Encouragement in Forced Routine Changes

As I type this post, the NBA has canceled the rest of its season, and the NCAA has cancelled the remainder of March Madness.  Our North Carolina government has recommended that gatherings of more than one hundred people be postponed and that employers have their people work from home, hinting that these recommendations could become mandatory.  Every institution of higher learning, about which I am aware, has decided to do online only classes through the end of this semester.  Many churches have gone to online only services.  I rehearse this well-known info to underscore the extent to which people's routines have changed.
Such significant changes in our routines can have negative effects on our emotional, spiritual, and overall health.  We can succumb to bad habits such as a slouching into a sedentary lifestyle, binge eating junk food and comfort food, neglecting exercise, personal devotions, and other important disciplines.  Let me offer some biblical encouragement in such a time.
When God set up the universe, it is interesting the way that He built natural rhythms into the system. For example, we read that "the evening and the morning were the first day," (Genesis 1:5) and "the evening and the morning were the second day," (Genesis 1:8) and so on.  Even if you disagree with my interpretation of those verses, Earth's rotation and orbit around the sun mark out days and years.  Interestingly, God also built a sabbath rest into the pattern.  There is a rhythm to life that sustains order and promotes health.
When you are quarantined or otherwise restricted from leaving your home as usual, make the most of this time to draw close to the Lord in prayer and devotion.  Pray for fellow believers and loved ones to be safe from infection.  Pray for those suffering to have their needs met and to lean on God for sustenance.  Pray for an end to the pandemic.  Keep up with your personal devotions and time in the Word.  Set goals for yourself each day.  Keep a checklist, and mark off your tasks as they are completed.  Keep in mind that this situation is temporary.  By using this time to keep the healthy rhythms of life going, you can make spiritual progress, keep your work life going, be prepared to return to normalcy, and avoid the potential negatives associated with slamming the brakes on life.

​I offer these suggestions as a pastor and friend, not claiming to be a mental health or other healthcare professional.