A return to routine simplified in 10 steps
Written by Centre commercial Rivière-du-Loup | August 6, 2020
The vacation period is already coming to an end. For many, this coincides with the return to work or school. Although the return to routine looks a little different this year with Covid-19, one thing remains: there is excitement in the air! But that doesn’t mean it has to be stressful! We have simplified this important period for you by drawing up a shopping list to help you plan your purchases. Here are the 10 essential steps for a smooth return to routine!
1. GET A NICE LUNCH BOX TO EAT ON THE GO
Back to work means back to lunch! But there’s no way lunch break should be a boring time. Choose a lunch box that is as adorable as it is practical and you’ll be even more eager to taste its contents.
Our favorites:
- Everyone will find their ideal lunch box among the wide selection at Bentley;
- For the youngest, we love the Quebec brand Louis Garneau as well as Skip Hop, available at Clément.
- Children are also given a bottle of Drink in the box water, sold at Au Bout’Chou, so that they can stay hydrated without hassle at school.
2. FIND A BACKPACK OR A briefcase FOR EVERYDAY USE
A bag goes with us everywhere and is the perfect complement to our office outfits. So we might as well choose it carefully! It’s up to you to choose your side: are you more of a backpack or briefcase person?
Our recommendations:
- Sports Experts which has a wide selection of urban or athletic-style bags, depending on your taste;
- We love the chic and refined look of the Lambert bags from Quebec, available at Au Bout’Chou;
- Young and old alike will find what they need at Bentley.
- Parent in a hurry? The coordinated bag and lunch box sets at Clément will make your life easier!
3. GIVE YOURSELF A PAIR OF STYLISH COMFORTABLE SHOES
Saying goodbye to the summer holidays is never easy, but it’s always easier if you treat yourself to a new pair of shoes! A little tip: keep a pair of flat shoes at the office and maybe also a pair of high heels for those impromptu after-work get-togethers. You never know when a celebration is in order!
During our location scouting, we fell in love with the new stuff at Nero Bianco and Club C: it’s worth going to take a look!
4. BRING PLENTY OF CLOTHES TO MOVE AROUND IN
It’s always more motivating to train in nice clothes! Whether you prefer the gym or exercising at home, you want your shoes and clothes to be lightweight and breathable. Not to mention the look, of course!
Our choices:
- Sports Experts offers a wide selection of beautiful, high-performance clothing from our favorite brands such as Nike, Adidas and Under Armour;
- Shoes from Puma and Skechers; on sale at Club C, are renowned for their lightness and breathability;
- We love the recycled polyester pieces from the Hyba collection, the house brand of Reitmans;
- We love the colorful collection from the Quebec company Chlorophylle.
5. FIND A RAINCOAT FOR DULL DAYS
The routine doesn’t stop when it rains! Come rain or shine, you’ll have to go to work or school. Since no one likes to get soaked, we wear a raincoat to keep our outfit impeccable underneath.
Our suggestions:
- Whether you prefer an urban or athletic look, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for at L’Équipeur;
- Sports Experts offers a wide selection of quality brands such as Helly Hansen, Arc’Teryx, The North Face, Columbia;
- We focus on Quebec design and the sustainable design of coats at Chlorophylle;
- Chic, casual and comfortable, we love the Hyba collection at Reitmans.
6. RENEW YOUR WARDROBE WITHOUT GOING BANKRUPT
Are you dreaming of the fall trends? We totally understand! We all want to update our wardrobe at the end of summer. But there’s no need to break the bank to treat yourself a little! Discover the current promotions at our retailers to plan your shopping trip.
7. SIMPLIFYING QUICK LUNCHES AND DINNERS
Preparing lunches is often a headache when juggling work, outings and family commitments. To organize ourselves properly, we plan and assemble our lunches in advance. Yes, yes, that even goes for those who work from home!
To never run out of ideas for quick meals and cold lunches, we adopt a recipe book that makes our mouths water. Our favorite? Salades (presque) zéro déchet : 70 recettes pour tout valoriser, available at the Librairie du Portage. We’re more web than paper when it comes to recipes. Let’s be inspired by the meal ideas from Super C. Just looking at the photos makes your mouth water!
And for a well-deserved break from cooking, try the ready-made meals to take away from the restaurant Bon Voyage.
8. KEEPING VIRUSES AWAY
Wearing a mask doesn’t have to be a chore! We have fun matching it with our outfits; it’s the new trendy accessory, after all! You can find masks at some of our retailers.
And of course, don’t forget to always carry hand sanitizer with you. Among our favorites, we have spotted the summery fragrances of the disinfectant gels from Dans un jardin; the spray disinfectant from Naturiste, and the lemon-scented one from Clément, which is made in Quebec with natural ingredients.
9. GETTING EQUIPPED FOR WORKING FROM HOME
Since it is impossible to predict the evolution of covid-19, we cannot rule out the possibility of many people returning to home schooling and full-time teleworking. If the first wave taught us anything, it’s that having a dedicated workspace at home is very important. We’ve put together a list of equipment you’ll need to work from home: A computer or tablet (available from Bell or Telus)
Let the experts at The Source will guide you to the best products for your needs.
10. ORGANIZE YOURSELF AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER
Returning to routine doesn’t have to be synonymous with intense stress. With a little organization, you can always manage! Here are a few more tips to give you a helping hand:
- Clément offers a customizable sticky label service to clearly identify everyone’s items;
- Get an agenda and a budget planner at the Librairie du Portage;
- We put meal ideas for the week, the family schedule and appointments not to be forgotten on the fridge.
Now you’re perfectly prepared to return to the routine! Share your tips for returning to work on our social networks! We want to see your favorites and all your tricks for an organized return to class. We wish you the smoothest and most pleasant return!
