Rituals to make every day special
Our wellness is a result of everything we do, both big and small, from choosing vegetables over takeout for lunch, the belly laugh we had with friends, or the early night we made ourselves have last night, and it’s often the small things done regularly that can make the most profound changes. Feeling more valued begins with the behaviours we show ourselves, and small rituals in our day can offer us a chance to be more present to the moments of joy in our day.
Drink water with lemon or a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.
This gift of hydration stimulates the digestive system and liver to ‘wake up’. Apple cider vinegar may also be useful for supporting balanced blood sugar. The zingy vinegar is a stimulating flavour to wake up to. I’ve just started adding my Superfeast products to my purple cup in the mornings too! Anyone that has done any of my Facebook classes will know about my purple cup!
Along with water, tea carries a beautiful range of phytonutrients that it draws from the hot water extraction. Spend a mindful moment while the jug is boiling to take some deep belly breaths and ‘check in’ with your body, mind, and emotions setting yourself up with clear intentions for the day ahead.
Wake your skin up well.
Spending a few moments with your favourite skincare products can make all the difference to a healthy complexion and can make you feel glowy from the inside-out. Add in a scrub every other day to slough off dead skin cells and help your skin look brighter. While applying your favourite moisturiser, use upward massage strokes around the face and neck to defy gravity and relax tension in the face. For a nourishing moisture hit, I always add a drop or two of my favourite face oil. Breathe in the beautiful natural fragrances. Remember, set your intention to make this a special moment that is dedicated to you.
Move your body
It might be going for a walk, a run, a swim, yoga, dance, kickboxing, paddle boarding – whatever it is for you that makes your body feel good and eases the stress from the mind, embrace movement. Exercise can be a ritual too – and adding in the element of nature to your movement ritual can bring more benefits of grounding, fresh air, improved mood, and stress reduction. Running in the bush instead of the road can give additional strength, coordination, and agility benefits as you have to focus on the uneven ground. Of course, laying out your mat in a space you’ve created just for you is a special ritual too, even if it’s just lighting a candle! You can add social connection by having a movement ritual that involves people you love spending time with.
Aromatherapy and easing stress
After a long day or hard meeting, it can be good to go for a walk and clear your head, get fresh air and a different perspective. Essential oils can support this too! The Herb Farm has created some gorgeous smelling Mists that can create a cloud of goodness around you. They’re a synergy of beautiful smells that support a happy mood and ease stress.
Using essential oils in the bath is another way to create meaningful moments for yourself at the end of the day. Mix a blend of 3 drops each of Sweet orange, Frankincense, and Lavender with a squirt of your usual body or hand wash to disperse the oils. Once in the bath, you could use a mindfulness app to train the brain.
In the morning shower, you could enliven your day by putting a couple of drops of lemon or rosemary at the bottom of the shower and inhaling. These stimulating oils will support healthy blood flow to the brain, a good mood, and clarity of mind.
Mealtime
Mealtime rituals can create positive eating patterns over a lifetime. Choosing to eat at the table and creating space for conversation if we live with others can deepen relationships and help us to connect with each other. Taking a moment before eating to pause, take a few breaths and become present is a lovely ritual that not only allows more enjoyment of the first bite but gives the nervous and digestive system a chance to enter the ‘rest and digest’ state where digestion is prioritised because our nervous system isn’t pumping our stress hormones from being in ‘fight or flight’.
Gratitude
Popping your phone down and thinking through the things that you appreciate in your day helps create a positive mindset that can stick with you in the days ahead. This nightly routine can support you to make choices about what you want more of tomorrow and remind you of the simple things that can bring joy. Being aware of the things you are grateful for can help improve aspects of those close relationships that we might take for granted.
Deep Belly Breathing
This is a great technique to slow down a busy brain and can be incorporated at any time throughout the day or lying in bed before sleep. Place your hands on your belly and breathe in for a count of 7, hold for 2, exhale for a count of 7, hold for 2. It might take a few breaths to get out of your head and into the flow of breath. I often guide you through different pranayama practices in my classes, click on one of those if you’d like some help.
No one day looks the same but when the stars align I’ll be weaving some of these rituals throughout my day. They act as an anchor for me to stay mindful and present, in what can sometimes be a stressful life! No matter how busy or full your days feel, small rituals offer us a chance to reconnect to ourselves and stay grounded.
Jane xo