Coliving x Lockdown – Set up a new routine

By Clara Duchêne Published 03/04/2020

It’s been a few weeks now since our lives have been turned upside down by the SUPER lame Corona Virus. Wow… weeks upon weeks alone at home- may have seemed like a dream scenario for the most introverted among us, but this lockdown may have quickly resulted in boredom and frustration. We are going to publish a series of posts to try and help you get your mind right.

Hope you enjoy!

#1 Set up a new routine

Although the term is more appealing to some than others, having a “well-organized day” – starting from the morning, will make you super productive. From the organization of your day, your space and your mindset, here are our tips to get the best out of your next favorite routine.

“Morning Miracle!”

Many of the world’s most successful people attribute their success to waking up early. This is evidenced by the great popularity of Hal Elrod’s book, The Miracle Morning, whose early morning routine has become popular worldwide. For the author, “quality of life depends on the quality of our habits”. In particular, morning habits, which allow us to spend a happy day (and happy life, in turn).

Hal Elrod bases his routine on six “life S.A.V.E.R.S.”:

  • S is for “silence”: meditation to lower stress levels and start the day calmly
  • A is for “affirmation”: reading one’s goals and mantras aloud
  • V is for “visualization”: imagining in your head or creating a board of inspiring images that point to what you want to accomplish, who you want to become
  • E is for “physical exercise”: yoga, fitness, walking, it doesn’t matter as long as there’s sport
  • R is for “reading”: reading self-help books, entrepreneurial stories, adventure novels… anything that inspires us to achieve our own goals
  • S is for “scribing”: writing down positive thoughts, projects, ideas, days…

In the author’s words, “an extraordinary day”, sprinkled with unfailing motivation, boosted potential, clarity of mind, productivity, self-confidence, concentration and constant progress towards the best version of oneself.

To get up in the morning, you still have to find a reason to get up. And if the Hal Elrod’s routine doesn’t suit everyone, what is important to remember, however, is the strength of the routine, the “everyday effect”. Every day, like the rest of the year, adopting a routine is key to getting the most out of your day. Staying at home all day, and therefore changing all our daily habits, should not alter this.

Alarm, wake up, stretch out, open the window, make your bed, and get dressed. We can relate that staying in your pajamas can be really tempting, but actually doing that is a pure productivity-killer.

Take advantage of the time you don’t spend commuting to work to tackle your podcast playlist or your book-to-read list.

Organize the space

In Coliving, the activity of members is shared, all year round. We, digital nomads, are used to working remotely, and therefore are homes are our workspaces, one in the same. For the rest of us, it’s less easy to catch the rhythm and get used to our brand new working environment.

Make yourself a real workspace: your desk, the living room coffee table, a comfy couch… Now is the time to mark your workspace territory.

Separate work and relaxation areas at home, and yes, this is even possible in the bedroom! Because the more you work in your bed, the less you’ll feel energized.

Also, while scientists have shown that having a messy desk could stimulate creativity, the fact remains that for most of us, a clean, well-organized desk increases concentration, productivity, and well-being.

Your working space should be designed for your comfort and to suit the type of work you do.

Adopt the 5S method. This Japanese method developed by Toyota is aimed at continuous task improvement and tends to be one of North America’s most highly efficient manufacturing facilities. The principles of 5S can be applied to any setting, from a manufacturing setting to your personal life to help organize your home and practices.

  • Seiri: Sort and keep only what you need.
  • Seiton: Set in order “A place for everything and everything in its place.”
  • Seiso: a translation of the Japanese word is “Sparkle”, it has to shine!
  • Seikeitsu: Standardize, like design, the simpler the better.
  • Shitsuke: Sustain, discipline is acquired through rehearsal.

Tidying up, in general, is very beneficial, and if you’re having a little trouble getting started, go step by step and check out the Netflix “Tidying up” series, which shows Marie Kondo, a Japanese organizing consultant and creator of the KonMari Method, as she visits households to help them organize and tidy their homes.

Plan your day

Have you ever heard about time blocking? A time management method used by highly successful CEOs, entrepreneurs and productivity experts, including Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Cal Newport, for any fast-paced situation.

Whether you take an inspired model, like Elon Musk’s daily routine that breaks up his day into 5-minute slots, or wherever you create your own, knowing your goals, obligations, and own rhythm, you need to be specific about the fragmentation of your day, your goals and be clear on your strategy to get things done.

While it is very beneficial to adopt a routine, which is even more beneficial, and what makes us even stronger, is to be able to change it! And why not take the opportunity to get out of our comfort zone a little more each time?

Inspirational readings

  • 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, Laura Vanderkam
  • The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, Marie Kondo
  • The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing your time, attention, and energy, Chris Bailey
  • The Miracle Morning, Hal Elrod
  • Getting things done, David Allen
  • Deep Work, Cal Newport

Conclusion

We hope your new and improved routine results in tons of productivity! Stay tuned for our next post on Getting connected!

About the author Hello! I’m Clara, I’m working on social media & community at Cohabs, and I’d like to share some tips with you. Hope you enjoy!