We’ve made it! This is the final newsletter of the year, friends. I am struggling at home with a couple of young adult kids who just really don’t make life easy sometimes. My struggle isn’t with trying to make them do anything; it’s with reminding myself that my job is to love them and let them handle their own business while I focus on controlling what I can control.
Damn, that’s hard sometimes.
In my efforts to do so, I’m looking for all the ways I can act with intention. Whether you’re struggling with others or just trying to get through everything standing between you and the end of the year, I’m hopeful that these thoughts will support you.
I’m so very glad you’re part of my community. Thank you for all the notes you send me, for reading, and for being here. I hope the winter holiday season is full of good health, good company, and peace for you.
Small Rituals, Big Impact
My morning routine fell apart last Tuesday.
I woke up to three urgent emails, a meeting that had been moved up by two hours, and the realization that I’d forgotten to prep for a client call. Before I even got out of bed, I was already behind.
So I skipped my usual morning rhythm – the quiet coffee, the few minutes of reflection, the moment to just be before the day started demanding things from me. I told myself I’d catch up later. (Spoiler: I didn’t.)
By midday, I felt scattered, reactive, and about two steps behind everything that mattered. It wasn’t until the evening that I realized what was missing. It wasn’t time I’d lost. It was the anchor.
As we navigate these final stretches of the year, when everything feels like it’s spinning faster, we need anchors more than ever. Not elaborate self-care routines that take an hour. Not perfect morning rituals that require waking up at 5 AM.
We need small, doable rituals that ground us when the chaos threatens to sweep us away.
What Makes a Ritual Different from a Routine
I used to think these words were interchangeable. They’re not. A routine is functional. It’s the things you do to get through the day – brush your teeth, make coffee, check email. A ritual is intentional. It’s something you do for yourself, with presence and purpose. It’s a moment where you pause and reconnect with what matters.
The difference isn’t in what you do. It’s in how you do it.
Making coffee while mentally running through your task list? That’s routine.
Making coffee while noticing the warmth of the mug, taking three deep breaths, and setting an intention for your day? That’s ritual.
Same activity. Completely different impact.
Why We Need Anchors Right Now
When life gets chaotic – and let’s be honest, these final weeks of the year are inherently chaotic – we lose our sense of grounding. We react instead of respond. We rush instead of flow. We disconnect from ourselves while trying to be everything for everyone else.
Small rituals act as anchors. They’re the moments throughout your day that bring you back to center. Back to yourself. Back to what actually matters.
And here’s what I’ve learned: they don’t need to be big or time-consuming to be powerful. Sometimes the smallest gesture – one intentional breath, one moment of stillness – is enough to shift everything.
Building Your Own Anchors
The best rituals are the ones that actually fit your life, not the ones that look good on Instagram. Here are some ideas, but please adapt them to what works for you:
Morning anchors – before the day takes over:
- Three deep breaths before getting out of bed
- One minute of silence with your coffee or tea
- Stretching while you wait for your coffee to brew
Midday resets – when the momentum threatens to carry you away:
- A five-minute walk outside, even if it’s just to the parking lot
- Eating lunch away from your desk, even for ten minutes
- One song that shifts your energy
Evening wind-downs – to help you leave the day behind:
- A ten-minute journaling session to process the day
- Changing out of work clothes as a signal that work time is over
- Reading something that has nothing to do with work
The key isn’t doing all of these. It’s choosing one or two that resonate and actually doing them consistently.
When Rituals Feel Impossible
I know what you’re thinking. “Ellen, I barely have time to breathe. How am I supposed to add more to my day?”
Here’s the thing: rituals don’t add to your day. They reclaim moments that already exist. You’re already making coffee. You’re already eating lunch (I hope). You’re already transitioning from work to evening. The ritual isn’t about adding time. It’s about bringing intention to time you’re already spending.
And on the days when even that feels impossible? That’s when you need it most.
On my worst days, my ritual becomes this: one hand on my heart, three deep breaths, and the reminder that I’m doing the best I can. That’s it. Thirty seconds. And it’s enough to bring me back.
You don’t need to design the perfect set of rituals before you begin. You just need to start.
Pick one small thing. One moment in your day where you can bring more intention, more presence, more groundedness. Maybe it’s your morning coffee. Maybe it’s three breaths before meetings. Maybe it’s how you transition from work to home.
Whatever it is, commit to it for the rest of the year. Just this one small thing.
And notice what happens.
Notice how that one moment of groundedness ripples through your day. Notice how it steadies you when things get chaotic. Notice how it reminds you that you have agency, even when everything feels out of control.
Bottom line?
These final weeks of the year are going to be demanding. There’s no way around that.
But you get to choose how you move through them.
You can white-knuckle your way to the finish line, depleted and disconnected. Or you can create small moments throughout your day that anchor you, ground you, and remind you that you’re more than your to-do list.
Small rituals. Big impact.
I’ll be over here, making my coffee with intention and taking my three deep breaths before I dive into the day. Join me?
We’ve got this. One small ritual at a time.
Want to learn more about how I support and work with clients? Let’s chat. Booking now for spring 2026.
