3 Rituals You Can Do For Every Day Wellness
Photo: Joanna C. Valente
By Stephanie Valente
Sometimes the word "ritual" it seems like more work than it really is. I used to avoid having clear-cut routine because it just seemed like so much work. In truth, I was just tricking myself. Gradually, I flipped my POV and saw rituals as smooth, easy, and powerful. Rituals can last for mere moments or days. It all depends on the intent, the process, and the result.
For me, I find success in rituals that are low on time and high on pockets of self-care. Taking slivers of time for myself is essential and necessary. These little glimmers of silent time make my days stronger and brighter. I hope they inspire you, too.
Here are three, quick, and easy rituals to add in to your every day life.
1. Align with 5 sun salutations. Warming up my body is the key for a good day. Working on my posture and strengthening my body feels like a secret spell. I love the feeling of loose and warm muscles, so I take a two minute break in my morning (or evening) with a sun salutation. (Need to modify a pose? Try this video).
2. Practice grounding. I don't walk around all day feeling calm, peaceful, or clear-headed. In fact, I recenter myself more often than that. Busy work days, social media, or general life stress can take me out of the present moment in a snap. So more and more, I take a step back and try to work on my grounding skills. I stand tall (or sit!) like a tree. I'll cover my crown. I'll visualize. I have a visual location, season, feel, and mood I often try to visualize in small chunks throughout the day. Even taking just 15 seconds to remind myself of that place or sensations is a game-changer.
3. Cleanse your phone. Seriously. Silence your device. Burn cedar or pine to cleanse your phone's symbolical properties. Or dot the air and the spot your phone sits in with a cleansing spray. Visualize breaking free of digital media's chains. We let our phones distract us so much, so adding in a ritual where you are mindfully separating yourself from a disruptive device is powerful and positive.
Stephanie Valente lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works as an editor. One day, she would like to be a silent film star. She is the author of Hotel Ghost (Bottlecap Press, 2015) and Waiting for the End of the World (Bottlecap Press, 2017). Her work has appeared in dotdotdash, Nano Fiction, LIES/ISLE, and Uphook Press. She can be found at her website.
