Intentional Living: Daily Rituals
Caught in the speed of modern life, it’s easy to fall into routines without giving them much thought. We wake up, go through the motions, and rush from one task to the next, often unaware of the beauty and impact hidden in our simplest actions. But what if we could shift our perspective? What if, instead of seeing everyday routines as mere tasks to complete, we could turn them into rituals—intentional acts that ground us in the present moment and keep us connected to ourselves?
By reframing the way we view our daily routines, and infusing them with mindfulness and intention, we create opportunities to live more slowly and fully. Whether it’s sipping a cup of coffee, making the bed, or taking a walk, these moments hold the potential to become powerful rituals that nourish our body, mind, and spirit. I’ve been gathering many ways I’ve transformed my own routines into rituals, and in this post, I’ll share them with you.
Journal everything.
One of the quickest ways to understand yourself on a deeper level is to start writing in a journal. Have conversations with yourself. Pay attention to what naturally flows out of you and how you feel about what you’re writing. Do you judge yourself? Feel ashamed? Or perhaps, are you at peace with your life? Do you find it difficult to get the words on the page? It all speaks volumes to your own personal journey.
Offer yourself the grace to be imperfect in this practice. Simply show up for yourself, and over time, your true wants, desires, and needs will begin to shine through. Here are some examples of what you can fill your journal with:
The daily happenings in your life and your feelings about them
Any and every creative idea that comes to you
Your dreams and goals
Task lists and to-dos
Getting everything out on paper can do wonders for clearing your mind when life gets overwhelming. Take the time to slow down and check in with yourself regularly. Don’t forget to track the date and time, too. Your future self will thank you when you look back at those old writings.
Embracing Mindfulness
My introduction to intentional living began when I was 16, reading Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh. It was there that I learned meditation isn’t about silencing the mind, but rather the simple art of noticing the present moment. It's not about stopping thoughts, but observing them. It’s about noticing the space around you and becoming aware of the thoughts and emotions within you.
The practice of mindfulness encourages you to slow down and become consciously grounded in the present moment. This can range from eating in tune with your body’s cues, to incorporating breathwork into your daily routines, or simply pausing to reflect on the impact of your next actions.
Embracing mindfulness is a journey, not a destination. With each mindful moment, you’re cultivating a deeper connection to yourself and the world around you. It’s a quiet revolution that doesn’t demand perfection, but rather presence. So, the next time you find yourself rushing through life, take a pause, and return to the now. In that stillness, you’ll find the fullness of life waiting to be experienced.
Candlelit Showers
We recently had some work done in our bathroom, and the landlord noticed that our light tended to flicker. He kindly replaced it—but the new bulb was a harsh, bright white that made my showers feel more like an examination than a relaxing experience. So, I decided to start showering by candlelight. It’s a small tweak to my daily routine, but it has completely transformed the experience. The soft, warm glow creates a calmer atmosphere and sets a vibe that truly makes it feel like a ritual.
Even the most ordinary tasks can be transformed when we approach them with intention. Taking a shower by candlelight has become a small, quiet moment of self-care, where I can slow down, breathe, and fully embrace the present.
Regular Grounding Practices
Meditation helps to ease the mind, but the next step is grounding into your body. This requires movement—sometimes as simple as a wiggle or stretch, other times a long hike or an intense workout class. More often than not, I find myself walking among nature. The key is to move. Notice your body and the physical sensations that arise, whether it’s the feeling of your feet on the ground, the air on your skin, or the rhythm of your breath.
It’s easy to get caught up in our minds, fixating on the tasks we think we should be doing, and completely overlook our body’s need for a break. Just as you observe your mind, do the same with your body. Nurture the vessel that carries you through life—honor its needs. Building a relationship of trust with your body will lead you to a deeper sense of safety and ease.
Honor Your Body’s Needs
After grounding into your body and becoming aware of its cues, it’s important to honor them to the best of your ability—especially when it comes to your foundational needs. Eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired, cry when you need to, and ask for a hug when you're seeking comfort. We all have a handful of pillars that support our functioning, yet these are often the very ones we neglect. Our bodies are animals, not machines. Care for them long before the true need to do so arises.
Be With Nature
Did you know that birdsong reduces stress in humans? Birds only sing when they feel safe, so it makes sense that their songs are instinctively calming to our systems. It’s one of the many reasons I cherish time spent in nature. We are no different from the rest of the life on this planet, so being in nature is a powerful tool when it comes to slowing down and living more intentionally. Movement does wonders, but finding the balance between working and wandering does even more. Go wander among the trees. Notice the beauty of this earth, and acknowledge all the work it took for this world to reach a point where it supports our lives.
Adorn Yourself
Mornings spent rushing and forcing often leave me feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Taking the time each day to ready myself—whatever that may look like—allows me to approach my life from a grounded and confident mindset. Whether you brush your teeth, moisturize, and go, or spend time decorating your body, honor yourself by creating habits that make you feel comfortable and truly ready to tackle the day ahead. Adorn yourself like the divine being you are.
Affirmation Work
Your self-talk sets the tone for everything in your life. As you integrate a more mindful lifestyle, you’ll begin to observe many negative thought patterns. It’s deeply important to spend time sitting with these thoughts. Always question them—never judge yourself for having them. Simply acknowledge, understand, and begin to reframe them. While our bodies are animals, our minds tend to operate more like machines. How you train it is how it will function. We all have preprogrammed thought patterns, but that doesn’t mean they serve us in a positive way.
Adding affirmations into your daily life creates new pathways for your brain to respond. Over time, the beliefs that keep you stagnant, stuck, and overwhelmed will be overridden.
It may seem small, but it’s one of the most impactful habits you can cultivate. Speak to yourself with all the compassion, kindness, and love that you would offer your most cherished people.
