You’ve probably heard a lot from bloggers and fellow motivational gurus about what the perfect morning or night routine should look like, or you’ve intentionally searched the Internet for tips and built vision boards on Pinterest.
In this article, I won’t remind you to drink lemon juice or do a yoga session because you might already know all that.
I haven’t exactly been an exemplary follower of routines (besides my pampering night routine – I cherish that,) and I have just recently started trying to do better, healthier mornings.
But what I believe I am good at is building small daily rituals. They can make your daily life more elegant (aka beautiful AND meaningful) and create better connections – most importantly with yourself.
Small daily rituals are perfect for those who spend a lot of time at home, like me, and equally important for those who don’t so that home doesn’t become a place where you just eat and sleep. They are not tied to a specific time of the day, so you can do them anytime.
Today, I want to share some of my favorite daily rituals with you.
Wear something nice – even at home
We tend to pay much importance to our looks when we go out. But when it comes to our home attires, we usually prefer comfort over looks.
Comfort is important, but it can quickly get too comfortable. I personally like to keep things somewhat elegant (yet apt for home,) as I’ve noticed that caring for my looks even when I am at home influences my mood, confidence, and productivity.
Now that we are in the winter, I wear a lot of plain-colored loungewear sets: a button shirt with long sleeves and straight-cut pants. They also work great as pajamas. I prefer them to sporty hoodies and jogging, though sometimes I make an exception for them.
I love deep, winter-like colors like red and emerald blue. I find them more unique and joyful compared to the classic neutral colors.
In the summer, I opt for linen and cotton dresses or shorts with a paired top.
For the home office, I wear jeans or loungewear straight pants, paired with a top I would also wear outside, which makes my outfit comfy and homely, yet more elevated.
Finally, I cherish tiny details like doing soft, basic makeup, spraying a bit of perfume, and wearing small jewelry.
To sum up, I like something in-between an everyday look and too casual, oversized outfits that scream “couch potato”.
Transform routine tasks into beautiful moments
We tend to look at house chores as boring, but I believe it’s because we don’t create a nice environment for them.
I like to find some beauty and fun even in repetitive tasks because they are a large part of our lives. For example:
- Pour a glass of wine and put on some music or podcast while cooking, or do it in total silence, immersing myself in the process.
- Wear something nice to clean the house – not too nice that could be damaged, but not too worn or dark.
- Enjoy an afternoon tea with some unique sweet specialties from a pastry shop.
I also recently bought a vanity table, so my makeup routine doesn’t feel like a task, but a pleasant moment in a girly space.
Routine is a large part of our life; how do you want to live it?
Find moments to connect with yourself
Hobbies are great and create time for yourself. But most of the time, they focus on learning something new or developing your skills. While it’s a great time for yourself and can bring you peace, I also recommend making moments to be with your thoughts – and it’s not just about doing mindfulness or yoga.
Introspection has been part of my daily life since 2020. I ask myself how I feel right now, what do I want, and what a particular situation or person has taught me today. I take notes. I listen and read about people whose lifestyles and habits serve as an inspiration.
Here are some other ideas:
- Embrace “empty” moments like staring through a window or fully immersing yourself in a task (e.g. cooking).
- Note something inspiring you read today on Instagram
- Do a bucket list
The elegant home outfits, a beautiful home environment, and the me-time help me live a more elegant life, add some colors to it, and connect with the present moment and myself.
The best part? These rituals don’t take much of your time, as they are focused more on the HOW instead of the WHAT. Not what we do (we dress, cook, and spend time with ourselves eventually anyway) but how we do it by adding some intention and spark to our daily activities. I look forward to incorporating more rituals into my daily life.
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