There is something to be said for implementing them into your daily life.
Much to my amusement, over the years I have been the proud (?) owner of not one, not two but three planners. All at the same time, too. There was also the calendar on the wall but I think that was more for the artwork than the tracking of days, weeks and months…
The funny thing is, those planners, calendars and such provide a sense of the rhythms of time. They offer a way of tracking the rituals, too.
- Doctor’s appointments
- Trips to the library
- Lunch with friends
- Vacation
- Due dates for all sorts of things
- Reminders
- Birthdays and anniversaries
When you think about what you jot down on (or type into) your calendar or notes or reminders, it is not only apparent that you have things to do and places to be but life has a flow.
Sometimes you just have to stand back far enough to see it.
Weekly notations include watering the plants. Sometimes they just need a bit of attention to make sure they are doing okay but other times they need a good watering.
Let’s not ignore (much) that vacuuming needs to be done and the bathroom needs cleaning. I know that sounds like a no brainer but sometimes the brain needs a reminder to not put it off until later… again.
Then there is the gentle reminder that the lawn needs attention. In my case, it is a reminder that my lawn crew should be appearing soon.
There is also the reminder that certain things will be updating. Subscriptions are on that particular list.
The change of seasons bring with it an entirely different set of “don’t forget”. These are usually the things we tell ourselves that we won’t forget but…
As for rituals… Home decor often gets updated, if not renewed, at certain times of the year. The Winter Holidays usually start around Halloween and head through New Year’s Eve with stops each month for updates, replacements, shifts or just removal. It depends upon what you feel like.
There is also the preparation for the holidays. Menu plans, shopping plans, preparing for visitors, you get the drift.
I know of at least one crafter who creates a rather detailed holiday planner for the Winter Holidays. Frankly, I applaud the effort and am excruciatingly grateful I don’t need it. 😀
While many folks subscribe to some version of Spring Cleaning, where the house is cleaned to within an inch of its life, there are folks who also do a Winter Cleaning, similar to Spring Cleaning but with winter preparation in mind.
While most of us subscribe to the belief that life is way too busy and there is too much to do and not enough time to do it in, there are also those who recognize that, yes, life can be too busy but often the things we really want/need to get done does and the rest … doesn’t.
From my experience, the rituals and rhythms of life change and evolve as we do. Personally, mine have gotten less complicated as I’ve gotten older. I no longer ‘need’ to be, do, go just because of the season. And you know what? I don’t mind it a bit.
I have also discovered that a touch of ritual can make everyday life more organized, simpler, comfortable, predictable. Rituals can take the chaos out of the every day.
- Menu planning
- Grocery shopping
- Food prep
- Laundry
- Housework
- Bill paying / budget update
Yes, turning the day to day (or week to week) grind into a ritual and adding it to your reminders gives you the opportunity to check things off your list while you get ready for the next days and weeks. It takes the ‘I have no idea what is for dinner so I’ll hit the drive thru’ into ‘all I have to do is take my meal prep out of the fridge/freezer and dinner is almost done’ which has impact (good impact) on the budget, not to mention your stress level.
Taking care of the bills, which could be stressful, provides a sense of accomplishment and, believe it or not, control.
There is power in that To Do List! Or, rather that Done List.
Don’t forget that rituals and rhythms can also apply to quieter, more restful, things, too. Setting aside time to read, listen to a good book or music, watch a film or favorite TV show. Settle in for a bubble bath. Cuddle time with the fur baby or babies. Granted that last one is not always necessary to put on a To Do List but… LOL!
Rituals and rhythms are the ebb and flow of everyday life. They provide structure and guidance. They can alleviate stress by reducing chaos. In unexpected ways they can even ‘give’ you extra time you didn’t know you had. This happens when you know what you have done, what you need to do, and what can wait a bit.
