What does it mean to “romanticize your life?” And why is it so important? Read on for my personal reasons as to why I’ve decided to start romanticizing my life more and how you can too. I hope that these 30 simple ways will help to make everyday moments a little more special!
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How to Romanticize Your Life in 30 Ways
How I Got Here
Earlier this year, I shared my 2023 goals with one of them being to romanticize my life more. This is an entirely new goal for me. Over the years, I’ve realized that I have trouble living in the moment and just being. I’ve always been the type of person to just go-go-go, at times being busy just for the sake of being busy. However, I’ve also been on a healing journey over these past few years and while it’s taught me so much, it has also brought a few things to light causing me to re-evaluate my priorities in life. Diving deep internally has been difficult at times but it’s also been a beautiful experience.
Before, I lived to work. Perhaps, it’s the fact that I was raised by a single parent for most of my life. My mom was incredibly independent and hard-working and naturally, these qualities trickled down to me. As the oldest child, I too was very independent and hard-working from a young age. And then there’s the fact that circumstances early on did not allow for me to fully enjoy my youth. Right out of high school, I was put in a situation where I had to work 3-4 jobs just to survive. Time was hard to come by and little by little, the years slipped away. Time with friends and family became sparse and focusing on anything but work and my future seemed next to impossible. It wasn’t until I had an epiphany a few years ago that I began to change.
I still love working BUT it’s not my entire life. I’ve realized that being happy is the most important thing. I don’t have many people in my life anymore but I am so lucky to have the small yet supportive circle that I do have. Spending time with those that I love is important but I’ve found that it’s also equally important to prioritize myself.
There is a quote that goes along the lines of “Life is what happens when you are busy doing other things” and this could not be more true. For so long, I chased the future and worked so hard for the promise that I would have time to enjoy life later on when I was more secure in my finances, life situation, etc. Life is funny in that way though. It rarely turns out how you expect it to and there are no guarantees. There is no such thing as perfect timing.
This is when I realized that I need to enjoy life more, while I’m here and while I’m with those that I care about. I was under the impression that you had to be stable and financial secure to enjoy life but in reality, it’s all about mindset. Which brings me to romanticizing your life and celebrating everyday. What is this you ask?
In my opinion, romanticizing your life means truly embracing the small things in life and making even the most mundane and seemingly insignificant moments fun and exciting. In short, it’s living in the moment and elevating your everyday life. I’ve included all of my favorite ways below. Read on for 30 simple ways to romanticize your life!
30 Ways to Romanticize Your Life
Throw a Party for No Good Reason
In my opinion, there’s always an opportunity to throw a party! Invite your friends and family over to just celebrate life! If you’re wanting to do something on a smaller scale or even just for yourself, why not have a movie night or some type of special themed celebration? Honestly, the options are endless!
Wear Your Best Piece of Clothing (Just Because You Feel Like It)
I’ve always been a huge advocate of wearing what makes you feel your best! With this said, I think that a lot of us tend to “save items” for a special occasions when in reality, that occasion may not come. If it makes you feel beautiful and special, then why wouldn’t you want to wear it? From now on, let’s make a pact – only wear what makes you feel your absolute best!! <3
Elevate Your Meals with Fancy Dinnerware
Give your everyday dishes (or paper plates!) a break and elevate your meal with your fanciest dinnerware. Personally, I love using either my super fancy dinnerware or something from my vintage Depression Glass collection. I also have these vintage crystal snack trays that I love to use every now and then! If you want to go all out, set up a gorgeous table scape to accompany your meal.
Set Up an Extravagant Picnic for Yourself
Picnic season is my favorite season and one of my favorite ways to romanticize your life. Pack up your picnic basket (or a regular basket) with some delicious treats (fruits, crackers, sandwich, juice, etc) and a blanket along with a good book, drawing pad, portable musical instrument, camera, or even just a pillow (to look at cloud shapes, of course).
Upgrade Your Home with Things that Make You Smile
Sometimes our homes need a bit of a refresh and this doesn’t mean that it has to be expensive. Shop for a piece of new decor, create a work of art to display, buy a new candle, add in some fresh flowers, create a gallery wall, start a DIY project, or if you’re feeling adventurous, wallpaper your favorite room. Upgrade your home in a simple way that makes everything feel fresh again!
