Creative Rituals: What They Are & How To Build Them
One of the most frustrating challenges I face as an ADHDer is creating consistent routines and — dare I say — habits. The idea that some people move through their mornings without having to think (and think and overthink) about whether they should brush their teeth or wash their face next is wild to me.
Some days, I’m happy with how I move through the world — I can even romanticize it, which I think is super important. After all, I’m spontaneous and whimsical. Other days, I find myself desperate for one of those soothing morning routines we all love on YouTube.
One week, I crave minimalism and a rock-solid journaling practice; the next, I fantasize about supporting my creative practice with a daily hike. Julia Cameron’s morning pages call to me and I struggle to answer.
Sometimes it feels like the only consistency I have is my desire for consistency. Over the last several years, though, I’ve found some ways to create routines that work with my brain and support my creative practice.
Creating RoutineS Around Your Needs
Creating routines around my actual needs rather than aspirations has been a game changer as I develop a more consistent and meaningful creative practice. I’ve found that looking at routines through a lens of support can create the context necessary to create consistency however and whenever I need it.
Here are some tips for creating routines around your needs:
Make Routines Work for You
Always remember that the whole point of creating routines and habits is to simplify, streamline, and support your life. YOUR life. The routines you implement in your own life don’t have to look like routines to anyone else, they just need to meet you where you are. Right now.
Keep Routines Flexible
Because of my ADHD and hEDS, the level of support I need changes from day to day, and this is also true for creatives without disabilities. Our routines can and should shift to meet those evolving needs. It’s important to leave space for those changes and to remember there’s no shame in making adjustments throughout the day, week, month, or year. Some days, my joints feel strong enough for hand-building and crochet; I reserve the other days for rest and writing.
Focus on Your “Why”
It becomes a lot easier to stay motivated if we can look at routines as a way to support our goals and desires — instead of as barriers to those desires. There may always be parts of our days or jobs we don’t enjoy (laundry, dishes, monotonous tasks). BUT these tasks become easier to manage if we reframe them as acts of self-care that support our ability to do the things we actually want to do.
Exercising is one of the most boring tasks I face each day. Yet, it becomes much easier to stomach when I remind myself it will keep my body strong enough to make art and do the things I love.
Reframe Routine as Ritual
Looking at some of my routines as rituals instead of habits has also made it easier to prioritize what’s important to me — even in the face of executive dysfunction. Rituals allow us to pause, seek joy in the mundane, and find beauty in everyday acts we might otherwise rush. By creating these meaningful moments throughout our day, we can begin to build consistency without the hustle of “habits.”
In his book Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout, Cal Newport shares this advice about creating rituals:
First, form your own personalized rituals around the work you find most important. Second, in doing so, ensure your rituals are sufficiently striking to effectively shift your mental state into something more supportive of your goals.
How To Create Rituals That Support Your Goals
Creating rituals that support your creative goals is all about designing intentional moments in your day that align with your values, needs, and goals. Here’s how to build meaningful rituals that help you stay focused, inspired, and productive:
1. Clarify Your Goals
Start by identifying what you want to achieve. Is it more creativity? Financial stability? A better work-life balance? Your rituals should directly support these priorities. If you’re not sure where to start, check out my journal prompts for building a creative practice.
2. Anchor Rituals to Existing Habits
Stack new rituals onto things you already do. For example:
If you want to create more art, sketch for 10 minutes while drinking your morning coffee.
If you want to improve your finances, review your budget before checking social media.
One of my new habits is cleaning the kitchen while I launder fabric for a new sewing project. I commit around 30 minutes to tasks I usually ignore (like washing dishes) and I have something to look forward to when it’s done!
3. Start Small and Meaningful
Rituals don’t have to be elaborate, but they do benefit from some consistency. Make sure your ritual has a low barrier to entry — if it’s overly complex or requires too much prep, you’re less likely to commit. Light a candle before writing, take a deep breath before starting work, or set a daily intention in a journal. Small moments of mindfulness add up.
4. Make It Enjoyable
You won't stick to a ritual if it feels like a chore. Infuse joy into the process — play music while doing admin tasks, use a special notebook for planning, or set up a cozy creative space.
5. Use Visual Cues to Stay on Track
Set reminders, use alarms, or leave visual cues (like a sketchbook on your desk) to reinforce your rituals. The more automatic these rituals become, the easier they are to maintain.
6. Reflect and Adjust
Every few weeks, check in with yourself. Are your rituals still serving you? If not, make adjustments to better align with your evolving goals.
Rituals don’t have to be rigid; they’re there to support you, not restrict you. By embedding them into your day with intention and flexibility, you create a sustainable rhythm that fuels your creativity, business, and well-being.
xox Kiah
