daily rituals for a calmer mind
My mind can get pretty busy. Sometimes it worries about things that have or might happen. Sometimes it fixates on something innocuous but just won’t let me sleep for thinking about it. Work is often whirring around in there as well. Over the years I’ve built a daily routine that I enjoy, sets me up well for the day and winds me down well for the night and keeps me productive and on top of whatever I need to get done.
tools and time management
everything goes in my calendar.
I personally use gmail calendar and have it synced on my phone and my watch. I schedule in daily reminders (morning stretch, face massage, lunch, slots for cleaning) as well as anything I need to do (dentist, plus a reminder when to get ready and when to leave). I check the calendar each morning to get an idea of what I’ve planned for the day and then let the reminders guide me. If I need to get something done, say clean a specific item (cat litter) or arrange a return, it all goes in the calendar and when that reminder pops up, it gets done.
automate what you can
I have my lights on automated timers so they come on just as it starts to get dark outside, they dim when it’s about time to be getting to bed and turn off automatically (if I haven’t already turned them off) when I should be sleeping. My robot vacuum cleans up any spilled cat litter at the same time each day.
leave things where you’ll use them
I have a tub of lip balm in every room I spend a lot of time in. I have my diary in the living room so any time I feel I need to get something out of my head, it’s right there. I have hand cream all over the house. I always have a glass of water nearby.
daily rituals
morning routine
10 minute stretch
electro-current device on face
morning gratitude journal
cup of coffee
brush teeth
skincare - if I’m at home, my face should be shiiiiiny
evening routine
evening gratitude journal
general diary entry with notes about the day
homecooked dinner (that has been meal prepped the weekend before)
a cup of tea or two
bath time - dim lights, soft music or a book
read 30 minutes before bed
having a generally quite set bedtime
feeding the cat right before bed so she sleeps through the night
Of course, I work during the day and I have different things pop up- on weekends I grocery shop and batch cook, sometimes I go out with friends, I might travel for work or for fun. But these routines set me up well most days and help me keep my mind quiet and my days organised and ensure I get more done.