Routines & Why They Are So Important

Sitting at my laptop this morning looking at photos of my nephew and niece on the windowsill in front of me I’m having a bit of a moment … where has the time gone …

It’s true what they say, time really does fly! I can’t believe that they’re young adults now. It’s also hard to believe that it’s been two years since we went into production for Arj n Tara’s first yoga wear collection! When we scheduled our launch for Spring 2020 we had no idea what the world would look like then …

The global pandemic has touched all of our lives in lots of different ways. We’ve gone from not having any time for anything to having too much time and wondering what to do with it.

At first it was a bit of a novelty, apart from the copious cleaning and disinfecting everything I had time for home workouts and regular yoga classes thanks to everything being available online. I was keeping in touch with friends more than I had done before because scheduling a night out or going for a coffee no longer needed to be a military operation, there was Zoom! I was spending more time with my family, essentially because we were locked down together but it’s been really nice to reconnect and have time for everybody and also have time for myself.

So much has changed in the last six months, both personally and professionally and it’s been a time of reflection and personal growth. Priorities have shifted for all of us and what once seemed not so relevant has now become a focal point and vice versa.

One of the things I’ve found really challenging both during and after lockdown is getting back into a routine. There are some mornings I wake up and have to think for a second what day it is because all days seem to be the same. 

I find that both my mood and my productivity depend on how well I’ve slept the night before and if I’ve woken up naturally or have been forced to wake because of the incessant banging from the builders working on the neighbour’s roof.

Sleep experts say that establishing a routine is really important to enable a good night’s sleep so this is something I need to work on.

If like me you have trouble with night – time routines here are a few things that may help: 

• Try to go to sleep at the same time every night and avoid sleeping in at weekends to make it easier to stick to a routine.
• Eat earlier in the evening and avoid alcohol.
• Avoid caffeine in the evening. Try herbal tea or a mug of hot milk instead. I’m not a huge fan of hot milk but something I have acquired a taste for is a turmeric latte.
• Put the phone, laptop and tablet away at least an hour before going to bed. Reading a book by a soft light is much more conducive to a good night’s sleep.
• Make your bedroom as dark as possible and make sure its not too warm.
• Ensure that your bed is comfortable.
• Have a nice warm bath.
• Listen to calming music.

There are also things we can do during the day that can help us sleep better at night.

If we’re working on a laptop during the day, which lets face it most of us are, it’s important to take regular breaks.

Exposing ourselves to as much sunlight as we can during the day not only helps us sleep better but is vital for topping up our Vitamin D levels which we all need to do, especially now.

Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes during the day. It doesn’t have to be strenuous exercise if that’s not your thing, you could go for a nice walk or do some gentle yoga. 

Whatever you decide to do the key is to keep moving, as a sedentary lifestyle isn’t good for our physical or mental health.

Once in bed and ready to sleep try not to let your thoughts run away with you. Finding ways to manage your thoughts is essential for a good night’s sleep. If you find that you’re thinking or stressing about things that have happened during the day or are worried about tomorrow try some relaxation techniques to focus your mind such as deep breathing, meditation or visualization.

I’ll definitely be putting these to the test this week to see if they help me sleep better and have me waking up feeling brighter and more productive!