I am a lover of rituals, and I have seen how small shifts can make a big impact.
Simple tweaks to our routines, done regularly (aka: rituals), can offer us a way forward and help us to create what we’re wanting more of—rest, laughter, creativity, health, healing, and so forth.
Creating change really does come down to a few minutes a day. The smallest actions have profound consequences. 5 minutes spent thoughtfully can change how the entire day, and week unfolds.
Here are a few rituals that I’ve put into practice in my life (which may spark some ideas of your own):
1. Lay in bed for 5 extra minutes and give thanks.
I love this one because it allows me to stay in bed for 5 extra minutes each morning. As soon as I wake up, I don’t jump straight out of bed. Instead, I allow myself to relish in the realization that I’ve awoken to a new day, with new opportunities. For the first 5 minutes of my day, I relish in gratitude for all that I have, remembering how fortunate I am and thanking the universe for blessing me with so much.
2. Sit quietly and be still, or meditate, or pray.
It sounds so easy, but it’s not always easy to stop what we’re doing and be where we are… that is, until we practice it. If we can set aside five minutes a day to sit quietly, close our eyes, and just breathe, it immediately resets our system and reconnects us with our highest and truest self again.
3. Make yourself a cup of tea.
I love to start my day this way. Sipping a cup of tea allows us to slow down and enjoy where we are. It’s the perfect time to sit quietly by ourselves, or journal, or send love to the people we care about, or read, or pray, or reflect, or set our intentions for the day.
4. Light a candle or some incense.
This is a nice ritual to practice either first thing in the morning or last thing at night. I often light a candle and a stick of incense at the same time. It’s easy to say a prayer, or give thanks for the day ahead or the day that has passed. It’s also a nice time to set an intention (i.e. “I intend to bring love to everything I do today,” “I intend to be present and mindful throughout the day”).
5. Read one page a day from a book.
I often say I want to read more; I used to love reading, and now I don’t make enough time for it. But when I make it easy on myself and read one page a night before I go to sleep (one page only), it feels like a huge relief. Immediately I feel reconnected to something I love, but without any pressure or expectations. One page is all it takes, and by reading one page I gain so much.
6. Go on a short walk.
This is one of my favorite things to do, and true, it may take longer than 5 minutes, but it doesn’t have to. Literally stepping outside into the fresh air and walking for 5 minutes can shift your energy completely. It can help you reconnect and recenter yourself. Sometimes, I’ll give thanks with every step, “Thank you for my mother, thank you for my father, thank you for my friends, thank you for my work.”
7. Ask for what you need before you fall asleep.
My closest friends know that this is something I do often. Before I go to sleep at night, I take a moment to check-in and ask myself what I need. Then, whatever I feel I need, I ask my angels/ guardians/ guides to deliver it to me in my sleep. Sometimes I ask for comfort. Sometimes I ask for clarity. Sometimes I ask to be shown whatever I need to be shown. Then I turn it over to my guides and trust that I will receive exactly what I need in my sleep.
When we practice rituals like these, we realize that the simplest, smallest actions make a profound difference in our lives. What we do for 5 minutes can affect how we carry on for the remaining 23 hours and 55 minutes of our day.
This list is only the beginning – there are ideas out the wazoo…
What can you give 5 minutes of your life to?