Take a Spontaneous Day Trip Somewhere Exciting
This is one of my absolute favorite ways to romanticize your life. We go for drives regularly, especially during this time of the year when wildflowers are covering all of the surrounding hills. And sometimes, we will just sponanteously decide to just GO. In fact, this past weekend, we took an impromptu trip to the snow and desert – in the same day. We had a blast and made a lot of good memories!
Have an At-Home Spa Day
This is another personal favorite way to romanticize your life. I am the queen of at-home spa days and I love indulging myself in a very elaborate self-care routine! Make it special by creating a relaxing spa-like atmosphere with a candlelit bubblebath, cooling face mask, facial steam and skincare routine. If you want to go all out, include a hair treatment, manicure and pedicure.
Immerse Yourself in a Good Book
Reading a good book is always the best escape! It can transport you to far away places and give you lots of warm and cozy feelings. Many of us don’t make time for this so it truly can be an indulgence. Make it even more special by cuddling up with a soft blanket, a candle and your favorite tea.
Host a Tea Party
This is another of my favorite ways to romanticize your life! Picnics and tea parties are my jam! Create a gorgeous tea party set up for yourself or invite some friends or family over to share the experience. Use tea cups that you already own or get a pretty matching set to really set the mood. Finish off with some fresh florals and sweet treats!
Create a Mindful Morning Routine
Creating a mindful morning routine is a great way to get your day started! The best thing about this is that you can completely customize it to your liking. You can schedule a work out, make yourself a delicious breakfast, meditate, journal, stretch, enjoy the quiet, watch the sun rise, watch funny YouTube videos, read a book – whatever a morning routine looks like for you! My hubby is religious about his morning routine – it’s something he looks forward to everyday and trust me when I say that there are very few things he would skip it for.
Make Your Meals and Beverages More Beautiful
Dressing up your food and drink is an easy yet aesthetic way to romanticize your life. Experiment with fun ingredients, get creative with the presentation and indulge in the act of doing, just because.
Create the Ultimate Feel Good Playlist of your Favorite Songs
Music is one thing that feeds my soul! I love playing music and I also love listening to it. Create a playlist of songs that make you happy, want to dance or sing along, remind you of good times, etc. You can also create seasonal or monthly playlists to celebrate different times of the year!
Take Yourself on a Date
Take yourself out on an amazing date because let’s face it, you deserve it. Dress up, go out to dinner, watch a movie, go to an art gallery, venture to a theme park – the possibilities are endless! If you don’t want to go out, why not give yourself a date night at home? Make yourself your favorite meal, watch a classic movie and finish off with an indulgent self-care routine.
Actually Dress Up for the Day
Boy oh boy, have things changed within the last few years. Dressing up no longer seems to be the norm and to be honest, I miss those days!! I’ve never been much of a casual person but I find myself sporting more casual looks day-to-day, especially since I work from home. However, I find that when I actually make more of an effort and go all out on my makeup, hair and outfit, I feel much more confident, beautiful and more like myself.
Add a Pop of Color with Florals
In my opinion, fresh flowers are the easiest way to bring joy into your home! I LOVE them. They add a fun pop of color, smell amazing and of course, look beautiful. When I have them around, I can’t help but smile when I look at them.
Rearrange Your Space
Rearranging your space is a great way to make things look fresh and new again without having to spend anything. Move furniture around, reorganize certain areas or create your dream space with items that you already have.
Create a Beautiful Ambience
Creating a beautiful ambience is an easy way to romanticize your life. Tidy up your space, bring in some plants or flowers, create an inviting environment with cozy touches and finish off with the nicest candle you own.
Have a Dance Party Just Because
I’ve always been the queen of dance parties for no good reason. It’s just so much fun to act like a fool haha! My hubby and I love to do this when we clean. Typically, we blast old music (whatever we’re feeling – oldies, 90s, 2000s, movie soundtracks, etc) and dance and laugh while we do our chores. Sometimes we even break out the record player! It’s always a good time.
Wear Pretty Pajamas
I feel like pretty pajamas do not get the recognition they deserve. I’ve never been one to sleep in sweats or a t-shirt. As a lover of fashion, I’ve always loved gorgeous pajamas not only for their looks but for the way they made me feel. It’s an easy way to instantly elevate your sleep routine. Look for luxe fabrics, feminine details, pretty colors and prints, and flattering shapes.
