schedule for school work and activities for my kids, and it didn’t work. I learned that they do better if they can do it when they feel like it - but no screen time until they do. I make sure that they go outside and run around pretty regularly. I’m also now implementing quiet time at 3:30pm everyday - no one bugs me or each for an hour until it’s time to make dinner. - Trudi in Orinda

I had a rigid plan last week and I’ll I was doing was yelling at my kids. It gave me lots of stress. So this week I’m being more relaxed with when we do homework, electronic time and exercise. And I’m way happier! Go with the flow! I’m trying to do daily exercise to keep myself sane. And epsom bath every night! - Leigh in Orinda

I am trying to embrace having my teens and elementary school kids home all at the same time. We are juggling school, work and play. - Tammy in Orinda

Work is super fast paced right now so my days go by quickly! So our routine right now is essentially sitting down for dinner together every night and then watching a movie or playing a game. Rules are a little loose right now- it sorta feels like camping so kids look forward to the evening routine! We all look forward to it- by 4:30 PM, one of the kids or my husband is saying, “What are we doing tonight?!” - Kim in Orinda