on romanticizing the mundane

i got a pocket, got a pocketful of luxury

La La Land (2016)

Rise and Shine Money

shared this post on Instagram, and I knew I had to write a Substack piece on this. The one thing I am grateful for on social media is the romaticization of the mundane, embracing it, and capturing moments of stillness and calm over spontaneity and excitement.

createdbyqueenloany

A post shared by @createdbyqueenloany

Here is a list of mundane things and ways in which I’ve made it more fun, more romantic, more invigorating. And of course these numerals are going to be denoted in Burmese, inspired by

Michelle

’s post, Open-hearted joys 開開心心 № 01.

တစ် — cleaning supplies that are effective and smell good make it fun to clean

I get the nausea type of ick when I am dealing with wet food on dishes. Just wet things in general give me the chills. To combat this, I will always wear a pair of rubber gloves. I don’t remember the last time I touched wet food, and if you ever make me wash dishes without gloves, we’re never hanging out again. I recently switched dishwasher detergent to something that actually works — “natural” cleaning products can be a struggle at times since not all are meant for heavy duty cleaning. The one I own gets rid of most of the grime, opening the dishwasher is now satisfying instead of horrifying, waiting to see what’s left on my plates and utensils. Upon cleaning counters, I used to use Chlorox wipes, and while those were great (I love the smell of Chlorox), I switched to a more aromatherapy-scented cleaning brand. It makes my home smell like a hippie’s meditation room in Silverlake. And I kind of love it?

This is huge with laundry—I used to not care about doing laundry, but ever since I ordered this phenomenal smelling detergent, my laundry routine has changed. Also, because the detergent smell is stronger if I line-dry it over tumble-drying, it incentivizes me to put in the time and energy to hang each indivudal piece on my drying rack. Absolutely wild how scent can tranform something mundane into a sacred part of my weekend routine.

နှစ် — using lamps instead of the “big” lights

Despite “big” lights being an odd way to describe in-built lighting fixtures that come with your apartment or home, I can’t think of a better and more concise way to pen this term. For context, here’s Eric Wang’s video description of why he doesn’t use big lights anymore. And I agree! I detest using mine, and I only have to when I’m cooking since I can’t be bothered drilling in wall shelves to place lamps on top of. As you can see in the video, the difference between using the big lights versus lamps is stark—there is a harshness and general illumination but nothing particularly focused when using the big lights. When using lamps, the hazy glow emanating from beyond the bulb creates a softness to the room that big lights fail to do; lamps provide warmth, safety, and comfort, whereas big lights give productivity, grit, and urgency.

သုံး — an “everything” notebook for the disorganized

I find “everything” notebooks oddly romantic, and I’ll try to explain why. I remember striving to be the girl with a bunch of color-coded, theme-specific notebooks—one for journaling, one for work, one for my personal tasks. It all failed. The current journal I’m using used to be my daily journal driver from 2020, and it has transitioned into my work notebook for tasks and notes during meetings. There is so much richness in having a notebook that not only contains your deepest, innermost thoughts, but also your grocery lists, doodles out of boredom, advice from your boss, goals, spending tracker, and so much more. If you can’t be bothered owning 5-6 notebooks dedicated for various parts of your life, try embracing the chaotic messiness of an everything notebook. And perhaps you might counter this by telling me that an everything notebook is essentially a bullet journal. And sure! It could be a bullet journal! However, bullet journaling has been dominated by neat and straight lines, self-drawn calendars, innate artistic ability, and structured to-do lists, which is why going beyond the essence of the bujo, we have the everything journal that consists of the bujo, and more.

A bonus tip to make this step even more enjoyable is to use a pen that works best for you. Everyone’s pen preference is so personal. I personally love my Muji pens, both the 0.38 ink cap ballpoint pen and 0.5 smooth writing gel pen. However, Mr. Beans hates Muji and prefers the Pilot brand. If I were to use his pens to journal, I’d give up on it after writing a sentence. Don’t underestimate the power of your writing utensil!

