Routine, Ritual, Rhythm: Embracing Nature’s Cycles to Find Balance
One of the things I’ve appreciated most about moving back to Seattle from Los Angeles has been re-experiencing the clear, distinct seasons. Feeling the crisp coolness of fall, the stillness of winter, the promise of spring, and the joyful bounty of summer has brought me into deeper alignment with nature’s cycles.
When we live in tune with these rhythms, it creates a powerful ripple effect. The patterns of day and night, the monthly phases of the moon, and the seasons of the year—all guide us back to our internal cycles and give rhythm to the seasons of life. In today’s fast-paced world, though, it’s easy to get disconnected. With constant movement, 24/7 communication, and artificial light all around, it takes conscious effort not to fall out of sync with nature’s flow.
The ancient Vedic healing system of Ayurveda teaches that reconnecting with the natural rhythms of our body and the Earth is essential to our well-being. It allows the innate intelligence of our body to restore balance, helping us feel more grounded, energized, and at ease.
How Routines Keep Us Grounded
In Ayurveda, vata—the combined elements of space and air—governs movement in the body and mind. Autumn is the season when vata is most active, bringing qualities of dryness, coolness, and irregularity. Without grounding, we can feel scattered, anxious, or unbalanced. A grounding routine helps stabilize vata and brings a sense of calm and centeredness to our daily life.
Some of us naturally fall into routine, while others (especially those with more vata in their constitution) may resist it. Yet, no matter our nature, creating a daily rhythm that suits us is one of the best ways to conserve energy and promote well-being.
Here are a few simple truths to guide you:
- Consistency creates ease and conserves energy. When we commit to repeating small actions regularly, they become second nature. Making decisions takes energy, and trying new things requires more effort than sticking to familiar habits. Consistency helps reduce stress and overwhelm, making our daily lives flow more smoothly and effortlessly.
- Routines create a sense of stability in times of change. Life is full of transitions, and having grounding routines can provide a comforting anchor, helping us stay balanced and centered even when external circumstances shift.
- We all fall into habits, whether we choose them or not. Becoming intentional about our routines helps us align our time with our values. How you spend your days is how you spend your life.
Practical Tip: Take a moment to reflect on how you’re spending your days. Try this simple exercise to assess how aligned your routines are with your priorities:
Make a pie chart of how you ideally want to divide your time between categories like self-care, work, relationships, hobbies, tasks, and rest. Then, block out how you currently spend your time on a weekly calendar. Compare the two. Where are the biggest gaps, and what small changes can help you close them?
Dinacharya: A Daily Self-Care Routine
In Ayurveda, the concept of dinacharya refers to the daily self-care routines that support our physical, mental, and spiritual health. Just as we care for a child or pet by ensuring their basic needs are met, we can organize our day to ensure we are caring for ourselves in simple, nourishing ways.
Here’s an example of my morning dinacharya:
- Wake up and take a moment to breathe into my body
- Snuggle with my dog
- Use the toilet, rinse my mouth, scrape my tongue, brush my teeth, and wash my face or shower
- Hydrate with 1/2-1 cup of warm water
- Do yoga or Qi Gong followed by pranayama and meditation
- Make and eat a nourishing breakfast
- Walk my dog while listening to something inspiring or talking to a loved one
Practical Tip: Review your current morning routine and reflect on how you feel when you start your days. Identify a small, manageable change you’d like to implement, like drinking warm water upon waking or taking a few deep breaths before checking your phone. Notice how these small changes affect how you feel, and use any positive momentum to give you motivation to keep going until they become second nature. Reviewing your routines at the change of season is a nice practice, or perhaps once a year if they are already quite refined.
The Power of Resonant Rituals
While routines help ground us in our day-to-day, rituals are essential for marking transitions and honoring the sacred parts of life. Rituals allow us to connect with the deeper meaning behind our actions, reminding us of our values and purpose.
We inherit many rituals from our family and culture—like holiday celebrations, birthdays, or funerals. However, part of living in alignment with our authentic selves involves creating or adapting rituals that resonate with us on a personal level. Do you have ways to difficult emotions? Do you have ways of reflecting on your growth or celebrating personal achievements? Are there pockets of personal joy that light up your heart?
Reflect on the rituals in your life. Where did they come from and what do they mean to you now? Are there any new rituals you could cultivate to reflect your current intentions or season of life? Whether it’s a monthly new moon ceremony, journaling before bed to process emotions, or setting personal goals at the start of each season, practicing rituals that resonate with our spirits keeps us connected to ourselves and to what we feel is important in life.
My Personal Routines & Rituals
Over the years, I’ve cultivated routines and rituals that align with my nature and support my health. Here are a few that have helped me live in greater harmony with my body and the changing seasons:
- Cooking fresh food daily and eating meals at consistent times.
- Adjusting my diet to reflect seasonal needs.
- Tracking my menstrual cycle and honoring the natural increases and decreases in energy levels.
- Setting aside one day each week for rest, self-care, and personal projects.
- Keeping ‘wellness notes’ to track my health and growth over time.
- Holding a new moon ceremony each month to reflect on the past month and set intentions for the next.
- Practicing a daily dinacharya (see above), including yoga, meditation, and mindful eating.
- Taking one day at the end of each month to review my finances (and not worrying about it the rest of the time unless something is urgent!).
Practical Tip: Start small. Choose one new or updated ritual or routine to incorporate into your life. It could be as simple as lighting a candle each morning as a symbol of starting your day with intention or taking a few minutes to stretch and breathe before bed.
Continuous, Curious Refinement
As with nature, cycles teach us that we are never done. The most beautiful part of life is that we are constantly evolving. I’m still refining my practices, and that’s what keeps it interesting and makes it fun! Here are a few routines and rituals I’m currently working on:
- Setting aside time each week to plan meals and review my upcoming schedule.
- Curating seasonal recipes that reflect the best foods for my constitution and the current season.
- Creating a more calming wind-down routine at night to prepare for restful sleep (I’ve recently started experimenting with self-massage before bed and love it!).
Your Rhythm, Your Life
While your routines and rituals will look different from mine or anyone else’s, every living being on Earth thrives on rhythm and cycles. As humans, we have the unique ability to consciously choose how we spend our time—and how we experience life as a result.
When we embrace grounding routines and resonant rituals, we start to hear the music of our lives. Slowly but surely, we learn to dance to the rhythm of our own natural flow.