Spiritual practices for busy lives: simple ways to stay connected during a chaotic week.
Do you ever feel like time is slipping through your fingers, moving faster than you can catch it? I do. It’s funny how, as a kid, the days felt endless. Now, it’s like they evaporate before we even realize. Can y’all slow down, pleaaaase?
Life pulls us in a hundred directions but living on autopilot only takes us so far before we crash. What I want to share with you are the small rituals that help me find my way back to center, a lifeline when life feels chaotic.
How do you know when you’re off-center?
This realization didn’t come easily for me. For years, I ignored my own needs, always attuned to everyone else’s (oh hello, empath?). But eventually, I had to ask myself: Am I even here in this moment?
Here are a few signs that I’m off-center:
My breathing feels shallow, fast and on the upper part of my chest.
I catch myself rushing through everything, even while washing my hands or… peeing. (TMI, but it’s like am I peeing or dreaming that I am?!)
My body feels tense, like it’s bracing for impact. (If this is you, soften your belly right now. Roll those shoulders. You deserve it.)
Get up to pick up something just to forget what was it.
“Wait-what? What did you just said?” moments that the mind when on a trip and forgot the body but also you don’t remember where it went lol
Picking at my fingers like Natalie Portman in Black Swan, and oh no, now it’s bleeding. Whyyyy.
Sound familiar? Hope not. But if it does, keep reading.
The key to awareness
After burning out one too many times, I had to get honest with myself. Why was I crashing so hard? I realized my energy was going everywhere. Here’s what helped me identify the leakage:
Time and Energy audits. I started noticing where my energy was going. What tasks or people drained me? What thoughts consumed me? What was actually urgent, and for whom?
Human Design. As a 5/1 Manifesting Generator, I learned that when I’m lit up by something, I tap into infinite energy. But when I force myself into a “hell no” task, burnout hits fast. Understanding this shifted everything and made me a bit more conscious about my boundaries (or lack of).
When you know your patterns and energy flow, you can start making choices that align with your needs. And it’s weird in the beginnig, but then it feels good.
What are rituals?
At their core, they’re simply actions done with intention. As simple as it can be.
Here are a few that ground me:
Greeting my home. Every morning and evening, I say “good morning” or “good night” to my house. She protects my family through every storm, and I’m grateful for her shelter. It’s so simple, but it helps me start the day with gratitude. Bom dia, casinha!
A calm breakfast. My favorite meal of the day. No notifications. No phone. Just me, my coffee, and a notebook for anything that comes to mind. As my corporate job is in sales and I work mostly from home, I appreciate the privilege of doing my own schedule and making this time for myself. But back when I used to commute long distances to work, I’d still ritualize my breakfast at the office in a way it wouldn't disrupt others.
Breathwork. Placing my hands on my heart and taking deep, intentional breaths when I feel myself speeding up. Soooftening the belly….
Akashic Records check-ins. Whenever I tap into my records, my guides always have something uplifting to share. This is nice as I tend to be my worst critic. Feeling supported, even when I feel lonely, hits like a hug.
Oracle cards & meditation. Pulling a card and meditating on its message feels like a gentle nudge from the universe. Yes, synchronicities.
Release by fire. Writing down things I no longer want to carry and burning the paper. Watching the flames transmute those heavy feelings is cathartic. Something about it teaches me I can let that go. Burnnn mtfk, burrnnnn!
Do I do these every day?
Nope. Life happens. But I try to pick at least one ritual when I feel off-center. Or even If I'm not. It makes me feel good. It’s about creating moments of intention even in the midst of chaos.👩🏫 Rituals = actions with intention. ❤️
What about you?
Do you have favorite rituals that help you reconnect? I’d love to hear about them. Send me a message to share your go-to practices, I’m always looking for inspiration!And if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, let’s work together. Book a session with me to explore how you can create meaningful rituals and reconnect with your center.Take care,Manu
