By late October, daylight starts to vanish before we’re ready. The days grow shorter, the nights grow longer, and for those of us working remotely, what once appeared as flexibility of home life starts to morph into something murky. Emails, dishes, and half-written to-do lists blend into one. Without the structure of a commute to work or a change of scenery, time loses all of its edges. And when time starts to look foggy, your entire sense of self does too.
According to PsychPlus.com, without daily interactions, many remote workers report feeling disconnected and socially withdrawn. The reasoning for this isn’t just workload. Human brains thrive on predictability, in other words, we’re creatures of habitat. The Psychology of Your 20s podcast covered an episode on the psychology of routines and stated that research shows following routines makes us more productive, and happier all around. The University of Stanford reported that the best way to maintain a healthy circadian rhythm is by following and sticking to a healthy routine. If we lose our rhythm, we lose strength.
There’s something incredibly difficult about the simple act of following a routine. Whether it’s waking up at the same time, drinking a full glass of water first thing, or remembering to take a lunch break, it’s all an act of self discipline and self regulation. They’re almost like a revolt to chaos in a world that now idealizes the hustle of chaos.
And routines only matter more as the light dims down. Boston University reported that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects almost 10 million Americans a year. The antidote is structure, not a lack of vitamin D. Following sleep and eating schedules and keeping your body moving helps maintain serotonin levels that fight off SAD.
It helps to view a routine not as a workload, but the choreography of living well. It can be a self care morning ritual that sets the mind ready for the day. Or a sacred evening wind-down signals the body that it’s safe to sleep. In a world where the news cycle and even weather forecast is unbearably uncertain, following a routine becomes one of the last forms of stability.
With the season of sadness upon us, resist the urge to let your days dissolve into the void. Make them fancy! Make a special coffee every morning. Sit outside during lunch, and finish the work day changing clothes even if you never left the house. Small patterns are a signaling of calmness, not restraint. With the world and the seasons spinning, the kindest thing you can do for yourself is maintain a rhythm that’s best for you.
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