the importance of rituals + routines
The daily routines that we have embraced and made our own tend to revolve around our ordinary home life, the experiences that are driven by heart, instinct, truth, and that provide us with authentic gratification or joy. They have the power to transform our bodies and minds, and help keep us grounded and connected.
The difference between a routine and a ritual is not necessarily the action, but the attitude behind the action.
A routine is like brushing your teeth; it’s a necessary thing. Rituals are more meaningful practices, with considered thought and intention.
Rituals often evolve naturally, fulfilling a need that holds an awareness and preparedness to the moment, that involves bringing something from the outside in. They place us in the present and offer safety and comfort from the experience and immersion of the moment. They are in place to serve our personal, individual needs and their consistency keeps us in focused alignment and become better stewards of our time.
This unfamiliar quietness reminds me of the word Shuniya, meaning “where everything stops”. A slowing down, a stillness, which graces us the opportunity to re-evaluate and become better stewards of our time and step off the revolving hamster wheel of overload commitments. These changes can generate nurturing self-serving habits to better sustain us now and in the future.
“I always get to where I am going by walking away from where I have been.” — Winnie the Pooh
Daily routines allow us to slow down and hit the pause button and reboot with renewed energy.
Ask yourself this: What's your reason behind a daily ritual or routine?
Reflect on three current daily rituals you have and think of at least one you wish to implement. It could be an additional ritual or a replacement. Some of them might seem simple like a few of my favorites;
a glass of wine while making dinner
flowers at my desk
set laundry days - otherwise, I’m at the machine daily and just repeat wearing the same clothes!
keep my morning routine: tea, stretch, make my bed
Here are a few of mine special rituals that provide me with strength and positivity:
the art of sitting quietly:
Meditation keeps me focused, gives me a sense of placement in the day, and though it's not a daily practice (I'm at about 4 times a week and don't beat myself up on this). I'm immensely grateful for when it happens. Eight minutes of creative visualization and connecting with whatever transpires, reciting my personal mantra and feeling the tempo of the day and my mood, benefits me unlike anything else.
journaling:
Allows me to process my thoughts and insights and helps me become more self aware.
Just the freedom and act of pen to paper makes me feel good and provokes creative thoughts I don’t tap into when I’m on the keyboard.
pace yourself:
I've set up a four-month "to do" plan and transferred my entire extended checklist into my diary (I combined my personal and professional - it's quite a list!). Allowing myself to pace things out and allocate windows of time to things I normally put off helps rid myself of almost all my checklists. I've learned over time that when it's in my diary, it gets done. There is a tendency to overload our days, but I prioritize this list every morning to keep me on track.
listen to a podcast, conversations with influencers like elizabeth gilbert or tim ferris:
What rituals bring you joy? Please share in the comments below!