3 'Ritual Days' You Need To Add To Your Monthly Calendar

Want to get your life together? Add these three 'ritual days' to your calendar, and watch what happens.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | July 26, 2024

Adulthood can sometimes feel like a juggling act—balancing work, relationships and everything in between. Finding a sense of order and well-being can be a challenge.

But here's a tip—using a calendar to schedule your time can really make a difference. It's not just about keeping track of appointments and deadlines but it's also about consciously choosing what is important and making time for it. Seeing your schedule laid out helps you tackle life's complexities with clarity and purpose.

To help you streamline your life and boost your overall happiness, consider scheduling these three crucial days each month. Each one serves a special purpose in keeping you organized, rested and inspired.

1. 'Get Your Ducks In A Row' Day

This day is all about taking charge and staying ahead of those essential yet easily neglected tasks that keep life running smoothly. In our busy lives, it's easy for these small but critical responsibilities to accumulate, leading to unnecessary stress and disorganization. By setting aside a specific day each month to tackle these tasks head-on, you ensure they're handled efficiently and consistently.

Tasks to tackle could include:

Paying bills. Make sure all your bills—utilities, rent or mortgage, credit cards—are paid on time to avoid late fees and maintain a healthy credit score.
Organizing finances. Review your bank statements, update your budget and assess your financial goals. It's a perfect opportunity to plan for upcoming expenses, adjust savings or manage investments.
Scheduling appointments. Book those medical check-ups, dental visits or any other necessary appointments that you have been pushing on the backburner. This is also a good time to check in on upcoming renewals for things like insurance policies or subscriptions.
Decluttering. Research has shown that holding onto items of little value can contribute to feelings of depression. Therefore, take some time to tidy up your living and working spaces by organizing your closet, clearing out old paperwork or tidying up your digital files and emails.
Household maintenance. Attend to minor home repairs, car maintenance or any other upkeep tasks that might be necessary.

Here's how this day is beneficial:

Regularly managing your financial and administrative tasks ensures that you stay on top of your obligations, keeping your finances and paperwork in order and helping you avoid late payments, unnecessary fees and the stress of last-minute scrambles.
Addressing tasks before they become urgent reduces stress and anxiety that can pile up when responsibilities are left unattended.
Completing these tasks on a dedicated day provides a sense of accomplishment and control over your life, allowing you to feel more organized and less overwhelmed by daily responsibilities.

This structured approach also ensures smoother day-to-day operations by freeing up other days for more focused and productive work, maintaining a clear and uncluttered mind that maximizes efficiency.

2. 'Idle Hands' Day

In our hyper-connected world, where constant activity and engagement have become the norm, burnout is an all-too-common consequence. An idle hands day or a relaxation day is a designated time to unplug, relax and recharge without any obligations or plans. This day is about giving yourself permission to rest, reflect and simply be, without feeling guilty about it. It's a chance to hit pause and step away from the relentless pace of daily life.

During this day, you might choose to:

Unplug from technology. The side effects of constant online activity are numerous, including physical symptoms like headaches, eye strain, body aches and disrupted sleep patterns. Moreover, relying too heavily on digital communication can impede face-to-face interactions and lead to feelings of loneliness. Therefore, take a day off to turn off your phone, log out of social media and step away from your computer. Disconnecting from the digital world helps you to be present and reduce the constant influx of information.
Rest and relax. Spend the day engaging in restful activities like reading a book, taking a leisurely walk, meditating or simply lounging around. The key is to avoid anything that feels like a chore or obligation.
Reflect. Use this time to reflect on your thoughts, feelings and life in general. This can be done through journaling, meditating or simply sitting quietly. Reflection can help you gain insights into your life and what matters most to you.

Taking time to do nothing offers numerous benefits for your well-being. First, it allows your mind and body to recuperate from daily stress by providing a much-needed break from continuous activity. Stepping away from routine tasks promotes mental clarity and creativity as your brain resets and explores new ideas freely. Emotionally, this brings in a sense of peace and contentment by allowing you to reconnect with yourself and appreciate life's simple pleasures. Paradoxically, dedicating a day to doing nothing can also increase productivity in the long run by renewing your energy and sharpening your focus for the tasks ahead.

3. 'Monthly Recap Of The Mind' Day

Take this day off to take a step back to reflect on the past month, celebrate your progress and plan ahead with intention. It's your dedicated time to pause, acknowledge your achievements and set a clear path for the future.

Here's how you can spend this day.

Review your journal. Take some quiet time to read through your journal entries from the past month. Reflect on what you've accomplished, how you've felt and the lessons you've learned. This practice helps you see patterns in your behavior and emotions, offering valuable insights into your personal growth.
Set new goals. Based on your reflections, think about what you want to achieve in the coming month. Your goals could range from personal aspirations like starting a new hobby or improving your fitness, to professional ambitions like completing a project or learning a new skill. Setting clear, achievable goals keeps you motivated and gives you something to strive for.
Plan for the future. Use what you've learned from your reflections and goal-setting to outline your schedule for the next month. Incorporate your new goals and adjust based on what worked well and what didn't. This ensures that your month ahead is well-organized and aligned with your priorities.

This practice keeps you grounded and provides a mental reset. Regularly reflecting on your experiences and achievements builds a deeper connection with yourself. While doing this, take a moment to acknowledge the positive aspects of your month. Write down things you are grateful for, no matter how small. Gratitude can significantly boost your mood and outlook on life, making you more appreciative of your journey along the way.

Want to know how badly you need to implement these three ritual days into your monthly routine? Take the Brief Resilience Scale for a science-backed answer.

A similar version of this article can also be found on Forbes.com, here, and on PsychologyToday.com, here.