Rituals vs. Habits: Bringing the Magic of December Into the Rest of the Year
As we know, December is the perfect month for rituals, and January is the perfect month for habits.
In December, we cherish everything—the long evenings spent with a candle and hot chocolate, homes beautifully decorated with lights and ornaments, the joy of Christmas songs playing in the car on the way to work. We make time to celebrate with friends and family, embracing the festive spirit. Even crowded shops don’t bother us as we pick out gifts for our loved ones. December, our beloved and long-awaited month, deserves it all.
But if we love this time of year so much, why not add a little bit of its magic to our daily lives throughout the rest of the year?
Then January arrives. With a slightly heavy head from New Year’s Eve, we clear out the decorations, clean our spaces, and embrace a fresh start. Motivation is high, and rituals give way to habits. But just like rituals, habits often don’t last long.
Rituals and habits may seem similar—they both involve repeated actions over time—but they differ in their approach. Habits often feel like obligations, things we push ourselves to do in order to achieve a future goal. Rituals, on the other hand, have a softness to them. They are things we want to do because they bring us immediate comfort and joy. They feel like a way of nurturing ourselves, of indulging in small moments of beauty.
But is taking care of ourselves really an indulgence? Or is it simply self-love?
Imagine the ritual of daily Pilates—soft music playing in the background, candles lit, a few drops of lavender oil diffusing into the air. What could feel like a chore transforms into a soothing experience. Or take dry brushing—yes, it can be a habit, but it can also be a ritual. Put on headphones with the Swan Lake soundtrack, sip a warm glass of lemon water afterward, and suddenly, it becomes a moment of self-care rather than just another task.
Romanticizing life has the power to make every day feel a little more special. So why wait until December to celebrate the beauty of daily life? There’s always room to let a little romance infuse our routines.
Let’s not forget that.
Wish you all a wonderful celebration this weekend.
Love
The Snob