Rituals for Wellness

Little Ways I Return to Myself

Wellness, for me, has never been about perfection.
It’s not a 5 a.m. cold plunge or a green smoothie every single morning (though, no judgment if that’s your thing).
It’s not about achieving anything.

Lately, I’m learning that wellness is a quiet return.
To your body.
To your breath.
To the tiny decisions that say, “I want to feel good in my life.”

So today, I wanted to share a few of the rituals I keep coming back to—especially on the days that feel frayed around the edges. These are the small, sacred practices that help me feel more like myself.

🛁 1. The Evening Reset

Light. Water. Scent. A way to say thank you to the day.

When the sun starts to dip, I light a candle near the sink. I wipe down the counters slowly. I put on soft music—something instrumental, like I'm the main character in a cottage kitchen movie.

Some nights I take a bath with epsom salt, essential oils, and dried herbs tied in a little cloth sachet. I let the warmth pull me back into my body. And when I step out, I coat my skin in a simple oil blend—just enough to whisper, “You’re still here. You’re still worthy.”

✍️ 2. A Midday Pause to Check In

Because you don’t have to wait until you’re burnt out to come back to yourself.

Somewhere between emails, errands, or endless doing, I’ll stop for a moment. Sometimes it’s five minutes. Sometimes it’s just a deep breath by an open window.

This is when I might pull a journal prompt, sip something warm, or step outside to water the garden. Just a small interruption in the noise—a reminder that I’m allowed to return to softness at any point in the day.

📝 Try This Prompt: What does my body need from me right now? What can I give it—without guilt?

🕯 3. Scent as an Anchor

I’ve been blending my own scents lately—simple oils that carry something sacred. A drop of lavender on my wrist before bed. Rosemary diffused while I clean. A little wild orange when I need clarity.

Scent is memory. It’s mood. It’s medicine.
And in my home, it’s one of the easiest ways I create emotional sanctuary.

☁️ 4. The Ritual of Saying No

This one’s harder—but maybe the most powerful wellness ritual I’ve learned.

I no longer say yes to everything.
I no longer take on what doesn’t feel aligned.
I protect my peace, not out of fear—but because it’s mine to protect.

Wellness is boundaries, too. It’s choosing what honors your nervous system, your energy, and your becoming.

🌸 5. A Weekly Self-Tending Practice

Once a week, I try to create a moment that’s just for me—not content, not a task, not something to check off. A tending practice.

Sometimes it’s harvesting herbs and making something with them. Sometimes it’s a solo picnic. Sometimes it’s folding laundry while listening to a podcast that makes me feel seen.

I’ve stopped waiting for the “right time.” I’ve started claiming my own.

💌 A Final Note

These rituals aren’t about doing more.
They’re about doing the right small things.
The gentle, grounding things that make you feel human again.

So here’s your permission to slow down.
To light a candle. To say no.
To care for yourself like someone you deeply love.

You don’t have to earn your rest.
You don’t have to prove your worth.

Come home to yourself—again and again and again.

Journal Invitation:

What is one small, loving thing I could offer myself this week?
Let it be simple. Let it feel good. Let it come from care, not expectation.

With Love, Ilda