You need a ‘reset ritual’
Rituals are extremely powerful and can be used for the benefit of your mental health. Use them.
Done over a period of time, the preparation of a ritual can itself signal the brain as to what to expect.
One of the ways in which rituals can be used constructively is towards an evening reset. This has become even more important as most of us work from home.
Work from home, while charming, can blur the boundaries between when work ends, and personal life begins.
Such a scenario is the perfect time to insert a small ritual. The ritual could be a way for you to end your work or take a small break. By turning it into a ritual, you are more likely to actually take the time out for yourself. For example, here is what a reset ritual could look like for someone
1. Close the laptop
2. Light a candle
3. Put on a relaxing music
4. Brew a cup of tea
5. Enjoy the tea digital free for next 15 minutes
Simple right? If this does not sound your cup of tea (pun very much intended), create a small and easy to implement ritual for something you enjoy doing. It could be a crossword puzzle, a quick cleaning spree, a relaxing shower.
As you design the reset ritual, keep two things in mind that can be useful
- Make it super simple. You want to eliminate as many barriers to you practicing the ritual as possible
- Choose something that relaxes you. It is a reset after all. You might enjoy action filled video games, but they might not be a peaceful reset for your brain
Gift yourself a daily 15 min reset ritual