{"id":41569,"date":"2020-04-02T13:02:31","date_gmt":"2020-04-02T17:02:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/?p=41569"},"modified":"2020-04-02T14:11:50","modified_gmt":"2020-04-02T18:11:50","slug":"setting-up-a-daily-routine-during-stressful-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/2020\/04\/02\/setting-up-a-daily-routine-during-stressful-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Setting up a Daily Routine during Stressful Times!"},"content":{"rendered":"Last week, I decided I would head home to spend time with my family for the rest of the term, thinking it would be better to spend this stressful time at home. I am incredibly grateful that I had the choice to go home and have a more comfortable setting while things are unpredictable. I hope you are all adapting to this situation as much as you can and keeping safe. This week, I want to share some of the ways that I have been trying to stay motivated to finish off the rest of the term especially as someone who usually doesn\u2019t do well studying at home!\r\n\r\nThese are stressful times where news can be unsettling, summer internships unknown, and online testing can be difficult. Standards for productivity should change, so, I decided to cut myself some slack. I tried to adapt things to help as much as possible: attempt to have a daily routine, spend time with my dog, eat good food, and get sunshine!\r\n\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_41573\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-41573\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91298471_216912019720738_4197159805359489024_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-41573\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91298471_216912019720738_4197159805359489024_n-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Black and grey poodle sleeping\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91298471_216912019720738_4197159805359489024_n-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91298471_216912019720738_4197159805359489024_n-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91298471_216912019720738_4197159805359489024_n-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-41573\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spending time with my dog has been super comforting!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nThere\u2019s something motivating about having a routine set at home, even one as simple as having three meals a day. I caught myself the past few weeks thinking that online learning meant that I had to work all day and definitely missed a few meals. The lack of commuting and distinction between school and home time is very difficult.\r\n\r\nSo, the past few days, I\u2019ve gone back to waking up closer to my normal commute time \u2013 7am. I take the first hour of the day to relax by playing video games or watching videos. Then I have breakfast and set up the tasks I need to get done for the day, including trying to attend my classes even though it\u2019s really easy to skip them. This morning routine helps me ease into the day.\r\n\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_41570\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-41570\" style=\"width: 220px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/92028878_820934001725999_4490773205757198336_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-41570\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/92028878_820934001725999_4490773205757198336_n-220x300.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a Nintendo Switch in front of a window\" width=\"220\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/92028878_820934001725999_4490773205757198336_n-220x300.jpg 220w, https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/92028878_820934001725999_4490773205757198336_n.jpg 352w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-41570\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">I've been including a bit of relaxing into my mornings to help me wake up!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nThe rest of my day is mostly spent working on projects and class assignments as unfortunately, this is the busiest time of the academic year. I\u2019m someone who would typically study in different locations on campus during the day, so I create that illusion by rotating to different study locations around the house, whether it\u2019s at the kitchen table, on a couch, or at a desk. This constant change helps me get more natural light as the day goes on as well!\r\n\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_41571\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-41571\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91493305_229869748164906_3857988600226381824_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-41571\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91493305_229869748164906_3857988600226381824_n-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Open laptop with pages with diagrams and a calculator in front\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91493305_229869748164906_3857988600226381824_n-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91493305_229869748164906_3857988600226381824_n-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91493305_229869748164906_3857988600226381824_n-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-41571\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Although it is hard to concentrate these days, setting up spaces exclusively for studying helps<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nI have been trying to take breaks that involve a bit of movement because it is really easy to sit the whole day. My commute used to involve a lot of walking, so, while being careful and aware of social distancing, I go on walks with my dog around the neighbourhood. I\u2019ve also been trying to do my nightly yoga to help stretch and wind down.\r\n\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_41572\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-41572\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91754080_144806300306765_5436917452678103040_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-41572\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91754080_144806300306765_5436917452678103040_n-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Mug being held with landscape of trees in the background\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91754080_144806300306765_5436917452678103040_n-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2020\/04\/91754080_144806300306765_5436917452678103040_n-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-41572\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Taking in some fresh air is incredibly refreshing even just for a few minutes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nLeading into exams, we might be needing a bit more structure in our lives so that we don\u2019t burn out or lose motivation. It is okay to take a day off, take some time to watch TV, read, or do whatever you can to keep yourself busy. Don\u2019t force yourself to always be productive \u2013 set pockets of time to do work and other pockets to focus on other things. One day at a time, we will get through this term!","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-summary\">\n<div class=\"entry-summary\">\nLast week, I decided I would head home to spend time with my family for the rest of the term, thinking it would be better to spend this stressful time at home. I am incredibly grateful that I had the&hellip;\n<\/div><div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/2020\/04\/02\/setting-up-a-daily-routine-during-stressful-times\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Setting up a Daily Routine during Stressful Times!&rdquo;<\/span>&hellip;<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/2020\/04\/02\/setting-up-a-daily-routine-during-stressful-times\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Setting up a Daily Routine during Stressful Times!&rdquo;<\/span>&hellip;<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"author":382,"featured_media":41571,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[826,7204,6669,62,1,67],"tags":[86,78,1439,138,286,172,85,25506,25507,48,1837],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41569"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/382"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41569"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41574,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41569\/revisions\/41574"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}