Romancing the Ordinary: the wellbeing benefits of falling in love with your life

This week, I invite you to embrace the magic of the everyday, to romance the ordinary and fall in love with your own life. This idea is explored in one of my favourite books, Romancing the Ordinary: A Year of Simple Splendor, by Sarah Ban Breathnach. Organised as a yearbook, it shows you how to celebrate your senses seasonally, monthly and weekly as well as incorporating small rituals to bring more beauty, joy and love into your daily life.

You may ask, why is romancing the ordinary so beneficial for our wellbeing? Well, because when we slow down and appreciate the little things, we cultivate gratitude, mindfulness and a deeper connection with ourselves. Our stress levels lower and our happiness increases.

How to romance the ordinary

Savor the senses

One of the most immediate ways to romance the ordinary is to engage your senses fully. Take pleasure in the warmth and aroma of your morning tea or coffee. Inhale the scent of fresh flowers or a scented candle on your desk. Wear a favourite perfume everyday. Feel invigorated with a cool spritz at the end of your shower. Embrace the warmth and softness of a cozy throw when reading or watching TV. Engaging with your senses in a mindful way brings an instant sense of grounding and joy.

Create everyday rituals

In Romancing the Ordinary, Sarah Breathnach suggests simple rituals to make ordinary moments feel special. Whether it’s lighting a candle while you journal, drinking your tea or coffee in a special cup, setting the table for your meals, taking a sunrise / set walk, indulging in a luxurious night time wind down routine with an aromatherapy bath, having a regular date night with someone special / group of friends or a yearly weekend away solo / with others, these small acts elevate the mundane into something pleasurable.

Curate your surroundings

Your environment plays a significant role in how you feel. Adding soft lighting, fresh flowers or plants, cozy textures and or seasonal decor can make your space feel like a sanctuary. Give your bathroom a spa like feel with candles, aromatherapy and fluffy towels. Make your bedroom a calm haven by removing clutter, adding fresh flowers, fragrant candles and clean crisp sheets. Even reorganising your wardrobe to reflect your personal style can bring a sense of delight.

Dress for yourself

Fashion is another way to romance the everyday. Wear colours and fabrics that make you feel beautiful, even if you're just at home. Investing in small, beautiful accessories or comfortable yet elegant loungewear can shift your mood and make you feel good.

Find seasonal joys

Each season brings unique pleasures—spring’s fresh blooms, summer’s bountiful produce, autumn’s cozy jumpers and winter’s fire and candlelit evenings. Noticing and celebrating these seasonal delights keeps life feeling interesting by offering variety.

Indulge in simple pleasures.

Prioritise simple joys

These don’t have to be extravagant. Think spending time to research, shop and cook a lovely new dish, take an hour to curl up in your favourite spot with a good book, take a regular mindful walk in nature where you really notice the sights, sounds, smells and textures of the every changing environment or make it a habit to write and send thank you cards to people who have given you joy and happiness.

Practice gratitude

The more you romance the ordinary, the more you’ll notice just how much beauty exists in your life. Keep a gratitude journal or take a moment each day to reflect on what brought you joy. This practice will help you reinforce this mindset. Happiness begets happiness.

Over to you

By romancing the ordinary, you create a life that feels rich, vital and fulfilling.

Grab a delicious drink, sit in a comfy spot and make a list of simple pleasures you can start to incorporate into your everyday life. Then try to do at least or more a day, week and month.

We’d love to hear in the comments how you romance the ordinary in your life.