One trend I loved in 2023 was this notion of bringing ✨ main character energy ✨ as you went about your day-to-day.
You exude main character energy by romanticizing your life, finding little ways to shift your attention away from your to-do list & onto the things that sprinkle in joy.
This list is not special, & most of it is probably not going to be new to you—but are you actually implementing them? 👀
If you’ve been looking for a sign to start putting these things into practice, this is it.
The difference between these words being meaningless & magical is completely up to you. It lies in your commitment to trying them out & seeing what feels good enough to incorporate into your life.
Let’s Get Romanticizin’!
1. Light candles! When you’re reading, dinnering, showering, etc.
Okay, I whole-heartedly believe that lighting can make or break a vibe. There’s nothing worse than when you’re trying to relax for the evening & there’s some harsh, fluorescent light that reminds you of your to-do list.
Lighting candles has been a total game-changer for our home.
I’ve made it a small goal to try to light a candle during dinner, & I’ve also been curating a spa-like environment by taking my nightly shower by candlelight. It is so soothing & lets my body know that it’s time to relax.
Try to look for a beeswax or soy wax candle, because the harsher ones from places like Bath & Body Works contain a lot of parabens that can negatively impact our hormone health.
If you want a long candle, here is a pretty 10” beeswax one.
If you want something that smells good, I would highly recommend finding something from Primally Pure. They are pricier, but they are made with non-toxic ingredients so you can be sure that you won’t be inhaling fumes for the sake of vibes lol. (Use my link for $10 off your purchase of $50!).
2. Take pictures of things that bring you joy.
Whether it’s getting to see an old friend, screen shotting a sweet message from your grandma, the first flower of the spring, your cute yellow rainboots against the freshly sprinkled ground, your partner’s beautiful smile, your niece’s giggle…
Be intentional about capturing sweet moments.
Then, put them in a separate album on your phone so you can look at them when you need a little twinge of happiness!
3. Listen to “old” music.
It’s just not as stimulating, the lyrics are nice, & the instruments are so, so pretty.
I know a lot of people love listening to records but I personally don’t have a vinyl record player & tbh, I don’t love the idea of needing to have a lot of different vinyls. It does seem very vibey, though!
I created this Spotify playlist with older Mexican songs (& some Brazilian jazz sprinkled in) that are so soothing. It’s one of my favorite genres to listen to! Check it out right here! 👇🏽
Fun story: I am a hospice nurse & I have a patient with late-stage Alzheimer’s who can’t really talk or interact anymore. However, they looove this type of music, & when I go to visit they are dancing along to the tunes. It is so wholesome & beautiful to watch!
4. Send snail mail to people that you love.
Have you ever unexpectedly received a letter? Didn’t it just absolutely make your day?
Did you prop it up on your desk, or rave to your partner about it, or stick it up on your fridge?
How awesome would it be to make someone else feel that way?
I love swinging by the Trader Joe’s cards section as I’m trying to avoid the snack aisle (😅) to see if there is something that reminds me of one of my amiguis. Then, I’ll head home & send it over!
As an added creative bonus, use this as an opportunity to practice some hand lettering or watercolor drawing to decorate the envelope!
5. Reserve some skincare for extra special days/nights.
Now, I don’t mean you need a specific reason to do it, but it definitely feels like a treat to have some bonus items that you can do when you have more time or need a pick me up.
This can be a soothing face mask, an extra long lymphatic drainage massage, a relaxing bath…
For me, this normally means these Dieux Skincare forever eye masks in the morning & using Primally Pure’s facial cups at night.
When they say forever, they are not kidding! This is a reusable eye mask that you can pair with your favorite eye cream. I personally use Dieux’s eye cream as well, Auracle, & love it!
I’ve had these eye masks for well over two years & they are still basically brand new!
These facial cups are a similar concept to “conventional” cupping but much more gentle. Your skin won’t turn red, but it definitely helps to move lymphatic fluid & release muscle tension.
