I have a new work ritual.
Every day, when I make my way to my studio, I pull out and light a scented candle. I recently bought a stack of different candles from City of Light Candles, and I’m yet to try all the different scents.
I love the little ritual of lighting the candle, and smelling the lovely scent that fills the room throughout the day. The flame burns steadily as I work, and when my work is done, I extinguish the candle.
It’s a little thing, but it’s symbolic. Lighting the candle sends a message to my subconscious that it is time to work. It also sends a message that work is a positive, nourishing thing.
The beautiful smells floating around me calm or invigorate as I work.
I have a few other work rituals, but this is by far the sweetest.
The longer I work for myself, the more I realise the importance of habits/rituals and organising my day. I’m also realising that I don’t have to work ALL the time. It’s okay to get up and go for a walk in the morning, just to get outside and enjoy the blue sky, sun, and woods at the end of my street.
It’s okay to read a novel in the evenings. Because not everything I do needs to be about furthering my business. My life goes beyond that.
I forgot this for a while.
It’s about working when you need to, and stopping when you need to. That as much as work and life intertwine, it’s okay to not always be pushing yourself to go go go, achieve, achieve, achieve!
Structure, rituals, and habits are freeing, because they help you eliminate the mental anguish that develops when you spend every moment second-guessing yourself and trying to decide what to do.
I am slowly implementing more structure into my life after being mostly without it for a few years now. But I have a long way to go.
This is definitely a topic I’m going to explore further, but for today, I just want to know – what are your work rituals? Do you have any, or is this something you still need to discover?
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Still probably need to discover! I still have trouble switching off the business thinking and endless flow of creative ideas, which isn’t a bad thing but could do with a bit of restive time too!
I know *exactly* what you mean, Megan!
I definitely still need to discover! I find it very hard to switch off
and I feel a bit guilty if I am not engaged in an activity that will further grow my business. I love the idea of rituals and having an organized day with a clear start and finish. At the moment I am in my car waiting for my daughter to finish tutoring so I bring my phone so I can answer emails spend time on social media and catch up on reading blogs I love, I don’t want to waste any time! I am really looking forward to more posts on this topic I definitely need to gain a more balanced perspective!
Leanne, balancing the rest of your life with your work is an ongoing challenge – especially when you LOVE what you do and so it obsesses you! I know that very well 🙂
I work many hours every day…Somedeays I’m so absorbed by the amount of work that I forget the beautiful moments a breaf walk could give me…I’m definately gonna use some candles in my studio to feel that little breath of life.. Thank you Jess 😉
“that breath of life” I like that! 🙂