Oh how I love me a good ritual. They take ordinary tasks to the next level and remind me to take some time for myself, even if it’s just a few minutes out of a whole, full, busy day. Below are my 5 favourite quick and easy rituals that don’t really take any extra time out of your day (maybe a minute here or there at the most!), but will leave you feeling uber pumped and full of warm fuzzies!
#1 – A Spritzer (or tissue) “moment”
Fill a small spray bottle with water and add 6 drops of your favourite single essential oil or synergy blend (I like to get mine from Twenty8 – link in side bar). Alternatively (and in a pinch) just grab a plain unscented tissue, and enrich with a drop or two of your chosen essential oil. Have the bottle/tissue in your handbag or pocket and throughout the day as needed, spritz your face and the air around you and proceed to take 5 deep breaths (making your exhale slightly longer than your inhale). If all you’ve got is your tissue, take 5 deep breaths into it, inhaling the rich aroma and re-focussing your energy. These micro-moments in the day can make all the difference (and if you don’t feel like taking deep meditative breaths in front of your co-workers or classmates … take yourself of to the loo and do it there).
#2 – The Body Boost
My friend and mentor Kim Morrison coined the term “body boost” when she created this ritual. After your shower (or whenever you’d usually moisturize) combine a few squirts of your favourite moisturiser (looking for a really high quality, chemical free brand … Twenty8, Divine by Therese Kerr, Kora Oragnics etc) or alternatively a teaspoon or two of a carrier oil (coconut, macadamia, apricot kernel etc.) with a drop or two of your chosen essential oil and (to take it to the next level) 3 sprays of a 100% magnesium salt spray (I get mine from Twenty8). Massage yourself in this mixture from ankles to legs, to buttox, to torso, to shoulders and finally your arms. All the while say or think something positive about each body part e.g. “my legs are so strong, I can do so much because they work for me” OR “wow I did a great bowel movement this morning tummy/bowels, bottom … THANK YOU!!!!!”
If you’re in a real rush, do an extra quick moisturising session and finish by clasping your hands together, breathing in that wonderful aroma and saying something collectively positive about your body and setting an intention for the day. My personal mantra (which you are welcome to use) is …
“I am an amazing human being, and I celebrate life with love, authenticity, integrity, vitality and passion”
#3 – A weekly or fortnightly face mask
This one sounds like an effort but is so isn’t. I have a clay mask powder (from Twenty8) that I like to use but feel free to use pantry staples (mixing together some mashed avocado with raw honey, or natural yoghurt and oats/almond meal etc.) instead. Apply the mask to your face and wait 15 minutes or until it has gone firm and ‘set’. Then rinse off in warm water and pat the face dry with a face cloth. In the 15 minute waiting time you can either take the indulgence factor to the next level by lying in the sunshine or just sitting and reading a book or you can be ‘productive’; answer emails, chop some veggies for dinner, make some bliss balls, do some squats (whatever works for YOU!)
Your face will feel so soft and cleansed, and all you had to do was slap on a mask and endure 15 minutes of relaxing or being productive!
#4 – (5) minutes of Yoga
And if the word yoga is too intimidating for you at this time, replace it with stretching. I used to be intimidated by yoga (I am clumsy, have tight runners calves and … let’s be honest … some of those upside down, legs in the air poses are a danger zone for those sneaky vagina farts … don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean ladies … we’ve all done them hehe) but ever since I realised that it’s not about doing super-tricky impressive poses, I’ve come to love my small at-home yoga sessions. I might do 5 lots of holding a pose for 1 minutes or snatch 5 minutes out of my day all at once. Google “easy and painless yoga moves” if you have no idea where to start.
This ritual makes you take at least 5 minutes for yourself in a day and allows you to stretch out those stiff and tired muscles. Listen to what position your body wants to be in. I often want to be on my back, legs hugged into my chest, rocking back and forth. Sometimes I do a few downward dogs or forward folds (I still can’t touch my toes but I’m closer than I was this time last year). It can seriously be anything you want it to be, even lying down flat with your hands raised above your head to ensure a nice long stretch … just make sure you get around it (don’t forget our body’s thrive off of movement and relaxation).
#5 – Mindful Cooking
I don’t know about you but cooking is my downtime. Stirring the saucepan, watching the rice absorb, chopping veggies, making nut butter … I love this stuff. For me cooking is an outlet, and never a chore (unless I’m starving and just need food NOW … that’s when a smoothie or some simple fruit and nut butter comes in handy!) If you struggle to find time for yourself each day, let preparing the family meals be ‘it’. Put on some music (maybe even pour yourself a glass of something fabulous … I do love a coconut kefir or apple cider vinegar tonic as I cook) and get into the flow. When you reframe cooking as a ritual rather than ‘oh quick, I’ve got so much else to do and I just need this meal made now!’, it becomes fun and special, rather than exhausting and depleting. The more love that goes into the meal prep, the more nourishing the food (I know, I know … but it’s so undeniably true!)
So there’s my top 5 quick and easy rituals. Of course I love long beach walks, Epsom salt baths with lime oil or lying in the sun for half an hour doing nothing, but those take extra time and I wanted this post to be things that barely take any time or effort at all and are easy to maintain daily (or weekly with the face mask). Snatch those lazy sun hangs or balancing bare foot beach walks wherever you can and in the meantime, start with the 5 points outlined above.
Happy Ritual Relishing Real Souls,
xxx Rachie
PS: I know I name dropped Twenty8 a zillion times in this post but believe when I say I’m not trying to “sell to you”. I love their products and they are my one-stop-shop for all things personal care. If you are interested in trying them out, then please I encourage you to use the link in the side bar and explore their product range. However I’m not a ‘sale-sy’ person and only name drop to let you know Twenty8 is out there, if you’re already attached to another natural and ethical company then sweet bananas … insert their name where I’ve used Twenty8. For more information about why I love Twenty8 see this post.