Create an Indulgent Night Routine
Night routines are the perfect way to unwind after a long day and in my opinion, it’s the perfect time to indulge and treat yourself. This routine can include reading a book, watching a movie or tv show, making a delicious dessert, watching the sun set, pampering yourself with a skincare routine or just simply relaxing – whatever this looks like for you.
Do Something Creative
As an artist and musician, I’ve always been a deeply creative person in some way or another. The cool thing about this is that you don’t have to be a professional. Being creative can be incredibly therapeutic and relaxing. Take some time to write a letter, sing a song, play an instrument, paint, draw, craft, etc.
Elevate Your Stationary
Writing has become somewhat of a long lost art form these days and to me, that makes it even more special. Use a feather pen to write your notes, write letters to friends on gorgeous stationary, keep track of your life in a beautiful planner and if you have a home office, elevate your space with little things that make you smile.
Indulge Your Senses
Indulging your senses is, perhaps, one of the easiest ways to romanticize your life. Truly stop to smell the roses, feel the breeze on your skin, take in the sights of your surroundings, listen to the birds outside your window and take time to taste your morning tea or coffee. This mindset can truly apply to anything that you are doing and I find that it’s an easy way to relieve stress and be more in the moment.
Take More Photos
Take more photos…and I don’t mean social media photos 😉 I realized recently that I don’t take personal photos much anymore unless it’s for social media or the blog. I always look back on photos that are 10 years old and wonder why I haven’t taken any since then? Go ahead and capture those moments in time (the real, unfiltered, natural, everyday, in-the-moment photos) – you will want to look back on them some day.
Plan Something Without Expectations
I feel like a lot of things these days are planned with the intention of posting to social media. Take yourself back to the “olden days” before Instagram and plan something with no social media expectations. Go on a picnic, have a tea party, take a road trip, or just be in the moment. It’s so hard sometimes to do things without feeling the need to share but it makes it even more special if we just enjoy it for what it is.
Take Your Time to Do Things
Our society has become so fast-paced. I feel like it’s always go-go-go – doing this and that without any time to just slow down. Take more time to be intentional and enjoy what you are doing in the moment. And if you don’t have much time, I find that scheduling it in really helps!
Learn a New Skill
Is there something that you’ve always wanted to learn but never got around to? It’s never to late to start! Take some time to learn a new language, play an instrument, create art, code, write, sew, etc. This is something that I love to do often and I find that it makes my life feel much brighter and fulfilling!
Outfit Details
Pink Chicwish Bow Sweater c/o | Pink and Grey Chicwish Tulle Skirt c/o | Pink Kate Spade Heart Handbag | Pink Franco Sarto Heels (similar) | Pink Lele Sadoughi Pearl Headband (similar) | Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick | Hidden Crown Halo Hair Extension (use LIZZIEINLACE for $25 off!)
Plan Your “Perfect” Day
How much fun would it be to do all of your favorite things in one day? What does your “perfect day” look like? Write it down and plan it out. It doesn’t have to be overly complicated or expensive either. For me, this might look something like this –
- Wake up early to watch the sun rise
- Make a delicious breakfast
- Meditate, journal and do some yoga
- Work on a DIY craft project
- Put on my favorite dress and get ready for the day
- Pack up a picnic and drive to the nearest hill top (taking the long, scenic route)
- Play my guitar
- Read a book while burning my favorite candle
- Indulge in the *ultimate* self-care day (bubble bath, face mask, mani/pedi, hair mask, etc)
- Watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s
- Make a delicious pizza from scratch with my husband
- Change into my pretty pjs and watch our favorite show
Use Your Special Occasion Items
Like I mentioned earlier, a lot of us tend to “save” items for special occasions. I’m guilty of this as well but I’m actively finding more uses for my special occasion items in everyday life. Use your nice dishes, light your expensive candle, use your satin sheets, wear your nice lingerie, and wear your fancy clothes. Don’t wait to use your nice things or save them for the “perfect time” – use them now and enjoy. Life is too short!
Do More of What Brings You Joy
This might be one of the most important points I share. Do more of what brings you joy. What is fulfilling to you? Is it music, being creative, cooking, styling outfits, indulging in your hobbies, spending time with loved ones? Set aside more time to do the things that make you the most happy.
I hope enjoyed this post and got some great ideas for romanticizing your own life! Which of these will you plan on incorporating? Do you have anything else to add?
Let me know below!
xo!
