WHETHER it's putting the kettle on or lighting our favourite candle, we all have our own rituals that help us to de-stress.
New research shows that most Brits have an average of four things they do every day that keep them happy and healthy.
A study by Healthspan – as part of its Rituals to Wellbeing campaign found that men are more reliant on rituals than women to help create both structure and routine.
Around 2,000 adults were quizzed on what they do to chill out – with having a tea or coffee at the same time each day coming out as the top ritual for keeping us calm.
Others rely on making sure they take time to eat away from their desk and looking out of the window to give themselves a minute to relax.
Over the last 18 months, 51 per cent of Brits said they had adopted rituals to help them get through the coronavirus pandemic.
Of those, 15 per cent now set a day for the whole family to share a meal to ensure they have quality time amid their hectic schedules.
The study also found that 35 per cent claim their lives are heavily structured around the routines.
Psychologist Dr Meg Arroll, who is working with Healthspan said that many of our daily practices and habits have been given new meaning in light of the pandemic and have become valued rituals.
She said: “This is notable as transforming a set of actions that you do everyday – even something as simple as making a cup of tea – into a ritual will give you the added well-being benefits such as stress management and feeling grounded in the present moment.
“Many of us have just experienced incredibly high levels of stress and anxiety over a lengthy period of time, not only as we dealt with the worry that came with the pandemic itself, but also as we adapted to the restrictions changing our day-to-day lives.
“Rituals are all about the meaning behind why we do something.
"The survey highlighted that 52 per cent of people have adopted new rituals which have helped improve their quality of life – whether it’s to help keep you calm and collected, reduce stress, or simply help you get through everything you have to do that day without feeling overwhelmed or burnt-out."
She added that while the pandemic left us unable to do some of the rituals we once swore by, it also gave many the opportunity to create new ones.
More than a third of those polled swear by carrying out certain rituals because it makes them feel good while 33 per cent use them to feel calmer.
More than a fifth (21 per cent) said it helps them manage with stress and 19 per cent rely on them to help improve their overall mood.
EASY LIFE
Despite this one in five believe they help them feel more connected and in the moment, while 58 per cent think they make their life easier.
More than a third believe rituals have helped them, with 21 per cent believing they helped to get them through a particularly stressful period.
Another one in 10 think they prevented them from getting ill while nine per cent feel they have allowed them to better cope with parenting.
Others think they have helped when going through a divorce or bereavement, retirement or when starting a new job.
The study, carried out via OnePoll, also found 54 per cent feel there are aspects of their lives that they don’t feel completely on top of.
Of those, 43 per cent think they are struggling when it comes to the physical fitness while 40 per cent need more help with sleep.
Top 30 daily rituals Brits swear by
Here are the top 30 rituals that Brits swear by – has your ritual made the list?
- Having a cup of tea or coffee at the same time each day
- Taking a glass of water to bed to rehydrate in the morning
- Writing a to-do list to keep on top of your tasks
- Listening to music to destress
- Reading before bed for relaxation
- Eating meals at a dinner table rather than at your desk or on your lap to concentrate and eat more mindfully
- Getting changed into comfy clothes after finishing work as a mental switch off
- Looking out of the window every so often to have a minute to relax
- Making sure to go for a walk each day for stress reduction
- Spending time in and around nature/natural surroundings to unwind
- Doing stretches to prepare for the day or unwind before bed
- Taking supplements daily as part of a morning self-care routine
- A beauty regime to help with self-care
- Cleansing your skin for deep nourishment
- Laying the dinner table before each meal to help make them less stressful
- No looking at electronic devices while eating to be fully connected with each other
- Having a full family meal on set days of the week to make sure you have the time together
- Laying out the following day’s clothes the night before for calmer start to the day
- Lighting candles to relax
- Looking away from your monitor every so often to destress
- Saying a daily prayer
- Walking the dog in the morning, evening or both
- Having a bath daily and using oils to help you relax
- Making sure you call loved ones on set days/set times
- Setting out all the components of your breakfast to set you up for the day
- Setting out all the components of your lunch to save time and ensure you don't skip it
- Practicing yoga to unwind
- Setting a time to move throughout the day to avoid being too sedentary
- Not looking at screens after a certain time of day to give your mind a break
- Daily gratitudes to help with a positive mindset
Mental health, money and relationships are also among the areas where people think they are finding it hard to cope.
But 77 per cent admitted they aren’t sure how to get control of the areas of their lives they don’t feel completely on top of.
Dr Meg Arroll added: “Habitual practices that were carried out routinely for years have now been transformed with new meaning to become health and wellbeing rituals.
“This demonstrates how some of the toughest times can allow us to develop important coping strategies that we can then use in our everyday lives, which act to increase mental strength, provide meaningful human connection and protect physical health.
“This concept known as ‘post-traumatic growth’ is a key aspect of positive psychology and is something that we can all take forward after the past gruelling 18 months.
“These rituals will also help us to cope again if we need to brace ourselves for a further wave of Covid, or any other future difficulties.”
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