How rituals benefit your mental health
Rituals can be anything from your morning routine and family traditions to religious ceremonies.
A ritual is “the symbolic behaviors we perform before, during, and after a meaningful event,” and while they may look interesting to onlookers, these routines actually benefit our mental health. Rituals have been apparent throughout history: rain dances, tying shoes the same way before a big game or competition, funerals, religious ceremonies. Rituals aren’t a new thing, but their impacts on mental health are being uncovered more and more as time passes.
Rituals offer a structure, regularity, and predictability that we don’t experience often in other areas of our lives. Life is often marked by uncertainty and irregularity, and people are often praised if they can be flexible and think on the fly. So it makes sense that ritual routines can actually ground us when we get caught up in an uncertain world and life.
Because rituals give us structure, they have been proven to help us cope with difficult life events, feelings, and situations. “Ritual allows for the recognition of emotional distress in a [social setting] that provides secure boundaries in which to relive and experience emotional pain and suffering.” For example, if a loved one leaves or passes away, creating a ritual to honor them or even to help us get out of bed in the morning has been proven to ease the feelings of loss. People facing situations that induce anxiety typically take comfort in engaging in preparatory activities, inducing a feeling of being back in control and reducing uncertainty. Again, that’s the power of a routine. Whether it means tying your shoes the same way before a race or saying the same mantra before work meetings, rituals have been proven to reduce anxiety of events that are out of our control.
When I broke my back, I could no longer cope with difficult situations by exercising, so I created a ritual routine, and slowly, day by day, the feelings of relief compounded. If consistency isn’t a strong suit when it comes to rituals and routines, there are apps you can use to create your routines for you and help you stay consistent. Try Routinery and check out some of these lists to create a routine that works for you.
Recent research suggests that rituals may be more rational than they appear. Why? Because even simple rituals can be extremely effective. But effective in alleviating our anxiety and stress.
“Malinowski suggested that people are more likely to turn to rituals when they face situations where the outcome is important and uncertain and beyond their control – as when sharks are present.”
Some things people gain from rituals include the following:
Greater sense of control
Improves attention
Increases emotional stability
Builds confidence
Mitigates grief caused by life-changing losses (such as the death of a loved one)
Decrease disappointment or frustration with an experience (losing a game)
Enhances consumption experiences (“No wrong way to eat a Reese’s”)
If you’re reading this, it might be time to create a totally new ritual for you, your family, or your community.
Take some time to notice what rituals you have throughout your day and the impact they are having on your wellbeing. And try to discover which rituals are missing that you could bring back into your days, maybe with a new location (your home) or look (with a facemask).