Start a new routine during quarantine

"He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure."

-Psalm 40:2 (ESV)

We've now been on the fifth week of our quarantine order to stay home. I've heard creating a new habit can be done in 30 days. I believe when you're dealing with a major overhaul, you're only breaking the tip of the iceberg in one month.

Have you noticed you've changed some of your normal habits? I know when I was first housebound 20 years ago, I needed to develop some sort of routine to keep from going stir-crazy.

The kids may be driving you crazy with their penned up energy, or maybe they won't stay off the computer and help out around the house, leaving you exhausted.

You find yourself running for the bleach or antibacterial cleaner several times a day, wiping down surfaces or mopping the floor. You're at your wits end with all the unexpected changes. The last thing you want to concern yourself with is starting a new routine. But, like it or not, this is your new routine.

Maybe it would help to clarify what a routine is and why you need one. A routine is the activities that start, sustain and finish your day. Most times you're not even aware of their existence. You just go through the motions of your daily grind.

Changes in life's routine are inevitable, and sometimes challenging. And when these interruptions take place, they usually require an adjustment in our schedule.

Ask anyone who has been blindsided by an accident, illness, relationship breakup and so on. As creatures of habit, we shudder at the mere thought of even the slightest change in our daily habits. But we've all been through changes before. In fact, they happen every day.

We've all started school and joined the workforce. As parents, there are the 2 a.m. feedings and an infant to take care of 24/7.

We've also known the adventure of going out on our own, which requires learning to budget our money, clean and cook for ourselves. None of these life changes could take place without developing new routines.

While shut-in, you may find you now have time for things you've wanted to do but could never find a few minutes in your day. Those cluttered closets can finally get cleaned out. Springtime is a great time to splash a new color of paint on the interior walls.

You might even discover the joy of cooking home meals or bonding with your family over a TV show.

Despite the fears and tears brought on by this pandemic, it's also a time to learn, grow and establish some new routines.

When planning our new routines, we should invite God to help us, simply by asking Him to aid us in creating our new routine. It's surprising the unexpected turns our habits can take when guided by a creative God.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker and life coach. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.