While the first few days at home may feel like a vacation, not having a routine can quickly make life feel chaotic. Whether you’re working from home, trying to homeschool your kids, or are suddenly quarantined, having a daily plan can help make life feel a little more normal. Here are some tips to help create a realistic routine while you’re self-isolating.

Plan your day ahead of time

Prioritize your to-do list and make a routine that allows for some flexibility. Having a schedule to follow prevents boredom and distress, whether you are working from home or not. Try to get up around the same time each day, have a set time to work or homeschool the kids, and eat your meals around the same time.

Meal plan

Decide ahead of time what you plan on making for your meals. Meal planning means you’re much more likely have a healthy nutritious meal rather just grabbing the first thing you see. Do you have extra time on your hands? Try out a new healthy recipe, we offer a variety of recipes on our website.

Hide the snacks

Keep junk foods out of sight in cabinets or drawers. Snacks are much more tempting when you see them every time you walk into the kitchen.

Keep fruits, veggies and nuts on hand

Fruit, cut up veggies, and raw or roasted nuts are nutritious snack options. Be mindful of serving sizes for nuts as the calorie count can add up quickly. Our Precision Digital Food Scale is an easy to use option for monitoring portions. The recessed platform contains foods when weighing on the easy to clean plastic design. It also has an auto shut-off after 1 minute to help prolong the battery life.

Create a workspace

Have a set area to do your work and stock it with your necessary office supplies. Be mindful of the location if you need to do phone or video conferencing, no one needs to hear a toilet flushing or see the clutter you didn’t get a chance to pick up. The same goes for your children doing schoolwork. Set up a workspace for them with the least amount of distractions.

Get dressed

You may not want to put on formal work clothes but don’t sit in your pajamas all day every day. Getting dressed gives you some normalcy and reminds you it’s time to work.

Give yourself a break

It may be more difficult to concentrate at certain points of your day. Focus on menial tasks during those times such filing, returning emails, or cleaning out the fridge.

Stay active

While you may not be able to get your usual workout in, there are plenty of alternatives available. If you are able, get outside go for a run, walk or bike ride. Do an online workout or take a dance break to your favorite song. Jumping jacks, squats, and pushups are an easy, inexpensive way to help maintain fitness.

Manage stress

It’s easy to get caught up in the what-ifs and the very real challenges of every day. Take at least 10 minutes to breathe deeply, do some yoga, pray, or mediate and give your worry a rest. Sometimes having a plan of action for your worst fears can help keep stress under control.

Limit social media

While being online is a great way to connect with others, it can also be a huge time suck. Set a timer to limit how long you spend scrolling and get back to your routine.

Get enough rest

When don’t have to get up at a set time, it can be tempting to stay up late. Try to stick to your regular sleep habits as much as possible. Not getting enough rest can interfere with your mental well-being.

Do you have a tip for helping stick with a routine while self-isolating? Tweet it to us at @EatSmartScales.

You may also enjoy reading How To Stay Fit Working From Home.