I have genuinely noticed an immediate difference in my skin after using it, but you aren’t supposed to do it more than three times a week (so your skin has time to rejuvenate between sessions), so it’s the perfect amount where it feels special but also kind of routine.
I also got Primally Pure’s Plumping Serum that I adore but it issss a bit spendier. I am only “allowed” to use it when I use my facial cups, so it feels like an even BIGGER treat! (again, use this link for $10 off any $50 purchase!)
I get to feel like I’m loving myself well, do something that makes my skin feel great, AND indulge in my favorite serum?!?! Sign me up!
Romanticize your life by having some “treat” skincare/wellness routines.
6. Have different bevvies for different times of day.
Okay, if you’ve read my blog post on habits or reading, you know that I love setting the vibe through using certain things for certain times of the day. This is just piggybacking off of that: have a different beverage at different times of the day.
Not only will it help your body “know” what mode to be in because it’ll associate that beverage with that activity (focused work, relaxation, etc.), it just feels good. It also can help optimize nutrients that can aid with the changing needs of the day.
MORNING
I try to always start my morning with a lemon chia water (it’s kind of similar to an adrenal cocktail, if you’ve heard of that!).
I first heard about this beverage through a wellness creator named Kate Eskuri who learned about it from a book called Quench by Dr. Dana Cohen & Gina Bria.
Let me tell you, when I have this water, I genuinely notice a difference. I feel less thirsty. I am slightly more full so I don’t have as many cravings.
It’s super simple! The “recipe” is…
- Fresh lemon juice: Loaded with flavor & vitamin C! I usually use the juice of half of a lemon.
- Chia seeds: Depending on how much water you’re using, about 1-3T. These add fiber that allows your body to hold onto the water a bit longer, & it also helps with blood sugar balance & bowel regularity. Even more of a bonus, they have healthy fats AND protein & they also look like dinosaur eggs! So fun!)
- A little bit of salt: I have the pink Himalayan salt from Trader Joe’s. You just need a smidge. It adds natural electrolytes that can keep you feeling hydrated & energized!
- I also love adding coconut water: I also buy the one from Trader Joe’s & it’s loaded with electrolyes & zinc, which helps with immune function (& it also just makes me feel like I’m drinking a tropical delight!).
Please check with your healthcare provider before starting this into your routine. Adding fluids can be harmful to folks with heart conditions & chia can negatively impact people with diverticulitis, so it’s always good to check in with your PCP before making changes!
Random tidbit: I love when I find out that wellness trends/research find ancestral wisdom to be scientifically-backed. While I didn’t grow up with chia seeds in my household, a lot of my Latina friends tell me that their moms used to put chia in their aguas frescas!
MID-DAY
Throughout the day, I’m either sipping on water or this honey/ginger/orange tea that B’s parents recommended. It is SO good & is a jam-like consistency. It’s also loaded with antioxidants & immune boosters!
Speaking of ancestral wisdom, I used to have a friend who was Pakistani who would always have peppermint tea with dinner. It turns out that peppermint actually aids with digestion! This could be a great addition to a mealtime tradition.
NIGHTTIME
At night, I like to have warm beverages—the cold ones seem too jarring. B & I have been having Magnesi-Om by Moon Juice & we’ve been loving it!
Do you neeeed it? No. In fact, I don’t recognize a huuuge difference except that I’m remembering more of my dreams. Is that a sign of anything? 👀
B has noticed a HUGE difference though. He says it helps him fall asleep faster & stay asleep longer.
If you try it out, lmk what you think! But you could also definitely just switch from cold water to warm water or even incorporate a bedtime tea with something like chamomile, valerian root, or lavender.
7. Create a vision board (or just a vibe board?) & set it as your background.
I’m writing this near the start of the year & I created a beeeeautiful vision board to put as my lock screen. It has short quotes, meaningful photos, & I’m honestly high key obsessed with it (I used the same Canva template to make B one with photos of us & he loves it!).
