The Mindfulness Practice That Encourages You To Romanticize Your Life
It is easy to get bogged down by the stress and struggles of everyday life. From career pressure to family responsibilities and financial strain, attempting to prioritize self-care usually gets put onto the back burner. But according to PsychCentral, avoiding your physical and mental needs can lead to a lack of motivation, burnout, and even depression that will affect every aspect of your life. If you're looking for a creative way to ease your anxiety and boost your mood, try romanticizing your life.
Romanticizing your life is the new mindfulness trend that gained popularity during the pandemic, causing people to embrace the beauty in their everyday moments while stuck in quarantine. TikTok creator Ashley Ward shared her mindfulness philosophy back in 2020, stating, "You have to start thinking of yourself as the main character. Because if you don't, life will continue to pass you by. And all the little things that make it so beautiful will continue to go unnoticed."
While we are no longer socially distant, many are still enjoying the practice of romanticizing the everyday moments in their lives.
Start romanticizing your every day moments with these helpful tips
Practicing mindfulness is being present with your body and mind, removing all distractions, and focusing on your current physical, emotional, and mental state. It allows you to check in with yourself and notice symptoms you may otherwise have ignored. According to VeryWellMind, many of the typical mindfulness practices include meditation, body scanning, and yoga. Romanticizing your life takes mindfulness to the next level while pursuing the little things that bring you happiness.
You're the main character in your life story, and it's time you start treating yourself like one. Pretend you're in your favorite romance novel or cheesy rom-com, except the person you're destined to fall in love with is yourself. Listen to what your body and mind respond positively to, then take active steps to pursue them in your everyday routine. Writer Camille Styles shares that romanticizing your life can be found in your morning cup of coffee, a good book, or a trip to the grocery store for a bouquet of flowers just for you. If you feel better after your daily skincare routine, invest in a good quality product that makes you feel like your best self. Rather than waiting for prince charming to sweep you off your feet and show you love, show yourself all you deserve.
Taking time to enjoy the little things you do for yourself every day will take practice, but over time you will start to feel appreciated by your number one: you.
Your mindfulness practices are as unique as you are
The trend of romanticizing your life may have started on TikTok, but it works best when you stop scrolling. Watching how your favorite influencers romanticize their life is a great way to find inspiration for your practice, but too much social media might make you sad. While they are romanticizing their life on a luxury cruise or a weekend spa trip, you might find yourself frustrated that your DIY facial and myriad of streaming services don't measure up. Try your best not to compare your life to theirs, especially when you know you aren't in the same tax bracket.
The practice of romanticizing your life is all about appreciating what you have in front of you that brings you joy, not daydreaming about the things you wish you had. According to The New York Times, author and professor Dr. Eric B. Loucks researched how mindfulness impacts stress levels and symptoms of depression. He found that each mindfulness practice will look different depending on the individual, saying, "If we're trying to build a life that makes us happy and put ourselves in the center of it in a kind way, well, each of us are different." Find the beauty in your mundane routine and weekly grocery store trips, even if you're only pretending at first. You'll be surprised at how quickly your mood changes when you start to appreciate the little things.