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by Max Bennett
Some people meditate. Others drink celery juice. I, for one, light a candle, put on fuzzy socks, and play an oddly specific playlist of lo-fi medieval tavern music before writing this post.
Not because I’m living in a renaissance fair. (Although, mentally, maybe.) But because this bizarre string of habits signals to my brain: “Hey, it’s go time.”
If you’ve ever had a “startup sequence” that involves anything from making your bed to dancing like no one (or everyone) is watching, you’ve already dabbled in the wonderful world of silly rituals. These aren’t just quirks. They’re secret productivity launchers hiding in plain weirdness.
Let’s explore why they work—and how you can create your own magical routines that help you actually start things without an internal motivational TED Talk every time.
First up, let’s get a little brain-y. Routines help reduce decision fatigue—otherwise known as the reason I can’t choose what to eat unless a food delivery app chooses for me.
When neuroscientists look at rituals, even the wacky ones, they find they trigger a neuro-feedback loop. That loop says: “This action predicts what happens next.” So lighting a candle before writing tells your brain: words coming soon. Much like brushing your teeth tells you: no more snacks, sadly.
Even intentional nonsense, repeated consistently, becomes an anchor. Familiar actions calm the chaos and reduce resistance. It doesn’t matter how odd they are—only that you associate them with productivity.
Here’s a peek behind my productivity curtain. Feel free to laugh—or shamelessly copy.
The “Sock Change” Ritual
I change into my designated “focus socks”. They’re warm, fuzzy, and slightly hideous. Why? Because they never go outside, which makes them sacred productivity socks. Like slippers, only judged less harshly.
Lo-Fi Bard Beats
On Spotify, I play a playlist called “Medieval Tavern Ambience”. It sounds like dragons might show up at any time, but my to-do list doesn’t stand a chance once the lute kicks in.
Candle Lighting Ceremony
Fancy? Nope. IKEA-budget tealights. But this one action—lighting the flame—signals to my brain: Now, we’re cooking. Metaphorically.
Do these rituals make me feel a little like an eccentric wizard? Absolutely. But they work. And unlike my 19 failed attempts at journaling app routines, they stick.
Let’s build yours—with optional glitter glue. Here’s the 3-step ritual-crafting blueprint:
Really. The stranger it is, the more it sticks. Choose something you wouldn’t normally do but can repeat easily. Some ideas:
Humans are glorified pattern detectors. Sensory consistency helps ground us. Stack these:
Like a plane prepping for takeoff, run through the same steps each time you start your work or focus session. This doesn’t have to take 20 precious minutes—it can be 90 seconds of movements, sound, or gestures.
Routines are functional. Rituals are charged. They carry intention and symbolism. The difference? A routine is brushing your teeth. A ritual is brushing your teeth while dancing because it feels like the start of something.
Think this is just my cookie crumble? Actually, high performers across industries have their flavor of pre-task weirdness:
These aren’t quirks. They’re warm-up sequences. The kind that skips the inertia struggle and helps you start without a motivational speech from YouTube first.
Let’s say your daily life is… not quiet. Maybe your coworking consists of a toddler who thinks crayons go in nostrils, or a partner who has loud FaceTime energy in every room.
Or your cat doesn’t respect ritual boundaries. (Mine tries to put her paw in the candle. She’s thriving.)
Rituals can still work if you:
Q: What if I feel ridiculous? A: Lean in. Productivity isn’t about impressing anyone—it’s about hacking your stubborn brain. If medieval playlist + peppermint oil gets you moving, who cares?
Q: What if I forget to do it sometimes? A: Totally normal. The goal is consistency, not perfect adherence. Try keeping visual prompts (a sticky note on your desk, a playlist shortcut).
In fact, check out The Post-It Avalanche: How to Actually Use Sticky Notes for Good (Not Chaos) for clever sticky note strategies—ritual reminders included!
Q: Can I have more than one ritual? A: For sure. I have a morning flow, a reset ritual (midday walks + iced coffee), and an end-of-work-day “shutdown script”. Just don’t let them become excuses to not start.
If your candle-lighting, playlist-queuing, sock-rotating ritual starts taking longer than the task itself—dial it back. The goal is ignition, not golden goblet summoning.
Here’s your challenge: Build and test your own weird little ritual this week.
And if you feel brave, tag us on Instagram and show us your ritual setup. Bonus points if it involves dragons, candles, or banana costumes. (Hey, I said absurd was welcome.)
Try your new ritual for the next 5 days—and tell me if it transforms your workday or just confuses your pet. Either way, that’s a win in my book.
Max Bennett
Max was once the king of procrastination, proudly sporting a "Deadline Enthusiast" badge. After realizing he spent more time organizing his desk than actually working, he dove headfirst into the world of productivity. Max now experiments with unconventional (and sometimes ridiculous) productivity hacks and shares what works—with plenty of laughs along the way.
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