Is there a word less likely to quicken the blood or stir the soul than “routine”? Routines are dull, familiar, mechanical, uninspiring. We get “trapped” in them at work, and “break out” of them when we go on holiday. If routines were people, they would be the Jane Austen characters Mary Bennet or Charles Musgrove: dependable but dull.

But as the pandemic has shown us, routines are essential if we are to lead enjoyable lives, be productive and be fulfilled. As we return to something more akin to normal, we have a chance to create new routines, not just return to old ones.

For many of us, pre-pandemic life was shaped by busy work schedules and deadlines, school calendars, spouses’ commitments, pets’ needs, holidays and so on. Keeping all this running was essential for having anything resembling work-life balance. But too often it did not work. Even at the best of times, a huge amount of labour is required to patch the gaps between school, childcare, work and home, while also playing the role of ideal worker. No wonder burnout and stress were at epidemic levels before the lockdown, or that more than 90 per cent of workers want the option to continue working from home, even though many struggle with aspects of remote work.