Using Rituals to Survive Daily Chaos

Even though I write to you a lot, I still have a lot of people who are in awe and wonder how the heck I can keep up with so much. I’m about to reveal a secret here, so listen up.

I survive through ritual.

That sounds really boring, doesn’t it?

Maybe so, but it’s a lifesaver.

My kitchen and bathroom are always clean because I clean them every night. Because I stay on top of it, it only takes about 15 minutes total. I have a whole system to keep the house clean in little spurts. I don’t have hours to spend cleaning house. Do you?

I keep my health and energy up by eating right. I make sure to get 2 or 3 veggies and a fruit in at dinner. I drink orange juice and cranberry juice every day. I take my vitamins. And too much more to go into in this post. I have a whole different philosophy on eating healthy.

I walk the dog 2 miles most days. Some days only one mile. We both get exercise, and it lets me clear out my mind and blow off some steam, and run into friends, or talk with my daughter when she goes with… Exercise doesn’t have to be painful. It just has to be consistent.

I try to write something useful here most weekdays.

I try to do at least 2 things to move my business forward every day – no matter how little those tasks might be. Those little things add up over time.

I try to get a decent amount of sleep every night.

I make time for recreation.

I spend quality time with my daughter.

You probably have rituals at work. You arrive at a certain time. You do tasks at set times, or within deadlines. Without these rituals, not much would get done when it’s supposed to.

Now, if you run your whole life this way, you actually end up with more done AND more free time.

I have a favorite quote that I used to use to close my old ezine –

In my youth, I stressed freedom, and in my old age
I stress order. I have made the great discovery that
liberty is a product of order.

-Will Durant

And it’s true. When you’re looking at piles of housework – I’m ready to play.

When you’re too tired to do anything other than stare at your TV, I’m out walking the dog, or talking to friends, or working on my business, or taking my daughter out for ice cream.

Yes, rituals seem painful sometimes. There are days when I have to force myself to do the things I require of myself. I worked an hour later tonight than usual, so I didn’t feel like making dinner, or walking the dog 2 miles. But I did. Now I’m glad I did – but it took some self-talk to get me to do it.

I listened to a training video and actually applied a couple of little things. The dishes are done – kitchen is cleaned. And soon I’ll be off to bed. I can end my day feeling satisfied – instead of being under the weight of things left undone.

And the extra bonus is – it’s rubbing of on my daughter 😉

OK, OK, I didn’t get that load of laundry in. Hey, I never claimed to be perfect!

You can start small. The next time you’re about to put something on the table to put away later – just put it away. When you do the dishes, take 2 extra minutes and wipe down the stove and counters.

Some people like to make their lunch the night before. I like mine as fresh as possible – so I don’t, but a lot of people do.

Some people like to lay their clothes out the night before. That one doesn’t work for me either. I never seem to feel like wearing that outfit when I get up the next day.

The point here is – you can find the rituals that work for you.

We’re all given the same 1440 minutes a day. Use them wisely.

Carole