Rituals Over Routines: Staying Rooted While on the Journey

We often hear that routines are the key to success. Morning routines, productivity routines, wellness routines—each promising clarity, consistency, and results.

But for many of us, routines can feel rigid. They come with expectations. They require us to show up the same way every day, regardless of how we’re actually feeling.

Rituals are different.

Rituals don’t demand consistency. They invite return.

This distinction has been important for me, especially as someone who creates, builds, and tends to both personal and professional work. When creativity becomes something to manage or optimize, it can lose its nourishment. But when creativity is treated as a ritual, it becomes grounding.

Lately, working with oils has become one of my anchoring rituals. The act of pouring, blending, and sealing jars is repetitive in the best way. The scent slows me down. The tactile nature of the work brings me back into my body. It’s not about productivity—it’s about presence.

Rituals meet us where we are. They don’t punish us for missing a day or breaking a streak. They don’t require perfection. They simply ask that we show up when we can and return when we’re ready.

This is especially important for those of us who are sensitive, creative, healing, or holding a lot. Routines can sometimes amplify pressure. Rituals soften it.

A ritual doesn’t have to be elaborate. It might be lighting a candle before starting your day. Taking a breath before opening your laptop. Applying oil with intention instead of rushing out the door. These moments may seem small, but they create space for regulation and clarity.

When our nervous system feels supported, everything else flows more naturally. Creativity becomes accessible. Decision-making feels steadier. We’re less reactive and more present.

That philosophy is also why I offer a free monthly affirmation to subscribers. It’s not meant to fix or motivate—it’s meant to anchor. A simple reminder you can return to throughout the month, especially when things feel loud or overwhelming.

Rituals don’t require discipline. They require permission.

Permission to pause.
Permission to return.
Permission to create from a grounded place.

If routines feel heavy right now, consider where a ritual might fit instead. One small, intentional moment can shift the tone of an entire day.

And sometimes, that’s enough.