This is the template I used for our lock screens & here’s the one I used for my laptop background!
This is so powerful because you get a representation of the life you are creating. When you go about your day-to-day, you are reminded of the types of habits & emotions that you want to create.
Take some time to dream one up, & make sure it’s something that you feel drawn to!
One hack that I heard on TikTok (I wish I remember who said it so I could credit them, shucks!!) was to find photos that are from your perspective because this will make you feel like you’re actually in the photo!
- If you want to go on a dreamy vacation to an Italian coastal town, don’t put a picture of the town. Put a picture from a restaurant overlooking the ocean.
- If you want to get more into fitness, don’t just put a photo of a girl in a gym. Put a photo of the gym equipment from your perspective.
Try this out & lmk if it makes a difference for ya!
8. Buy yourself flowers & play around with floral design!
Sometimes grocery shopping can feel like a chore, but it always excited me because every few weeks B will buy me a new bouquet of flowers 🥹
I have a routine for getting the most out of our store-bought bouquets!
- We try to be intentional about picking ones that look fresh. If the flowers are already wilting, that’s not a good sign for longevity!
- I cut the bag open & organize the flowers by type so I can visually see exactly what I’m working with
- I clean the stems & take off any thorns, wilted petals, etc. This helps keep your flowers fresh longer because the stems won’t get as moldy!
- I start putting together the flower arrangement. As I go, I cut the ends of the flower off at an angle. This opens the stem so it’s able to drink up more agüita! I do these one-by-one so I know exactly how long I want the flower.
- Et voila!
We have little clippers like this that I use to cut the stems!
B always hypes me up, acting like it’s the most artistic & beautiful creation he’s ever seen. We appreciate getting to enjoy them for weeks to come.
I have also been dabbling with a Japanese floral design called ikebana where you put the flowers on a flower frog, or kenzan. This is the set I’ve been using! I found a class at my local library, so keep an eye out for an ikebana blog post soon!
9. Find a fun, local class to take!
Speaking of doing an ikebana class at the library, find some local FUN classes to take!
B & I did a pottery class together, & we’ll start another one in a few months.
I’ve seen plenty of listings, from everything like adult ballet to language classes to pickleball!
Check out local studios or your local library for options, & if you live far away from any metropolitan area, check to see if you can take any classes online (or find a good YouTube channel!).
Not only is this a great way to get out of your comfort zone & have fun while learning something new, it’s also a fantastic way to meet new friends.
Almost everyone has that one thing that makes them think “gee, it’d be awesome to learn that!” Well, here’s your sign to just go for it!
Lmk what class you sign up for 🙂
Okay okay okay, the next three build off of each other:
10. Wake. Up. Early.
I know I know, this is something that seems (& can be…) so hard to do, but you will genuinely notice such a difference when you do it.
Since you’re getting some alone time while the world is still asleep, before the pings & notifications & responsibilities start coming through, you can have some time to actually fill your cup.
If you haven’t read my blog post on creating margin, this is exactly when I’m talking about. It brings in opportunities to increase your creativity & overall well-being.
Read or journal, go for a walk, meditate, listen to an encouraging video while you break a sweat, learn to knit, write some pages for that book you’ve been working on—the world is your oyster.
When you choose to intentionally set the tone for your day, a tone that is at your own pace & structured around your desires (not the deadlines your boss set, or the breakfast your kids want, etc.), you set yourself up for success.
What better way to romanticize your life than having time to do whatever brings you joy?
P.S. If getting out of bed seems totally unreasonable, you can wake up just to get some intentional snuggle or reading time in but stay in your cozy camita! This is YOUR time! Do whatever feels gooood.
11. Make it a point to watch the sunrise or sunset.
You will feel SO good, it’ll be absolutely gorgeous, & it’ll feel like the universe is giving you a special present.
