I’ve been paying closer attention to the small, repeated rituals that help me feel at ease in our home. One of the biggest? Waking up to a clean kitchen.
Ideally, after dinner, there’s cleanup, lamp o’clock, and a few quiet hours to unwind. Before bed, I spend 10 to 20 minutes resetting the kitchen. I’ll usually put on music and light a candle — not because it’s romantic, but because it helps my brain shift into focus. It’s the pre-ritual before the ritual. A small act that sets the tone for the next day.
Kitchen Sink | Kitchen Sources
Here are the things I usually do to reset my kitchen every day:
- Empty the dishwashers (3 minutes)
- Take out the trash (2 minutes)
- Tidy up the counters (5 minutes)
- Spray & wipe the countertops (2 minutes)
- Clean dishes in the sink (5 minutes)
- Set out items or baked goods for breakfast (1 minute)
- Trim and put fresh stems in a vase if they need a refresh (2 minutes)
Vase (similar) | Peach Stems | Bay Leaf Stems | Pendant | Serve Board
There’s something deeply calming about waking up to a kitchen that’s ready for the day. The girls drift in for breakfast. Chris starts meal-prepping. I can ease into the morning without searching for bills buried under yesterday’s clutter.
Handled Vase | Faux Hydrangeas | Salt Mill | Copper Pepper Mill | Marble Spoon Rest | Marble Utensil Crock | Wood Bread Board | Marble Cheese Board (similar) | Cookbooks
There are those nights when my battery just runs low, and I have to call it early. Sometimes, even when I’m feeling good, I still decide to put it off! But my true ideal is a quiet, solitary house in the morning light. I’ve always said I’m solar-powered, and there’s nothing like the sun to fuel a slow, steady day of tending to my home. With an audiobook playing, I move through the clutter and the questions — Do we need this? Will anyone miss it? — to get to the parts I love. I take my time lighting candles, shifting lamps, and restyling shelves. Those are the parts that rejuvenate me the most.
I love the idea of lighting a candle to elevate an otherwise routine task. My routine is simpler but still effective: clear clutter from countertops and stove, and wash what’s in the sink. I think of it as a gift I’m giving to my future self. :)