I know someone who has a little extra anxiety on Sunday nights, because school is coming on Monday. Mild everyday school anxiety is totally normal for lots of kids; and the small disruption in routine created by the weekend is enough to maximize that anxiety on Sunday nights.
One of the biggest challenges we’ve experienced in this utterly unbelievable year of education is the repeated disruption of all kinds of routines. This year, we have had full in-person school, full remote school, hybrid, new daily schedules, asynchronous education, synchronous remote, and on and on. Oftentimes the community – including the staff – only have a few days notice before the routine is changed.
Add to this all sorts of major routine disruptions – the routine of extended family meals and visits on holidays; the routine of rehearsals leading to concerts; the routine of athletic events, choir retreats, Homecoming events, and much, much more.
I have little doubt that these disruptions of routine are causing the same kind of extra anxiety that Sunday nights cause for my friend. For that reason, one of my most important self-appointed jobs this year has been “Routine Captain.” In everything I do, I strive to put routine – consistency, predictability, reliability – at the center. Whether at home, with my ensembles, or in my personal interactions, I believe that this sense of routine contributes to calming anxiety storms. I believe it’s more important than anything else I can contribute – and it touches everything I do.