Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”
How manage your time when you have all the time in the world?
What does your new social distancing schedule look like? I called my mom, who is now homeschooling my six and four-year-old brothers, who said that they created a schedule for my brothers that includes nap-time and recess. At first, I laughed but the more I think about it, I want a schedule that tells me when to sleep and eat because this whole post-corona virus pandemic blob of a schedule I have going on is not great for my mind, body, or spirit.
I read a few posts in the beginning of the quarantine-times that stated that people wanted to redo their house or learn a new language with all this free time. Then almost immediately after I saw posts of people saying, “you don’t need to be productive during the quarantine! Relax and focus on yourself.” I hear both sides and I think there’s a little bit of truth in each.
When we don’t have an organized schedule (no need to wake up and shower an hour before school, etc.), it sometimes becomes easier to just not. For me, my morning time with God has taken a hit because I’m not worried about getting up for anything so I roll out of bed five minutes before my first Zoom meeting. It’s become a problem. All this to say is that God created order and time so that we are forced to divide up our tasks, rest and be/feel productive. For most of us, society has dictated how we do that our entire lives and now is really the first time we have an extended period of time that we are forced to create our own boundaries and schedules.
During this quarantined, pandemic-break from schedules that you have, I encourage you to develop a new rhythm. One that considers your personal, professional, but most importantly your spiritual needs and allows you to reset from the stress and focus on the things that matter.