How to Create Schedules for Calm(ish) in Chaotic Times
*click here to see a list of my recommended homeschool resources
Under usual circumstances there is still a whole lot to manage in our world, between all of the ages and stages and personal and travel schedules, we’re kind of extra in the most normal of times.
Under usual circumstances, our homeschool situation looks something like this: 2 full days at an enrichment center and 2 days where we get together with a fantastic teacher and a couple of other homeschool families.
Now however, is not usual for almost any of us.
I have a big family, a business, a body and mind that has specific needs, and a life I really love to live fully. I’m guessing you have some of the same +/- your own unique ingredients.
When this strange moment came upon us, I knew I needed anchors to help me feel grounded. One of the anchors I created for myself and my family is a series of schedules.
Creating frameworks for our days and how we fill them is something I have done numerous times, with a variety of circumstances and needs. Sometimes the process of creating and documenting these rhythms is enough to help me get centered, even when I end up (almost always TBH) drifting away from the content within them.
I’m going to share with you the process I’m using and leaning on as I support and guide myself and my family through this time of rest, unrest, and change.
My schooling days are over with my three older kids (they’re all either in or graduated from university or pursuing their vocati) but they are all home with us right now. So the school suggestions I’m sharing mostly come from what I’m doing with my 10-year-old daughter (grade 4). That said, I’m here for you and happy to explore questions or discuss topics beyond grade 4. Contact me here with your requests and I promise to get to them as I can.
For our household I’ve made three schedules: one for my daughter’s day, one for my day, one for the flow of the house because our house is not huge, I’m using our food and resources very intentionally, and if I don’t create systems for the household itself we’ll have no food in about 3 days, no one will get a hot shower, and half of us will be kept up at night, while the other half gets woken way earlier than they’d like.
Also.
It felt centering to put a rhythm on paper.
And then I don’t think more than 5% of the day ended up following the plan for the first 3 days it was in place, but I still liked having it.
Right now, even more than normal, I’m focusing on the next right thing, and when the next right thing doesn’t line up with the plan—the plan changes.
That’s my first share.
Go super easy on yourself and on your family members.
Let this be fun when and where it can be (and if you’re healthy enough and safe enough in this moment, there’s a lot of fun to be had).
If you too like the idea of a schedule, here are my suggestions:
Think about how you need your day to flow, it can be helpful to think in categories.
When do you and yours need to eat in order to stay fueled, avoid more mindless snacking than what will make you feel as good as possible, stave off energy dips, and stretch your resources?
When do you need to schedule quiet working times or meeting times?
When do you need to move, get fresh air, sing, cry, rage, yell? (yup, you can schedule time for that too)
When is it best for you to rest?
It can be helpful to think of your day in terms of the rhythm of breath. Inhale (read, write, work at your computer, rest), exhale (move, dance, talk etc).
What rhythm works best for you? Do you like big long inhales followed by big long exhales, or do you do better with shorter stints of each?
There is no wrong way to do this; for most of us, it’s an ongoing refinement and recalibration process.
For my schedule, I started with meals because they need to happen, I want to stretch our resources, and I love that meal times can weave us together and create touch-points throughout our days.
Then I added in daily movement, rest, and my work time - because I’m sort of an optimist. ;)
For the household schedule, I want everyone to be on the same flow in terms of food and quiet times vs. active times. Our house isn’t huge, and I want us all to be able to have our meetings, thinking time, active time etc. the only way to really make that work while sheltering in place, is if we synch up.
For my daughter, I am aiming for a supportive rhythm that lines up with mine in terms of when she can self-direct, and when she’ll need my direct attention.
Below are a couple screen shots of our WIP schedule. I could go nuts trying to make this more elegant for you all, but this is no time for perfection!
I hope you find this process helpful, but more ME hope that you understand that while yes this can be an incredibly productive, recalibrating, creative time, it might also be a shit show - we are living in the midst of a global pandemic. We are living through something unprecedented, and for almost everyone there will be a trauma response which can range from feeling like you’re watching a movie, to full on melting down.
Most likely it will be a mix, a vacillating, often staccato rhythm.
Be oh so loving to yourself.
Yes, yes I know Shakespeare and Newton did amazing things under quarantine, but as far as I know they weren’t simultaneously tending to their families day-to-day needs. Don’t get me wrong, I believe you will create amazing things during this time, whether you finish your novel, launch a new high-earning business or offering, learn to speak french, master the didgeridoo, make over your junk drawer to its full Pinterest potential, or simply manage to finally take a nap on the regular.
But if you do absolutely nothing but tend to your and your family’s nervous systems during this time, please consider yourself wildly successful, I mean it. (and by family mean those you care for and are in community with)
If you put only one thing on your schedule let it be this - put hand on heart, look in the mirror and say “I love you. I’ve got you. You’re doing great.” Take a slow intentional breath (repeat for a 2-20 times).
And if you need one-on-one help to get your schedules and rhythms set up or refined, feel free to schedule a free 15 minute call with me here.
xo
