Self-Care Rituals
An invitation to explore small rituals of everyday care—and remember the “u” in ritual. You matter.
The “U” in Ritual
A little lipstick, a honey loofah, and a word I’ve come to love. An introduction to self-care rituals and the small things that remind us we matter.
Ritual.
I haven’t always liked that word.
I get some funny looks at the market when I use it in relation to my skincare products, and I understand. The word carries some weight. Around Halloween, it can sound sinister. A tea ceremony can sound elaborate. And self-care rituals? That sounds very…indulgent.
But I’ve come to love the word. Because I’ve come to appreciate the power of a ritual.
A few ordinary acts, strung together with intention, can change how we feel. Warm water, a familiar scent, a little balm rubbed into tired feet. Small things that remind us our needs matter.
There’s a little magic in that.
A self-care ritual doesn’t have to be elaborate, sacred, or particularly magical every single time. It can be something familiar that feels good, helps you settle into your day, or gives you a moment to yourself.
Washing your face before bed. Taking a few minutes with a cup of tea. Giving your feet a little attention after everything they’ve carried you through.
The difference isn’t necessarily what you do. It’s what the experience means to you.
And that brings me to the “u” in ritual.
Routines, Rituals, and You
We all have routines that get us through the day. Make the coffee, make the bed, walk the dog, wash your face, get out the door.
When life gets busy—and life always gets busy, doesn’t it?—we can find ourselves racing through those things. Or skipping some altogether.
A ritual gives us a reason to return to a small act of care. It adds a little personal meaning to something familiar.
Making the bed because you like coming home to a room that feels settled. Washing your face because it helps you feel ready for the day—or ready to put the day behind you. Taking a few minutes to care for your feet because they’ve carried you through everything the day has asked of them.
You don’t need candles, a perfect bathroom, or twenty uninterrupted minutes. You just need to remember that the little things you do for yourself matter—because you matter.
The “u” is the part of a ritual that makes it yours: what you enjoy, what you need, what helps you feel a little more like yourself. And on those scattered days, it may be the part that matters most.
And that brings me to lipstick.
A Little Lipstick
I hate admitting that my undergraduate degree from Queens College is in Home Economics, with a specialization in Foods and Nutrition. It’s a little embarrassing.
Some of the curriculum was a little dated. Some of it infuriated me.
I’ll never forget. One food science class required my meal preparation schedule to include “time to freshen up, apply lipstick.” Minus 5 points if you didn’t. Huh?
As a young woman, I was horrified. What on earth did applying lipstick have to do with my meal?
That ridiculous memory popped up again recently, while I was thinking about rituals. Because I get it now…and maybe it wasn’t so ridiculous after all.
I’ve never been a lipstick wearer, but I can definitely appreciate the idea of making a little room for yourself in a schedule full of things to do. Because when rituals become a part of your routines, you’re making room for yourself alongside everything else that needs your attention. A moment to freshen up, feel good, and sit down to enjoy the meal you’ve just prepared.
To clarify, I still wouldn’t take off five points for skipping the lipstick. But I can appreciate remembering the “u” before dinner.
Finding My Own Self-Care Rituals
I gotta be honest. I often forget “the lipstick.”
I’m not someone who has perfected the art of self-care. Most days, I’m more attentive to others than myself. Sometimes the things I know make me feel better are the very things I skip when life gets busy.
But I do have a favorite self-care ritual. And it’s a ritual because I make it that way. There are a few steps, but each one is quick, and each little step makes me feel more grounded…literally.
In the shower, at least twice a week, I consciously give my feet some special attention. I run. I stand on my feet at markets. I hike through fields to take care of the bees. My feet get tired; they hurt sometimes.
When I use my honey loofah, I think about that smooth, pleasant feeling of rubbing my foot against my freshly shaved legs when I get into bed at night. Smoothness everywhere.
It’s a small sensory pleasure, and I love it.
But sometimes I neglect the ritual.
I get washed, get out, and get on with everything else. Later, when I’m trying to sleep, I notice. My feet are hot and bothered. And so am I.
Those few moments in the shower are a chance to pay attention to what feels good to me. And I enjoy that little bit of care long after the water stops running.
Sometimes I just need to remember that I’m part of the equation, too.
The “U” in Ritual
Sometimes I just need to remember that I’m part of the equation, too.
That’s what this new series will explore: small self-care rituals that help us enjoy caring for ourselves. We’ll start with our feet.
And when we give someone a foot soak, a face mask, or a shave set, we’re sharing that invitation to care—with a little message tucked inside.
You matter.
That’s the “u” in self-care rituals.
