March 31, 2025 • 10 mins
This episode explores the importance of creating and maintaining personal rituals to support creative work and overall wellbeing. Taking inspiration from Toni Morrison's dawn writing practice, we examine how discipline and consistency in our daily routines can enhance our creativity and mental clarity.
- Morning rituals like making the bed, hydrating, taking vitamins, and preparing a healthy breakfast create a foundation for productive creative work
- Evening wind-down routines help transition the mind and body toward restful sleep
- Consistent rituals have positive psychological benefits that support creative practice
- Everyone's creative ritual is different - some need journaling, exercise, or sensory elements like candles or music
- Creating boundaries around time spent consuming versus creating content can unlock more creative energy
- Establishing a sacred practice for your creative work grants you the space and energy to fully explore your potential
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Aliya Cheyanne (00:00):
Testing testing one, two, three.
Testing testing one, two, three.
Hey friend, welcome back to theshow.
I'm so happy that you're here,Thank you for tuning in and, if
you haven't already, be sure torate and review the show
wherever you're listening rightnow, and share this episode with
a friend, and share thispodcast with a friend.
(00:21):
Since it's Women's HistoryMonth, I want to highlight an
incredible Black woman youshould know about.
Toni Morrison's writing ritualwas sacred to her.
Toni Morrison had a strictwriting ritual.
She woke up at dawn before herkids got up and wrote before the
world interrupted her thoughts.
(00:42):
Her discipline and consistencyhelped her produce masterpieces
that changed literature forever.
She believed in honoring thecreative process with discipline
and intention.
Today, we'll talk about how wecan do the same.
Think about how you canestablish a small creative
ritual inspired by Morrison'sdedication.
(01:03):
Ritual is incredibly importantin creative work.
Ritual is incredibly importantin creative work.
Countless creatives andentrepreneurs have expressed how
their routines and theirrituals help to keep them sane
and energized and focused,disciplined and organized around
(01:26):
everything that's on theirplate.
I have gone through differentseasons of rituals so many times
and in this current season, myrituals center starting my day
off well, structuring my timeaccordingly to get everything
done that I need to get doneduring the day and ending my
(01:47):
nights with ease and preparationfor bed.
Now, what I do exactly day today may change, but certain
things don't.
I get up and I start my daywith my dog.
I spread my bed, I drink water,I take my vitamins for the day.
I'll do my best to get in aquick workout, take my dog on a
(02:12):
walk, come back and get cleanedup for the day with my shower,
my skincare, and most days Ilike to prepare myself a healthy
breakfast.
As of late, I'm kind of fixatedon the same breakfast.
I never get tired of it.
I love an omelet or an eggscramble with spinach and feta
(02:33):
cheese.
I usually will have somevegetarian sausage on the side
and a couple of slices of oatbread for toast.
I'll usually have a big cup oftea with that, and after I've
taken care of myself and my dogfirst thing in the morning, I
usually set in for my workday.
(02:54):
Whether that's working withclients or working on my
creative projects, Depending onhow I'm feeling, I'll usually
create space for other ritualsand routines that support me.
So whether that be grounding innature depending on the weather
or journaling if that feelsright for me to do.
(03:15):
Making some time to read,whether that be a book or
catching up on news because it'shard for me to watch news these
days, but a lot of times Idon't mind digesting it by
reading by the end of the night.
After dinner, after I've hadsome time to unwind and relax, I
start to prepare my place andmyself for bed.
(03:37):
I clean up any dishes in thesink, I tidy up my space, I let
my dog out, I let my dog StormyGirl out for her last potty of
the night, and then I begin tounwind for myself.
That usually means my skincareroutine, taking care of anything
I need to take care of in therestroom, transitioning my bed,
(04:01):
taking any extra pillows off,pulling down covers, turning on
my little salt lamp, turning ona little sound machine that
plays noise for me to help fallasleep to.
I eventually want to be one ofthese people that puts my phone
in another room or doesn't touchthe phone 30 minutes before bed
(04:24):
.
But I am not there yet.
So usually part of medecompressing is a little
scrolling or maybe listening toa podcast, until I start to feel
pretty sleepy and then I put myphone down and I fall asleep
pretty easy.
Now these might sound likemundane things, but they work
really well for me.
(04:45):
They help me to feel my best.
They help me to feel my mostenergized.