Research shows that watching the sunrise & sunset also supports your circadian rhythm, helping your body shutoff melatonin production in the mornings & ramp it back up in the evenings.
I like to journal or meditate out on our communal patio area while watching the sunrise, & in the summer months, I go to the beach to catch a sunset whenever possible. Gahhh, colorful skies are my love language!
I do realize that this will be easier in certain times of year & depending on where you live…
I’m from Tacoma, WA, & for about 9 months out of the year they hardly get any sun. How are you supposed to watch a sunrise or a sunset with no sun?!
Truth is, you can’t.
Even more reason to take advantage of it when you can! & maybe for the winter months, use your mood lighting or even alarm clocks like Hatch to simulate these beautiful phenomenons.
B & I also have a Govee LED lamp that has a sunset setting we use around bedtime. It’s so soothing & a great way to reduce bluelight, too! We love it so much that we just bought another for the living room!
12. Find creative reasons to get outdoors.
On the topic of getting outdoors, find creative reasons to be out in nature! We hear about it so dang much, but most of us (myself included) should probably be out there way more lol.
One systematic review found that forest bathing, or Shinrin-Yoku as it’s called in Japan, is shown to lower blood pressure, increase the immune system, AND help with mental-health (specifically, reduce the effects of stress, depression, anxiety, & overall negativity).
Ummm, you mean there’s actual science-backing to what we already knew made us feel so good?! YES!
- Grab a cute blanket & have your dinner outside.
- If the sun comes out, take your meeting out on the patio.
- Feeling competitive? Play some tennis or spikeball.
- Have some extra time in your evening? See if you can walk to the grocery store.
Getting outdoors is probably one of THE most helpful but underutilized things! There can be some resistance to get out there, but if you can overcome it, it feels soooo gooood.
13. Clean. Your. Space.
You might be thinking, c’mon, amiguis! Who are you, my mamá?!
Mija, you deserve to be in a clean space that makes your mind feel at ease.
Let me repeat that…
You deserve to be in a clean space that makes your mind feel at ease.
That has items that support the life you’re creating, & nothing more.
That makes you feel like you’ve got your stuff together.
That is conducive to inviting people over on a whim.
Where you can actually relax because your mind isn’t running through the to-do list you’ve been putting off.
It might not feel great during the process, but oftentimes things that feel good in the moment aren’t really good for us in the long-term (at least, not until we retrain our brain to like what’s actually good for us!).
So settle into the discomfort, set a timer for 20 minutes, see how much you can speed clean to some Elvis Crespo (IYKYK), & then…ahhhh, basque in the tidy goodness.
& if you want to hear all about our cleaning routine, check out this blog post!
14. Make your favorite dessert & share it with friends!
When we moved into our new place, I discovered a newfound love of baking. There was about a two month time period where I was baking every weekend, & B went from begging me for his favorite cookies to begging me to stop 😅
While I don’t recommend fattening up your honey, I 1000% recommend sharing that deliciousness with some friends.
The only thing better than receiving snail mail is receiving a text that says “I’ve got some soy milk & fresh-baked cookies with your name on ‘em!”
If you don’t want to have anyone over, put them in a silicone baggy & take some to the office for them or leave them on their doorstep with a little love note!
Life is sweeter when shared with others.
15. Put your phone on airplane mode.
I’ve always loved flying, & it wasn’t necessarily just the fact I was going somewhere fun—it was that I had an opportunity to be disconnected from the world.
I never want to pay extra for WiFi on the plane, so I end up having a few hours of uninterrupted me-time.
But you don’t have to have an excuse to disconnect from the world. We shouldn’t feel bad about setting extra boundaries around our phones & how often we’re available to others.
So every once in a while, if you’re feeling called to, put your phone on airplane mode (or turn it off, or leave it in a different room, etc.). Take some time to go inwards without needing to be connected to the external works!
One word of caution, let your loved ones know before you do it just so they don’t freak out if you don’t answer… (speaking from experience here 😅)
