Along with the stress associated with life's changes, comes the extra stress (or the inability to deal with that stress) that comes from the disruption of a person's daily rituals.

Everyone has these rituals … which lights do you turn on first thing in the morning, and in what order? What music do you play first and at what time? Does the T.V. go onto the weather channel prior to the news? Do you eat certain things for breakfast on Monday that is different than Saturday?

Far from just harmless, these little rituals help connect us to our daily life and environment. They also help to make us more productive, as it helps get our brains in a particular thinking mood.

With the start of a new year, comes a start of a new job for me, and what I am having a difficult time dealing with, is the re-establishment of new daily rituals. For the first time in 8 years, My full-time office is at my home. While I love this, I haven't yet made up my new daily rituals.

Reading has always been a cherished time for me, especially with the birth of my daughter. I used to read during my commute to work on the bus … but without that commute, I find that I'm not reading much, and without the reading, I'm not writing either.

Sure, I am at home all day, and I should be able to take a little time out to read, but my previous ritual was that if I was home in my office, I was working... So, I just need to reestablish new rituals to replace some of the old.

Not to keep complaining, but we have just fully weaned my baby daughter, so her rituals are off as well, and this just … well, it just keeps things interesting.