The Secret to Supercharging Your Routine

beyond

all thoughts,

beyond

all emotions

and physical form,

in the stillness

of the silence,

we discover

who

we really are.

life is

the ceremony.

how we live it

is the sacred

ritual.

(wind hughes)

We all have routines, however big or small. Routines are important, especially now in the midst of a global pandemic, when we're grasping for some sense of “normal” amidst the chaotic change. Routines give us a sense of control over our lives. They’re instrumental to our mental health, they help us cope with change, and they help us develop healthy habits. Routine also allows us to make room for what’s actually important to us.

[Side note: I think that too strict a routine or schedule can kill creativity and adventure. And yes, a break from routine is often necessary, and it helps us become more adaptable. But both our health and creativity also demands some routine and practice. Okay moving on...]

But what if we supercharged those routines, making them even more effective in our life? Ritual is that revved-up routine. The two are very similar. But the difference? Rituals are routines done with a sense of purpose, ceremony, feeling. There is a greater focus on the way the task is done, rather than the end result of it. Ritual is sacred.

The many benefits of adding ritual to your life include:

• Rituals allow us to live more in the present moment, because the act of performing the task is done intentionally, and with greater thought.

• They provide us with a sense of renewal – they are a time-out from our habitual existence, and can help us reevaluate our actions and reestablish that the road we’re traveling on is the right one (for you).

• They provide a sense of stability and continuity amidst the sometimes hectic, chaotic world that we live in.

• They move us from the realm of the ordinary, and into that of the sacred.

• They give our lives meaning and purpose.

I’d bet all the money that I don’t have that the words “ritual” and “sacred” evoke some sort of religious imagery to most of us. Either that feels familiar to you, or it fucking terrifies you. Stay with me.

The word “sacred” comes from the Latin word “sacrum” which relates to power and strength. So a sacred ritual is an action that you saturate with meaning and feeling (making it different from routine) thus you give it power. I promise you need no priest, incense stick, or quartz stone (although any of those could help). Your day is rich with opportunities to turn the mundane into the sacred. You’ve just got to notice them.

Last summer I lost my relationship, lost my job, and got accidentally pregnant all within the same month and a half. So fuck me! It felt like a total upheaval of my life – like the shit had not only hit the fan, but was floating and wafting around, unable to be cleaned up, as if I lived in a bloody space station. For the first time in awhile, I craved ritual. Something to ground me every day. Something consistent during months of inconsistency.

Fast-forward 4 months to my yoga teacher training with Flow Yoga Center when I really started committing to a daily sadhana. “Sadhana” is a daily spiritual practice. I committed to setting aside a bit of time every single day to practice particular activities and techniques related to Ayurveda or mental/spiritual health. Let me tell you something: it can be hard some days when you feel like you’re rushing from one thing to the next. Arriving home at the end of the day, exhausted, only to make myself dry brush and massage myself with oil before jumping in the shower? But I sure as hell felt better for it. And over time, those minutes of the day for your sadhana or ritual tasks start to seemingly carve out room for themselves. With ease.

Your day is rich with opportunities to turn the mundane into the sacred. You’ve just got to notice them.

Here are just a few ways you can create ritual in your life:

1. Mealtimes can be made into a sacred ritual by unplugging your phone, turning off the computer, and sitting down at a table. Yes I know, very outdated. I’m aware that a lot of you reading may live alone, or have different meal schedules than your roommates or significant others. This is where being okay with your own company - and with the inevitable silence - comes into play. I live alone. So on days when I am actually able to sit down and eat dinner at my table by the window, I sit in silence. Well, silence and maybe the aggressive meows of my male cat that wants something that I’m eating. Either way, just try and sit with your thoughts – or daydreams if that’s more fun *wink wink*. If you’re with friends or family then talk (duh), but be fully present.

1. Try an early morning or bedtime ritual. Again, remember, this is not a mindless routine but rather an intentional act imbued with purpose. We read bedtime stories and sing songs to children before they sleep. It’s like that – but without the painful sound of my singing voice. Make a cup of coffee or tea as soon as you wake up, and drink it. Not while you get dressed or do your makeup. Just drink. Nothing else. Enjoy your bloody cup of tea. Because if you’re anything like me then you reheat your coffee 3 times after leaving it various rooms throughout the morning. Gross. Other ideas: AM or PM meditation or journaling, oil massages before you shower, breakfast with your significant other (again, not while running out the door).

1. Ritualize your yoga practice. My favorite ritual. Having a special spot where you do yoga and meditation helps create that ritualistic element to it. Despite living in a small studio, I was able to carve out a space where my yoga mat can stay rolled out 24/7. And I finally found a yoga mat that my cats don’t want to shred to shit – thanks JadeYoga! I usually begin by lighting a candle related to a particular chakra (depending on what I need that day). If this feels a bit too woo-woo for you, then you can just sit in silence for a minute, or repeat a mantra to yourself before you start.

1. Take an intentional bath or shower. Take your time washing your hair or body in the shower. Let the conditioner sink in for a couple minutes before you wash it out. Not to the point of taking a 30 minute shower (someone in this country needs to give a shit about the environment). Just be intentional. If you find the time to take a bath, add some coconut oil, baking soda, or Epsom salts to the water. Stick a candle on the side of the tub or put on music. I’m not always the best at this one. I love propping my laptop on top of my upside-down-laundry-basket and watching some sort of creepy crime show while I lay in the bath for an hour. But I’ll make a pact with you to take an intentional media-absent bath if you do. Well…at least 50% of the time.

Trust me, just try it. See how ya feel. Make the mundane sacred. Take 10 minutes to just pet your fucking cat. With purpose. Use the uninterrupted time to feel your connection to and appreciation for those little guys. (Note to self: Must remember not to mention cats more than once per post for fear of being found out as the biggest cat lady in her late 20s). And leave a comment below if you’ve tried something you like (or don’t)!