Rituals, Routines, Habits… What’s the difference?

We all have routines and habits that structure our days. We check our phones before getting out of bed, drink coffee to start the day, feed our pets before feeding ourselves. Habits develop unconsciously, we start doing something one day and over time it turns into a part of us without even realizing it. A routine is something we do with the idea of “it needs to be done”. These routines help structure our day in a way that we feel has to happen in order to be successful. Unlike habits and routines, rituals are done with intent and purpose. This gives more meaning to the things we do and in turn connects our inner world to our outer world. 

Now what do you think could happen if we turned our habits into rituals? For example, let's say you have the habit of checking your phone before getting out of bed. You could set the intention to reach for a book instead and read for 10 min each morning. You turned a habit into a ritual that will have more meaning and benefits than reaching for your phone. 

The same thing goes for routines. Not every routine needs to become a ritual, but every routine has the potential to become a ritual if you desire more meaning behind it. Let's say you have a daily exercise routine- you stretch, go on a jog, then have a smoothie. This is something you have been doing everyday for months or maybe years. It’s healthy! But have you lost the intent behind it? Maybe you have done this for so long, you don’t even know why you are still stretching or jogging. Do you even like your smoothie anymore? If you turned your exercise routine into a ritual by focusing on what makes you feel strong, sustainable, and healthy, you may be surprised to see your health improve faster in a shorter amount of time then from jogging mindlessly for years. 

What routines or habits will you be turning into rituals? Share in the comments below!
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By Isabella Carvajal