Simple Ways to Romanticise Your Life
A happy coincidence that has come about since embarking on an Instagram detox at the start of the month is that I’m still romanticising my own life, outside of a public gaze. One of the things that I pondered pre-detox was whether or not I’d still bother making my life look, feel and sound poetic without the lens of Instagram as a pressurising force. Thankfully, I’ve learned that I am just a soft Pisces girlie that likes to romanticise life and make the everyday as pretty and lovable as possible.
If you also want to begin romanticising your life, then here are some of my favourite ways to do so.
Find a cute cup for your morning matcha/coffee/tea
Really, never underestimate the power of a good, handmade ceramic cup or mug. We all love starting the day with a hot drink. Romanticising life does revolve a little around the aesthetic qualities of your day, and it makes all the difference when the small things connect the dots too. I’m really loving the Eloise Rose Studios mug that I picked up at the Salad Days Market back in December, but I also have this strawberry ceramic mug, this fluted mug and these heart-print mini handleless mugs bookmarked on Etsy. Perfect for my morning oat milk matcha lattes.
Slow it all down
The biggest difference I’ve noticed since romanticising my life is deciding to slow everything down. I really believe that most of us live life too fast, stacking habits and tasks, multitasking, always looking to what’s next. Instead, try paring it back and slowing things down. If you’re drinking your morning matcha, you’re drinking your morning matcha. If you’re preparing lunch, you’re preparing lunch. Focus wholly on that task, and try not to cut corners, save time or do two things at once.
Take a nature walk
Taking walks is something still inherently tied to pandemic activities and post-pandemic jokes, but a) COVID-19 is still around and b) daily walks and exercise are a real tonic, if you’re able to get involved. For me, a no-headphone, phone in pocket walk is essential. I love breathing in fresh air, listening to the trees and, often, spotting all the cute dogs of the neighbourhood. I take it even further with four weekly workouts that I prioritise. Of course, if you’re unable to talk walks, then opening a window to enjoy a crisp breeze and hear birdsong is also infinitely joyful and romantic.
Prepare meals from scratch
Hand in hand with slowing down, cooking is a wonderful way to romanticise life. Nourishing your body with whole foods and preparing meals from scratch connects you with an essential in life: food. As fun as the odd cheeky takeaway is, I always feel good when I’ve made a meal from scratch because it feels like a real achievement and it offers some manual activity and offline time. I’ve shared some of my favourite vegan recipes before, if you want some inspiration.
Candlelit evenings with a book or other hobby
Stop saving your nice candles for a special occasion! Every day is a special occasion. After work, light a candle and settle in with a book or some other hobby for a quiet evening. It’s pretty unbeatable after stretches of having a jam-packed diary.
Get ready and dressed, just for you
Because comfort is queen, it’s easy to return to cosy clothing time and time again. This feels like another COVID-19 leftover, and it’s one I actively worked on from 2022 onwards. Getting dressed and ‘ready’ in whichever form suits you helps to get you in the mindset for a productive day, and you’ll feel better in yourself when you look like yourself. From matching loungewear sets for WFH days to polished everyday outfits for all the other days, I love the getting-ready ritual of my romanticised days.
Play a lo-fi playlist all day
Whenever I’m working from home, I love playing lo-fi beats all around the place. It’s relaxing, and it makes you feel like you’re in your very own little IRL YouTube vlog. Sweet!
Document your days
Perhaps it’s because I’ve captured my life in some way or another for the majority of my life, but I’ve always felt that documenting your days is a wonderful way of romanticising them. Everything can become a story; everything already is a story. Set yourself a challenge – whether you’re an online person or not! – to take photos or write notes, or both, at random moments throughout your day. Preserving everyday moments reveals the magic in the mundane and is a great way to, over time, realise that even the smallest, most average tasks and activities amount to a lot.
What’s one way you’ll be romanticising your life today?
