Be Inspired..!!

Because adulting is hard and lavender spray is cheaper than therapy.

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Every morning, I have a choice: wake up and let chaos punch me in the face… or do a few tiny things that help me feel like a human being again.

I used to think daily rituals were for yoga influencers who live in Bali, sip on $12 green juice, and always wake up at 5:00 a.m. with perfect skin and better lighting. But then life hit me hard—work stress, relationship drama, bills, texts left on “read,” and that overwhelming sense of what-am-I-even-doing-with-my-life? That’s when I realized I needed something, anything, to keep me grounded.

So I started small. Not with a full vision board or a 10-step morning routine, but with one thing: lighting a candle.

Yeah, a candle. That’s it.

I bought the Chesapeake Bay Mind & Body “Peace + Tranquility” Candle on a whim one stressful night while rage-scrolling through Amazon. It’s a soy candle with notes of cashmere jasmine—whatever that means—but it smells like a hug in a jar. The first time I lit it, something shifted. My apartment didn’t feel like a disaster zone anymore. It felt calm. Like maybe, for a few minutes, I could breathe again.

That little moment became my first ritual.

From there, I started building what I now call my “Don’t Freak Out Routine.” And trust me, it’s not fancy. It’s not about discipline or hustle—it’s about survival. And surprisingly, these small things actually work. They reduce stress in a way that feels doable, even on the busiest days.

Let me walk you through a few of mine—and I’ll link the actual products I use, because let’s be honest: if it’s not Prime, it’s not happening.

1. Morning: The Calm-Your-Crazy Coffee Moment

I don’t open emails before coffee. That’s a rule.

Every morning, I make my coffee using the Nespresso Vertuo Plus machine. It feels like a coffee shop came to live in my kitchen, minus the line and judgmental barista. I add a splash of oat milk and use this milk frother that makes it feel unnecessarily luxurious.

While it’s brewing, I take five deep breaths. That’s it. Just five.

Sometimes I say something nice to myself like, “You’re not behind in life, you’re just on your own timeline.” Other times, I just stare into the abyss of my plant and think about nothing. Both work.

2. Midday: The Sanity Walk + AirPods Therapy

Around 2:00 p.m., my brain turns into mashed potatoes. That’s when I force myself to go outside.

I grab my Stanley Quencher (because hydration is the one adult thing I can do consistently), put on my Apple AirPods, and go for a 15-minute walk. Not a power walk. Not a run. Just a “please-don’t-spiral” kind of stroll.

I listen to either a funny podcast (like Normal Gossip) or ambient forest sounds from Spotify. I pass by the same dog-walking old man every day, and we nod like we’re in a secret club of people just trying to keep it together.

Coming back from that walk, I always feel 10% less chaotic. And sometimes, 10% is enough to finish the rest of the day.

3. Evening: The Decompression Ritual That Smells Better Than My Life Choices

Okay, so I’m home. My inbox is terrifying. I’ve already eaten dinner standing in front of the fridge. Now it’s time to unplug my brain.

First, I spray my room with Dr Teal’s Sleep Spray—it’s lavender and chamomile and smells like a sleepy spa goddess whispered “relax” into your soul.

Then, I stretch. Not like intense yoga, just a 5-minute flow using a Liforme Yoga Mat because it doesn’t smell like rubbery sadness. I follow a YouTube video by a girl named Sarah who always reminds me to breathe like I haven’t been holding it in since 2009.

I also use a Hatch Restore Sound Machine and Sunrise Alarm Clock that slowly dims the lights and plays calming nature sounds. It’s bougie. It’s excessive. But my sleep has never been better.

4. Weekend Bonus: The “I’m a Clean Girl” Deep Clean Hack

Every Sunday, I put on my comfiest clothes, blast a cleaning playlist (90s R&B is elite), and deep clean my space with Method All-Purpose Spray and Scrub Daddy Sponges. I don’t know why, but a clean sink makes me feel like I might get my life together someday.

It’s like therapy, but with lemon-scented counters.

Does It Always Work? No. But… Also Yes.

Look, I still have anxious days. Sometimes I ignore my own advice and doom-scroll TikTok for two hours instead of doing my rituals. But most days? These small habits actually keep me from spiraling.

They tell my nervous system: “Hey, you’re safe. You’re doing your best. You can slow down now.”

And when my life feels like it’s spinning, these little rituals give me something predictable. Something gentle. Something that doesn’t ask anything from me except to be here now.

Some Quick Wins You Can Steal Today:

• Light a candle before opening your laptop. (Chesapeake Bay, thank me later.)

• Keep a journal by your bed and write one sentence each night. Not a novel. Just one sentence.

• Spray lavender on your pillow. Even if it doesn’t help, it’ll smell nice.

• Take a stupid walk for your stupid mental health.

• Pretend your water bottle is your emotional support buddy. Hydrate with it like it’s your job.

Final Thoughts: It’s Not About Control, It’s About Care

Daily rituals don’t make stress go away. But they do make it manageable.

They’re like little check-ins with yourself: “Hey, I see you. Let’s get through this together.”

You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to meditate for 30 minutes while balancing a rose quartz on your forehead. Just pick one thing that feels good—and do it with intention.

Because sometimes, the only thing standing between you and a meltdown… is a candle, a walk, and a hot cup of oat milk latte.

And if nothing else? Just breathe. Then hit “add to cart.”

Let the healing begin.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases, but this does not affect my recommendations.I only suggest products I’ve personally vetted.