They help me to stay groundedand centered and to keep some
degree of routine and ritual andstructure about my days so that
I can accomplish everythingthat I need to accomplish.
These rituals support me in mycreative work because when I'm
(05:07):
feeling my best and my mostgrounded and my most centered,
I'm often feeling the mostinspired to create.
When I'm taking care of myself,the floodgates to creativity
burst open.
Now, everyone's creative ritualis different.
Some people are religiousjournalers.
They cannot start their daywithout journaling.
(05:28):
Some people need to go for arun first thing in the morning
because it helps them to cleartheir head and feel grounded and
centered for the day.
Everyone is different.
Some folks love to light acandle or an incense.
Some folks love to light acandle or burn a scent first
thing in the morning becausethat helps them to ease into
(05:52):
their day.
Rituals work because they havepositive psychological benefits
that support us.
Rituals work because they havepositive psychological benefits
that support us.
Healthy rituals work becausethey have positive psychological
benefits that work to supportus.
So it's important for each ofus to master.
So it's important for each ofus to create and to master our
own creative rituals.
(06:14):
If you're a writer, maybe thatmeans having discipline about
writing every day.
Maybe some days you write morethan others.
Maybe you have to give yourselfgrace if you've been writing
constantly for months and youneed to take a two-week break
and then jump back into it again.
It's a process.
If you're an artist, maybe thatmeans creating a piece every
(06:36):
day or every week.
Maybe that means acknowledginghow you might feel in a moment,
but having the discipline tocreate anyway, because as you
create, because in creating,because by creating you are also
healing something withinyourself and tapping into your
childlike and playful energy andyour creative energy, and in
(06:59):
doing so, that could inspireadditional great works.
Maybe your own creative ritualdemands that you spend a little
less time scrolling or consumingother forms of content and
repurposing that time andreallocating that time into
(07:20):
creating for yourself and others.
Whatever it looks like for you,having a consistent, solid
creative ritual creates a sacredpractice for your work to
unfold and grants you the space,time and creative energy and
creativity to do so.
So don't cheat yourself.
(07:43):
Be a little selfish with yourtime.
Create a ritual for you to pourinto the things that light you
up.
I challenge you to create aritual for your next creative
session.
Let me know what it is in areview to the show or in a text
to the show.
Thanks for tuning in to anotherepisode of the show.
(08:04):
If this episode resonated withyou, please be sure to tell a
friend.
To tell a friend and to rateand review the podcast wherever
you're listening to it right now.
Thank you for lending me yourtime, your energy and your ears,
and I appreciate you for beinghere.
Have a great rest of your dayor night and I'll catch you on
(08:25):
the next episode.
Bye.
Testing testing one, two, three.
Testing testing one, two, three.
Hey friend, welcome back to theshow.
I'm so happy that you're here,Thank you for tuning in and, if
you haven't already, be sure torate and review the show
wherever you're listening rightnow, and share this episode with
a friend, and share thispodcast with a friend.
(00:21):
Since it's Women's HistoryMonth, I want to highlight an
incredible Black woman youshould know about.
Toni Morrison's writing ritualwas sacred to her.
Toni Morrison had a strictwriting ritual.
She woke up at dawn before herkids got up and wrote before the
world interrupted her thoughts.
(00:42):
Her discipline and consistencyhelped her produce masterpieces
that changed literature forever.
She believed in honoring thecreative process with discipline
and intention.
Today, we'll talk about how wecan do the same.
Think about how you canestablish a small creative
ritual inspired by Morrison'sdedication.
(01:03):
Ritual is incredibly importantin creative work.
Ritual is incredibly importantin creative work.
Countless creatives andentrepreneurs have expressed how
their routines and theirrituals help to keep them sane
and energized and focused,disciplined and organized around
(01:26):
everything that's on theirplate.
I have gone through differentseasons of rituals so many times
and in this current season, myrituals center starting my day
off well, structuring my timeaccordingly to get everything
done that I need to get doneduring the day and ending my
(01:47):
nights with ease and preparationfor bed.
Now, what I do exactly day today may change, but certain
things don't.
I get up and I start my daywith my dog.
I spread my bed, I drink water,I take my vitamins for the day.
I'll do my best to get in aquick workout, take my dog on a
(02:12):
walk, come back and get cleanedup for the day with my shower,
my skincare, and most days Ilike to prepare myself a healthy
breakfast.
As of late, I'm kind of fixatedon the same breakfast.
