HABITS AND RITUALS: Tips for coping with working in the yet defined “new normal” during COVID-19 and its variants

As a result of COVID-19 and subsequent variants, our previous “normal way of life” has been
disrupted and forever changed. We will not be able to return to the way it was before the
pandemic. Although we have been able to socialize more as time goes by, we are all looking for
and experimenting with a “new normal” for ourselves and how we interact with our family
members, neighbors, business associates, clients, and customers in our everyday life. We have a
new awareness of how precious life is and how important it is to make the most of every
moment we are alive. We must be, if we are not already, aware to be grateful for our lives as
well as kind, considerate, compassionate, and caring to all we meet.

However, before we can serve and care for our family members, neighbors, business associates,
clients, and customers, we must care for ourselves. By eating frequent healthy meals, exercising
regularly, and getting adequate sleep to refuel and refresh our bodies, we can be at our best.
With the closure of some hair-salons, hairdressers and salon owners are working in an entirely
different environment, a constantly changing environment requiring all of us to exercise
personal discipline and responsibility to stay on schedule and productive in our lives.

Here are a several habits and rituals to consider making us strong and reliable for ourselves and
others:
● Starting with waking in the morning after a night’s sleep, be thankful to the Universe for
the sleep (be grateful that we woke up);
● Do some stretching to wake your muscles after being inactive for hopefully 7 to 8 hours of
restorative sleep;
● Do some form of exercise, (stretching, Yoga, Tai Chi, push-ups, etc.) to get the life force in
your body moving and the blood circulating;
● Of course, get a cup of coffee or tea to help you wake if that is what you desire as one of
the first things in the morning;
● Have some “quiet time to yourself” to meditate before you engage the world;
● Greet your family with a “Good Morning, I’m so happy you woke up this morning – I love
you”;
● Have a healthy breakfast with protein to get your body metabolism started;
● It is so easy these days to go to “OVERWHELM” with current events happening at what
seems to be at accelerating speed! That is why it is so important for you to take time for
yourself to plan your day to reduce your stress level. As Jim Rohn said – “Don’t start your
day until it is finished.” This means plan your day before you begin your day. To
accomplish this planning, you will need your calendar with your existing appointments,
pencil and paper or a notebook.

1. Sit down with a pencil and paper or notebook, list the top three projects you are
   currently wanting to continue to move forward and prioritize that list placing the
   most important three things at the top of the list on one side of the paper.
2. Identify who you must contact today on the back side of the same sheet of paper.
3. Identify who you are waiting on for information on the back side of the same sheet
   of paper.
4. Identify the main things that “MUST BE DONE, TODAY, NO MATTER WHAT” as they
   relate to projects, people you must contact, people you are waiting on for
   information.

● Great!! Now you have your plan of action for the day! REFER TO YOUR PLAN
THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY! NOW, WORK YOUR PLAN!

1. As you accomplish the tasks on your daily plan, CHECK THEM OFF!! This will give you
   an ongoing sense of accomplishment showing that you really are in control of YOUR
   DAY!
2. EAT HEALTHY AND TIMELY MEALS DURING THE DAY!
3. TAKE A WALK AT SOME TIME DURING THE DAY! (A GREAT STRESS RELIEVER)
4. Although “Social Distancing” is not a requirement as our recovery from the COVID –
   19 virus and its variants, be very aware that the variant viruses are still
   transmittable via close contact. Personal protection is still important for your own
   health and wellbeing.

● FINALLY, AT THE END OF YOUR DAY:

1. Take some time before you go to sleep to review your day’s list and see how much
   you have accomplished (YOU WIN!) (REJOICE, YOU TOOK CONTROL INSTEAD OF THE
   DAY’S EVENTS CONTROLLING YOU!)
2. Things that did not get done today will roll over to tomorrow and you will have
   another time to accomplish those. Keep your daily list so you can add the tasks that
   still need attention to tomorrow’s list. (AGAIN, YOU ARE AND WILL BE IN CONTROL
   OF YOUR LIFE!)

● BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEP, BE THANKFUL FOR ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN YOUR LIFE AND
LIVING ANOTHER DAY