Adjusting to a new schedule can be tough.
Whether it’s transitioning from summer break to back-to-school or a freelance life to a full-time role, it takes time and effort to adapt to a new routine.
So why is it so hard to adapt to changes in our schedule?
Human beings are creatures of habit. We like routines and familiarity. We like knowing what we’re going to do that day. That Tuesdays are for game nights with friends. Or that weekends are for walking and relaxing. So when we introduce a new variable into our lives, such as a new job or new activity, it can make us feel destabilized.
Some examples of different types of schedule changes can include:
Transitioning from summer break to back-to-school
During summer break, all rules go out the door. Bedtimes are pushed back. The kids don’t have to wake up by a certain hour. And your schedule is pretty much open. After such a relaxing and carefree summer, the transition to back-to-school feels like a hard jolt. How do you cope with these new changes?
A new work schedule
Maybe you’re a freelancer who’s working for a new client with different hours. Or you’re transitioning from part-time to a full-time role. Or maybe you run an appointment based business such as real estate or personal training and your schedule changes from day-to-day. How do you adjust to a new work schedule and remember new deadlines and meeting times?
A change in your home environment
Maybe you moved to a new home or you have family members staying with you for a while. How do you adapt to this new living situation without feeling like a stranger in your own home?
Tips for adapting to schedule changes
Below are some ways to deal with schedule changes in your work or personal life so that you can confidently manage your time and get back on track.
Write things down in your planner
You can’t rely on memory alone to cope with a new schedule. You must write things down in order to retain it. So use your planner to record your new meeting times, work assignments, and deadlines. Or write down your child’s school schedule and after school activities. If you need to remember it, write it down.
Put your calendar where you can see it
Again, don’t rely on your memory to remember important dates and times. Put it on a calendar and display it where you can see it. For example, put your child’s school schedule by the refrigerator. This way, as you’re making dinner, you can quickly glance at your child’s schedule to see what’s on the horizon and then plan accordingly. Plus, seeing their school schedule will remind you to do other things like prepping their school lunches or laying out their clothes the night before.
Use online tools as well
To really stay on top of things, use online tools along with your analog ones. After organizing your schedule in your planner, use Google Calendar to enter your appointments, presentation dates, after school activities, etc. This way you can activate alerts to remind yourself to finish those deadlines or go to that doctor’s appointment. And whenever you’re away from your desk, you can check your online calendar on your phone to see what you have next.
Have regular check-ins with your family
Running a home is a lot like running a business operation. And just like a business, you need to ensure that everyone is on the same page so that things run well and on time.
A great way to run your house more smoothly is to have regular discussions with family members. Find a convenient time to discuss what you and your family have going on that week or month. You can do this during dinner or after school pick-ups. Ideally, all family members would be present so that everyone can be made aware of what’s going on.
Ask your kids about their homework assignments, playdates, and other scheduled activities. Do your kids have a school project that they need help with? Or a school play at the end of the month?
And check-in with your partner about your respective schedules. Is your partner going on a business trip soon? Do you have a busy week coming up at work?
During these check-ins, you can also talk about home-related tasks and projects such as chores, meal planning, and other things that will need your family’s input. Conduct these check-ins once a week or at least once a month. Regularly communicating with your family will help your schedules align and make your life run much more smoothly.
Get enough sleep
If you’re adapting to a new schedule, you should definitely be making a good night’s rest a top priority. It’s mentally taxing adjusting to a new schedule or taking in new information. You don’t want to feel even more overwhelmed by being sleep deprived. So make sure you’re getting enough rest and practicing good sleep hygiene. When you’re well rested, your head will feel much clearer and you’ll have an easier time tackling new things.
Create routines
Performing routines or rituals help calm and ground us. So if your life has been feeling off kilter, a comforting routine can help you feel more connected to your days.
So for example, If you have client meetings on Tuesday mornings, then establish a little routine beforehand to help you remember this part of your schedule. Maybe it’s having a morning workout on Tuesdays so that you can associate Tuesdays with cycling and client meetings. Or maybe it’s always journaling on Tuesday mornings so that you can remember to follow that up with your client meetings.
And if you have the type of schedule that fluctuates daily, then having a regular routine will give your life a sense of normalcy.
Have themed days
Having themed days is another way to create a sense of routine. For example, if you get lots of “pick your brain” requests then designate Wednesdays as pick-your-brain days.
You can even do this with chores or meals at home. If you’re meal planning, you can have Meatless Mondays or Taco Tuesdays. With chores, you can designate weeknights for 15 minute cleaning sprints. And use the weekends for more labor intensive chores like cleaning the bathroom or kitchen.
Adapting to change is never easy. But with some planning and organizing, the changes in your schedule will start to feel like familiar patterns once again.
Written by JiJi Lee