I never get tired of it.
I love an omelet or an eggscramble with spinach and feta
(02:33):
cheese.
I usually will have somevegetarian sausage on the side
and a couple of slices of oatbread for toast.
I'll usually have a big cup oftea with that, and after I've
taken care of myself and my dogfirst thing in the morning, I
usually set in for my workday.
(02:54):
Whether that's working withclients or working on my
creative projects, Depending onhow I'm feeling, I'll usually
create space for other ritualsand routines that support me.
So whether that be grounding innature depending on the weather
or journaling if that feelsright for me to do.
(03:15):
Making some time to read,whether that be a book or
catching up on news because it'shard for me to watch news these
days, but a lot of times Idon't mind digesting it by
reading by the end of the night.
After dinner, after I've hadsome time to unwind and relax, I
start to prepare my place andmyself for bed.
(03:37):
I clean up any dishes in thesink, I tidy up my space, I let
my dog out, I let my dog StormyGirl out for her last potty of
the night, and then I begin tounwind for myself.
That usually means my skincareroutine, taking care of anything
I need to take care of in therestroom, transitioning my bed,
(04:01):
taking any extra pillows off,pulling down covers, turning on
my little salt lamp, turning ona little sound machine that
plays noise for me to help fallasleep to.
I eventually want to be one ofthese people that puts my phone
in another room or doesn't touchthe phone 30 minutes before bed
(04:24):
.
But I am not there yet.
So usually part of medecompressing is a little
scrolling or maybe listening toa podcast, until I start to feel
pretty sleepy and then I put myphone down and I fall asleep
pretty easy.
Now these might sound likemundane things, but they work
really well for me.
(04:45):
They help me to feel my best.
They help me to feel my mostenergized.
They help me to stay groundedand centered and to keep some
degree of routine and ritual andstructure about my days so that
I can accomplish everythingthat I need to accomplish.
These rituals support me in mycreative work because when I'm
(05:07):
feeling my best and my mostgrounded and my most centered,
I'm often feeling the mostinspired to create.
When I'm taking care of myself,the floodgates to creativity
burst open.
Now, everyone's creative ritualis different.
Some people are religiousjournalers.
They cannot start their daywithout journaling.
(05:28):
Some people need to go for arun first thing in the morning
because it helps them to cleartheir head and feel grounded and
centered for the day.
Everyone is different.
Some folks love to light acandle or an incense.
Some folks love to light acandle or burn a scent first
thing in the morning becausethat helps them to ease into
(05:52):
their day.
Rituals work because they havepositive psychological benefits
that support us.
Rituals work because they havepositive psychological benefits
that support us.
Healthy rituals work becausethey have positive psychological
benefits that work to supportus.
So it's important for each ofus to master.
So it's important for each ofus to create and to master our
own creative rituals.
(06:14):
If you're a writer, maybe thatmeans having discipline about
writing every day.
Maybe some days you write morethan others.
Maybe you have to give yourselfgrace if you've been writing
constantly for months and youneed to take a two-week break
and then jump back into it again.
It's a process.
If you're an artist, maybe thatmeans creating a piece every
(06:36):
day or every week.
Maybe that means acknowledginghow you might feel in a moment,
but having the discipline tocreate anyway, because as you
create, because in creating,because by creating you are also
healing something withinyourself and tapping into your
childlike and playful energy andyour creative energy, and in
(06:59):
doing so, that could inspireadditional great works.
Maybe your own creative ritualdemands that you spend a little
less time scrolling or consumingother forms of content and
repurposing that time andreallocating that time into
(07:20):
creating for yourself and others.
Whatever it looks like for you,having a consistent, solid
creative ritual creates a sacredpractice for your work to
unfold and grants you the space,time and creative energy and
creativity to do so.
So don't cheat yourself.
(07:43):
Be a little selfish with yourtime.
Create a ritual for you to pourinto the things that light you
up.
I challenge you to create aritual for your next creative
session.
Let me know what it is in areview to the show or in a text
to the show.
Thanks for tuning in to anotherepisode of the show.
(08:04):
If this episode resonated withyou, please be sure to tell a
friend.
To tell a friend and to rateand review the podcast wherever
you're listening to it right now.
Thank you for lending me yourtime, your energy and your ears,
and I appreciate you for beinghere.
Have a great rest of your dayor night and I'll catch you on
(08:25):
the next episode.
Bye.
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