Rituals and routines are often mixed up and even observed as the same notion. However, the two are rather unique and offer many benefits for the human body and soul. Routines are done spontaneously and usually every day without a particular plan. They are simply a part of our everyday lives, such as morning and evening teeth brushing, making your bed, having breakfast, showering, and getting ready for work. Unlike rituals, routines are usually done in a sequence, whereas rituals help you change your mindset and have a deeper meaning to you. They tend to be separated and done during different times of the day or are specially scheduled for certain days. Both routines and rituals can help us reduce stress, boost our confidence, improve our breathing and much more.
Reduce stress
By creating a morning ritual of getting up at exactly 5 a.m., for example, and doing a morning stretch followed by a quick jog, you're jumpstarting your organism and starting your day well. You won't have time to make excuses for not finishing your tasks or for having to reject your friends' invitation to a nightcap because you were stuck at the office. By creating a morning ritual, you'll set your day off to a good start and become more organized, which will prevent you from rushing anything and allow you to live a mindful life. Just as you've planned for the morning ritual, you can plan for the rest of your day and avoid stressful situations such as forgetting about appointments or urgent errands that slipped your mind because you were preoccupied with rushing from one meeting to another.
Better sleep
Going to bed ritual was the best ritual you could have when you were a child. Remember how your parents used to tell you a bedtime story and tuck you in after brushing your teeth and bathing you. Those types of night rituals and routines will be highly beneficial even now when you are an adult with a slight exception of having the story told to you, make your own evening rituals such as exfoliating your face and putting a nourishing mask, an hour before bed. This is the time when you should also unplug and put all your electronics to rest as well. Turn off your wi-fi if you need your phone to stay on because of the alarm clock, and put it away so that you have to get up in order to turn it off in the morning. This way you won't be distracted from falling asleep or be woken up in the middle of the night by a random notification from social media or a text message from a sleepless friend. You’ll sleep much better and have enough shut-eye to help you wake up rejuvenated and ready for another working day.
Improve breathing
Breathing exercises can be a wonderful ritual that will not only bring more oxygen into your lungs but give your body more vital energy as well. By practising deep diaphragmatic breathing, your internal organs are being massaged which helps improve digestion. If you opt for Kapalabhati breath, i.e. a yogic breathing technique, it will help you to free your body from toxins and relieve stress. Use your abdominal muscles to pull in your belly and force your air out by exhaling repeatedly in short intervals. Stop only when all your air is exhaled and out of your lungs. Buteyko breathing can benefit a lot to those suffering from asthma and allergies. Feel free to look for other breathing techniques and make little daily rituals to improve your overall health.
Increased confidence
According to Australian scientists, people who laugh and smile more are more likely to be promoted and are seen as more trustworthy and confident people. In order to have a pearly white smile, you'll have to take care of your oral hygiene, which is why morning and evening teeth brushing routines are one of the most beneficial routines for your health. By regularly brushing, flossing and rinsing, you'll prevent tooth decay and maintain a pearly white smile which can be beneficial for you in more ways than one.
People with straight, white teeth are also more attractive, which is why you should never skip your morning and night rituals. If you happen to have a problem with slightly crooked teeth, maybe you should think about visiting a local Brisbane dental laboratory and getting a retainer that will improve the look of your teeth offering you a stunning smile. Once you have straight white teeth you’ll feel more confident and radiate positivity all around you, which will in return offer you various possibilities to advance in your career and your personal life.
Form deeper emotional, spiritual and social connections
Performing a ritual is a form of self-care. That is the time when you’re completely focused on what you’re doing and you’re taking great pleasure in performing the ritual. Nothing should distract you and keep you from making time for yourself and indulging in your afternoon cup of tea or massage therapy. Meditation, for example, is a great ritual that can help you “find your centre” and clear your thoughts, making you more focused, calm and energized. Furthermore, sticking to family rituals is crucial in shaping your identity and offering you a sense of belonging and being a part of the family. When family routines go beyond just routines and suddenly have a deeper meaning, they are passed on through generations, evolving then into family traditions.
Help you break bad habits
By having a ritual or a routine that makes you feel good, clear your thoughts and focus on positive things, you are less likely to go back to your bad habits. Having a ritual of starting a day by drinking a glass of warm water with lemon is great for boosting metabolism and reducing your weight, but it’s also a good way to prevent you from drinking sugary drinks early in the morning. Furthermore, if you turn your rituals into habits, you’ll have less time to think about and deal with bad habits. You’ll love your “me” time and will focus more energy towards having that every day which will make you forget all about the bad habits you used to have.
Boost positivity and happiness
We all need more positivity in our lives, and rituals can help us feel happier and radiate positivity quite easily. The key to having a great day is to cultivate a sense of gratitude. Positivity is easily magnified once you learn how to be grateful and count your blessings. People usually focus on shortcomings, and instead of being grateful for everything they already have and have accomplished they tend to dwell on the opportunities they missed or achievements they still did not get to have. That’s why saying grace every morning can be a great ritual to wake up to and attract positive things into your mind. They say that you attract exactly what you radiate, so make sure you radiate positivity and spread out happiness if you want to attract even more positivity into your life.
Final thoughts
Routines and rituals help shape your lives and fill them with positive vibes. Therefore, if you don't already have special rituals, think about forming at least a couple and watch how your days will become better. If you need to be more organized, start by performing a morning ritual and you'll never be late again or rush from one place to another due to lack of time. Allow rituals to calm and relax you and become the one good thing in your life that will always keep you focused and take care of your mental, physical and emotional health.
Guest post by Mianna Korben
About the Author
Mianna Korben does the 9 to 5 like any other typical gal. But, when the clock strikes five she finds the most comfortable nook and starts writing about things she enjoys most. She writes about the things she is passionate about and tries to embrace daily in her lifestyle choices.
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