Our 5 Rituals and Routines (aka, things that make our lives run better)
Social media is buzzing right now with the trend of “5 Things That Are Worth The Money” highlighting spendy items that are worth the expense. Forever trendy ourselves, we wanted to adopt this concept and put our own spin on things and talk about Rituals and Routines. Rituals and routines reduce stress, remove decision fatigue and provide a deep sense of emotional stability; that’s priceless stuff right there.
When we started putting together this month’s theme, we struggled ourselves to identify the difference between the two. Thank goodness for devices that allow you to get answers (TFGI, my friends). For clarity purposes, here’s what we came up with:
Routines are our brain. They give us order, streamline our daily decisions and build consistency needed to move toward our goals.
Rituals are our heart. They bring intentionality, presence and emotion to our actions, turning ordinary habits into moments of grounding and joy.
Why do we need both?
A life built entirely on routine can start to feel rigid or transactional. But a life built only on rituals can lack the practical structure to turn intention into actual progress.
When routine and ritual work together, structure stops feeling like a restriction and starts feeling like a support system.
We can all use a bit more of that!
Our 5 Rituals and Routines
Nicole
Phone, Keys, Wallet, Water, Work: Before leaving my house for the day I have a little mantra that allows me to be present and check that I have what I need. I say “Phone, Keys, Wallet, Water, Work”. Saying this out loud brings me to the present moment in order to ensure I have what I need to leave the house and start my day. And of course, on my way out the door I make sure to tell my dogs to “be good today”.
Feeling My Feelings: When I notice that I’m more “on edge” or snippy with my partner, I pause and check in with myself. I become curious with myself and explore what has been happening either emotionally or physically that might lend to my frustration. Sometimes I can pinpoint it, sometimes I can’t but I still try whenever I notice this experience.
Medication Box: I recently started taking more supplements to support my hormone balance and overall health. I found that I had a hard time taking them consistently because I had to remember before leaving my house as there were multiple bottles of supplements. I finally ordered a small pill organizer that I keep stocked with my supplements that I keep in my work bag. That way, if I forget to take them before leaving my house it doesn’t matter!
Buffer Time: When thinking ahead to what time I need to leave my house, whether for work, grocery shopping, or something else, I give myself a 10-15 minute “buffer time”. For example, if I know I need to be somewhere by 11am and it takes me 30 minutes to get there I would have to be ready to leave my house by 10:30, meaning I need to get ready at 10:15. I have found that I inevitably take longer to get ready or something comes up that impacts my timing. Due to this, I would start getting ready at 10 or 10:05 in order to leave my house on time.
Orienting To My Work Space: Each day I begin my work day by turning on the multiple lamps around my office, then unpack my personal items (such as medication, water, lip balm) and finally unpack my work items (laptop, planner, notebooks). I then sit down at my computer, review emails I’ve received and look over the appointments I have for the day. This routine allows me to orient to my space and work day ahead.
Kristina
Organizing My Meds/Vitamins: Every 2 weeks while watching tv, I pull out all my pills and put them in my old lady pill organizers. Not only does this routine keep everything organized and helps me keep track of whether I’ve taken everything or not, it also helps me realize at least a week in advance whether or not I need refills.
Phone Reminders: I use my reminder to take my meds/vitamins (see #1), give my dog her monthly flea/tick meds. Would I remember if I didn't do this? Sometimes. But this way, I can be 100% certain I’m not forgetting!
Dog Walks Without My Phone: Multiple times a day, Jada and I go for a walk and I usually leave my phone behind. I notice the trees and flowers and appreciate the changes throughout the seasons but I’m left with my thoughts when Jada is on her sniff-ari. I have come back home and jotted down many ideas after a digital free walk.
My Thinking Chair: After my morning dog walk and some breakfast, I start my day on my Thinking Chair. It’s a big chair in my living room near my plants. During this time, I drink my coffee quietly and observe my space. My plants are growing a lot right now, so it’s fun to watch a monstera’s leaf expand or my bird of paradise unfurl a leaf. I might read/respond to emails, check social media or even start my work day here, but the ritual of starting in this space grounds me to the day.
Cleaning Service Prep: Every 2 weeks, I have someone come to clean my house. Is my house dirty? Not really, but the ritual of putting things away the days leading up to her coming is really helpful to wrangle the ADHD chaos I have in my home. Bonus points for a super clean bathroom!
Ready To Build Your Ritual and Routines?
As we step into this season of reset, this is a good time to evaluate areas of your life that might require a little sprinkle of support. To get started, dont think about the routine you want to create, start with the area of your life that needs the support. Are you struggling with making healthy meals or adjusting back to a commute to work? You cant know the how before the what.
As you read our 5 Things, you’ll see that we both have some of the same challenges, but approach them very differently. There’s no one size fits all model here.
So ask yourself: Where could a supportive routine give you more mental space? And where can you infuse a simple ritual to bring more presence to your days?
Let’s help each other, share below an area where you need more support. I’m sure someone else has a suggestion to help you out!
-Kristina
