WHETHER it’s putting the kettle on or lighting our favourite candle, we all have our own rituals that help us to de-stress.
Research shows that the average Brit has four activities that keep them healthy and happy every day.
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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.
When it comes to relaxing, around 2,000 adults were surveyed. The most common ritual was having tea or coffee every day.
Others prefer to take the time to relax by looking out of their windows and eating away from their desks.
Brits have adopted rituals over the last 18 months to get through the coronavirus epidemic.
15% have set aside a day when the entire family can share a meal, to make sure they are still able to enjoy quality time amidst their busy schedules.
A third of the respondents claimed that their lives revolve around routines.
Healthspan’s Dr Meg Arroll, a psychologist, said that many routines and practices have been given new meanings due to the pandemic.
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 said that although the pandemic made it impossible to perform some rituals we used to swear by, many were able to make new ones.
A third of the people polled said they believe certain rituals make them feel better, while 33% use them to help them feel calmer.
It helps manage stress, according to 21% of those surveyed. 19% rely on them for their general mood improvement.
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.
Over a third of respondents believe rituals have helped their lives. 21 percent said they helped them to get through stressful periods.
Another 10% believe rituals prevented them from falling ill and nine percent say they helped them cope better with their children’s needs.
Others believe they have helped with a divorce or bereavement, starting a job, and retirement.
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.
43% of those surveyed feel they struggle with their physical fitness, while 40% need more 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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