If you’re looking to improve your focus, productivity, and performance, you’ll want to incorporate rituals into your daily life.
When we think of the word “ritual” we might think of sacred ceremonies and costumes and symbols. But a ritual can be a simple routine we do every day. Much like a habit, a ritual is something that you can do quite easily and without really thinking much about it.
What sets a ritual apart from a habit, however, is that a ritual conveys a sense of importance to what’s in front of you. It puts you in the right headspace so that you can easily transition from one state of mind to another. This is especially powerful if you’re looking to do more focused work.
For example, a popular ritual among athletes is to take time preparing their equipment and setting out their clothes before a match. This small ritual helps them quiet the internal chatter and start preparing their mind and body to do their best.
Or a stage actor will do vocal warmups and stretches to prepare for a big performance. Or a writer might journal for a few minutes or light a candle before beginning their work.
The act of performing a ritual sends a cue to your mind and body, and sets the stage for what’s to come. So instead of trying to dive headfirst into an important task, which can easily lead to stress and procrastination, a ritual would make the transition go much more smoothly.
Research has even shown that rituals can help reduce stress and nerves. So if you’ve been experiencing any fears or doubts about a dream goal or project, a ritual can help you combat your internal resistance.
Below, we’ll take a look at some of the ways that you can incorporate rituals into your daily life and ideas for rituals to improve your work.
How to build a ritual out of your current routines
We all have our own little habits and routines embedded into our everyday lives. From making our bed in the morning to reading a book at night, these little routines are the anchor points of our days.
To help you develop your own rituals, you’ll want to look to the activities that already provide some structure to your day.
Your first cup of coffee in the morning. If a cup of coffee is the first thing you reach for in the morning, then take advantage of this daily ritual and use it to ease into an important project. Maybe enjoy your cup of coffee before setting down to write your novel or draft a report or brainstorm ideas for a project.
Your morning shower. Your morning shower is a great way to set the tone for the rest of your day. During this alone time, you can give yourself a rousing pep talk. Or soothe yourself with a meditative mantra.
Your evening commute. A ritual isn’t just for preparing your mind and body for work. It can also help you move from one part of the day to the next. So if you’ve been having a hard time signing off from work, use your evening commute to decompress. Work from home? Then it’s even more vital to have a ritual that helps you segue from work mode to personal mode. Go for a long stroll or take a hot shower to make this transition.
Ideas for rituals
When it comes to creating your own rituals, make sure to incorporate your senses.Our senses are incredibly powerful, and when engaged, they can help us stay focused and connected to our work.
Here are some of the ways that you can appeal to your senses when creating a ritual.
Lighting a candle. The lighting of a candle is a simple but powerful act. It asks us to slow down, quiet our mind, and focus on what’s in front of us. And there’s something about a flickering flame that grounds us in the present moment and reminds us that what we’re doing is meaningful. You can also appeal to your sense of smell by lighting a candle with a pleasant fragrance.
Drinking a cup of coffee or tea. Much like lighting a candle, a cup of tea or coffee forces us to slow down and savor the moment. This is especially helpful if you’re trying to get into the zone, block out any distractions, and connect with your thoughts.
Have your favorite notebook on hand. There’s nothing like the sight of a pretty notebook on your desk to get you inspired. You can also add some bright pens and stationery to inspire your inner child and get you excited for your work.
Wear something that makes you feel confident or comfortable. Stiff, uncomfortable textures are only going to make the working experience that much harder. So make sure that your clothes are breathable and easy to work in. Or if you have an important meeting or interview, wear something that makes you feel your best.
Make a playlist. Music is incredibly evocative and the right playlist can put you in a focused and inspired state of mind. Think about the kind of music that puts you in a calm and positive headspace. Maybe it’s classical music or bossa nova or light jazz. Then play it whenever you need to start your work.
Make your work more meaningful by naming it
When it comes to our work, we’ll usually say something along the lines of: I’m going to be productive today.
But “being productive” is vague and abstract. What does that really mean exactly? When you give yourself a vague task to do, then your mind is going to have a hard time visualizing the process or result.
Instead, spell out what you’re going to be working on. Naming your task immediately makes your work more specific, tangible, and easier to visualize. So instead of something generic like “be productive,” give your task a name.
For extra motivation, you can name your task or activity something fun and empowering. And don’t forget to write it down in your planner so that you’re more likely to do it.
Generic: Write
Specific name: Writing sprint
Generic: Productive
Specific name: Deep Work
Generic: Budget
Specific: Travel Bucket List Budget
As you can see, just by giving your task a descriptive name, you can transform your generic task into something that is actionable. And you’ll be more motivated to work on this task because you’ll know exactly what it is that you have to do.
Written by JiJi Lee
