Written by John Dugan

In our day-to-day lives, we may find ourselves constantly performing routines. Whether it be switching trains on the way to work or making sure our pets are fed dinner each night, routines are unavoidable. They are the boxes we check daily as we go through the motions.

That being said, routines are often mindless. Necessary? Yes. Purposeful and grounded? Not so much.

That is where rituals come in.

A ritual takes the idea of a routine further by providing mindful, spiritual significance to one’s day. A routine requires little focus, whereas a ritual encourages an individual to take a mental break from the chaos of their lives and ground themselves in the moment.

As previously stated, feeding your dog every night when you get home from work is a routine. It is something you have to do, and over time becomes something you do not even think about. Your body does the work. 

An example of a ritual could be as simple as taking five minutes each evening to slowly apply our Calming Lavender Bath & Body Oil, providing a soothing end to your day. The difference here is that as you apply the oil, you are focusing on every stroke and subtle movement while mind and body become one. Your brain is able to relax for a few minutes as you move at your own tempo.

As you apply an oil each day, you will naturally feel more in tune with yourself and your surroundings. Just five minutes each day can tremendously uplift your spirit and minimize anxieties, making each day a little bit sunnier. 

There are a variety of other rituals you can do aside from applying our oils and lotions. One can paint, meditate, walk, play an instrument, or even read. The most important thing is that for just a short period each day, you give your mind and body a break and focus on anything but the world around you. Life is difficult and taxing. Acknowledge that, and set aside time each day to just be.