21/05/2026
When you hear the word ritual, what comes up for you? Do you associate it with religious or spritual ceremonies?
A ritual for me is something I do regularly, perhaps at a certain time and/or place. The one I do most often is watching the sunset from the attic at home. I often stay after the sun has disappeared, watching the sky change, the clouds roll past and listening to the birds. It always makes me feel grounded and grateful regardless of what kind of day I've had.
I've been reading about the etymology of the word and it's thought that it can be traced back to Sanskrit (an ancient Indian language), meaning aligning yourself with the natural order of things. And I love that.
Rituals can be incredibly effective in supporting our mental health. And incorporating them into your routine can help give some meaningful structure to your day, week or month.
Some easy ones to introduce could be
☕️ Sitting in the garden for 5 minutes with no devices
🎵 Listening to your favourite relaxing song before bed
✍️ Writing a page of a journal before your day begins
You might already have many rituals but just haven't realised that's what they are. If you do, see if you can notice how you feel afterwards.
