All throughout your life, you’ve had great days and bad ones. And on those worst days or maybe even weeks, you may have felt very sluggish, unmotivated even. You might start counting the days instead of making them count. But how does one make every day count? The answer is through romanticizing your life.
What is romanticising? Romanticising is the act of glamorizing or viewing the events of your day-to-day life, whether they be simple routines or complex situations, as attractive, special and positive, more often so than they are in reality. It involves focusing on aesthetic and joyful elements while minimizing negative aspects.
How can you romanticize your life? A lot of people start doing this by creating new routines for themselves or simply taking a break from their normal routine. Instead of waking up an hour or 30 minutes before school starts, you can wake earlier and study for a little or revise your work for a little bit. Since school starts at 7:25 a.m., you could wake up at 5:25 a.m., get ready for school and then do some schoolwork. Waking up early can give you time in the morning to slow down, relax and maybe even plan out your day, before it gets too busy.
Second thing you could do is to dress more purposely; wear an outfit that you feel good about and comfortable in.This act can make you feel like more of a ‘main character’ in your own life, boosting confidence. After that, have a healthy breakfast that will give you the energy you need to tackle the day. Make sure to include a balance of fruits, veggies, some proteins and carbs.
According to Alexis Kingsley, the next thing you could do is have an organizer to plan your assignments or plan your study schedule or an evening routine. Planning gives you control, allowing you to mindfully segment your time rather than just winging it and ending up not doing assignments because of procrastination.
During free time, take the time to go for a walk, workout at the gym or at home, read a book, journal about your day or do any hobbies that you have. Play music while doing chores and cooking.
Why should you romanticize your life? Romanticizing your life allows you to find joy, beauty and meaning in daily routines. This practice helps boost mental well-being and reduce stress. By seeing and treating yourself as the ‘main character,’ of your own story, you shift from a more passive existence to active appreciation, gratitude and mindfulness in living, building resilience and making ordinary memories into special memories. By intentionally savoring the small moments, you cultivate self-esteem, improve focus and build positive, lasting neural pathways to enhance overall happiness.
According to Michigan Daily, a study at Brown University demonstrated the benefits of incorporating practices of romanticizing into college students’ lives. It showed a decrease in stress and symptoms of depression and improved quality of sleep. In the same vein, expressing gratitude releases dopamine, stimulating feelings of pleasure and happiness.
Romanticizing doesn’t have to be the things that everyone on the internet shows. It’s about making your life happier and healthier by doing whatever you’re happy with.
