Revised: August 16, 2025
My mother is a big believer in being responsible for your own happiness. She always talked about finding joy in small moments and insisted that we stop and take in the beauty of an ordinary day. When I stop the car to make my kids really see a sunset, I hear my mother's voice and smile.
Do You Have a Joy Ritual?
The first cup of coffee enjoyed alone in your kitchen.
A glass of red wine after dinner while doing the crossword puzzle.
A solitary run before dawn, rain or moonlight.
Joy rituals are the small, intentional acts that bring a little spark into your day. They’re often simple, quiet, and deeply personal—sometimes so personal we don’t even name them as joy rituals at all. But they matter.
My Own Little Ritual
For me, it’s a semi-weekly hot bath in the evening, with a glass of iced tea on the side. I slip into the water and let the heat work its way through my muscles. My skin softens, my mind unwinds, and somewhere between the steam and the silence, I feel my spirit recharge.
Because I live alone, this isn’t about escaping from anyone—it’s about renewing. It’s about balance. And more than anything, it’s about joy. When I honor this ritual, I’m happier, calmer, and more present in every other area of my life.
Why We Need Joy Rituals—Especially Now
There’s so much we can’t control right now. Family demands, work obligations, world events… even the elusive question of when “normal” might return. Life rarely asks our permission before changing.
But amid all that uncertainty, we can choose to create small spaces of joy. These are the moments that remind us who we are, the ones that reconnect us to our own center.
Whether you call them rituals, routines, habits, or even indulgences, the intention is the same: to care for yourself in a way that sustains you.
The Silent Stigma of Taking Time for Ourselves
Here’s the tricky part—sometimes we feel uncomfortable even acknowledging our rituals, let alone talking about them. We worry others will think they’re silly, indulgent, or selfish.
The truth is, our culture often celebrates overwork and self-sacrifice, while quietly shaming rest and pleasure. So we sneak these moments in. We don’t always name them for what they are: a vital act of self-care.
And yet, for us to truly show up—for our kids, our partners, our friends, our communities—we have to take care of ourselves first.
Put on Your Oxygen Mask First
Think of it as the airline safety rule: “Put your own oxygen mask on before helping others.”
Your joy rituals are your oxygen mask. They keep you breathing, steady, and present enough to support the people and causes that matter most to you. Skipping them doesn’t make you stronger; it makes you depleted. And depletion doesn’t serve anyone.
Acknowledging Your Rituals
Maybe you’ll never tell anyone about your rituals, and that’s fine. The key is to acknowledge them to yourself. Recognize them as essential—not optional—for your well-being.
When we name and claim these moments, we shift them from unconscious habits into conscious acts of love for ourselves. That acknowledgment deepens their impact.
Joy Is in the Little Things
We often imagine joy as the grand finale that comes after we’ve ticked off all our goals and obligations. But joy isn’t something we have to wait for—it’s something we can weave into our lives right now.
Sometimes it’s a hot bath. Sometimes it’s your morning walk with the dog, the playlist you sing along to in the car, or that perfect first sip of coffee.
When we embrace these moments, we live a better quality of life. We’re not just showing up for our responsibilities; we’re showing up as the best version of ourselves.
Adapting in Changing Times
Of course, there are seasons when our usual rituals aren’t possible. Life changes. Schedules shift. The world throws curveballs.
When that happens, get creative. Open yourself to new possibilities. Trust that you’ll find (or be found by) new rituals that fill your cup. It might take a little experimenting, but joy has a way of finding its way back—if you let it.