လေး — a podcast for mindless tasks and a classical music playlist for mindful tasks

I was in high school when I realized learning about cellular regeneration began to transform into the essence of girlhood when I tried listening to Taylor Swift and reading my Biology textbook at the same time. However, when it came to AP Calculus, I found that music with lyrics made time go by so much faster while outputting correct answers. Depending on the type of task and whether you deem it as mindful or mindless, make sure you’re pairing it with the appropriate soundtrack to make the task so much more enjoyable.

For example, I love doing life admin chores, such as loading the dishwasher, folding dry laundry, or mopping the floor while listening to my current favorite podcast, Second Earth. On the other hand, when cooking, listening to TTPD while navigating an 8-step recipe overloads my brain, so I either have to resort to non-lyrical music, preferably something upbeat and classical, or simply silence. Similarly, this goes for video or phone calls. For people you can simply co-exist without having to say anything to each other, such calls are best for mindful tasks. But for mindless ones, you’ll be able to pass time easily with your yappiest friend. By pairing a not-so-fun task with an external stimuli that invigorates you, the task becomes associated with something not so negative anymore. If anything, could I say it’s almost… romantic?

ငါး — not all at-home workouts are created equally

Adulting during the pandemic was weird, especially for people going through a breakup and wanting to better themselves. I broke up with my now ex-boyfriend in April 2020, nearing the peak of the pandemic. Part of my breakup recovery involved a lot of Chloe Ting. I ended up hating the music that she used in her videos because I personally hate EDM, and that was the general genre of music that she opted for. I get it though—Asians do love their raves (not me though).

I came across MadFit’s Taylor Swift Yoga Dance Party video, and after 15 minutes of such fun, I was completely beat, from head to toe. I knew I was exhausted, but I didn’t realize that for a week straight, I would find using the bathroom to be a challenge. Despite the pain, this workout felt like a breath of fresh air, compared to everything Chloe Ting put out. Dancing also, feels less of a workout and instead like you’re allowing yourself to have fun in the comfort of your own home. So if you hate Taylor, don’t you worry! There are a ton of dancing workout videos for favorite artists on YouTube (e.g., Justin Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter).

ခြောက် — hot showers, hair wash days, and skincare

This isn’t derm advice, so if you’re struggling with hair or skin problems, feel free to take this step with a grain of salt.

The most interesting thing about hair wash routines that I’ve seen online is the number of products I see people use, and how long it must take to get complete each step. If you’re the type of person to relish in the multi-step hair and skincare routines, then keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t let me stop you.

However, if you’re not about that life, like I am, then romanticize these routines in a different way instead of being so product focused. For one, brushing my hair before I step inside the shower feels like a luxury. As an Asian woman with pin straight hair, I rarely have the need to actually comb through my hair since I’m fortunate to never really experience tangles. However, this means my scalp is rarely touched or stimulated, and there is a lack of blood flow to the roots of my hair. I like taking at least 30 seconds to really brush through my hair as the water is heating up. I am a hot water advocate. If my skin feels a bit tingly when I step inside, then I know it’s at the right temperature. This is not healthy if you suffer from any sort of body skin irritation, like eczema or atopic dermatitis. I would never wash my face in this high of temperature as I suffer from rosacea, but my skin from my neck and below is mighty resilient and can take lava-like temperatures.

I usually wash my hair twice with shampoo—I’m not entirely sure how legitimate this tip is, but it worked for me, so I’ve stuck to it for a year. People have apparently claimed that double washing rids impurities more efficiently than rinsing your hair once with shampoo. Anyways, since I have a dandruff-prone scalp, my shampoo doesn’t usually smell luxurious; it’s usually medicated, and smells… medicated. Clearly. However, a method that I use to make this shower feel more luxurious is by using a spa-like body wash. As always, unscented soap for the sensitive bits, but I’m all about earthy, invigorating scents for everywhere else. I once purchased Bathing Culture’s Cathedral Grove body wash, and it transported me to the woodsy Redwood forests in Northern California. I’m hoping to repurchase from them again once I empty my current body wash!

Once your shower is done, time to skincare. As you all already know, I am an avid proponent of a minimal skincare routine. Excessive serums, retinols, and masks irritate my skin more than they soothe; perhaps that is a side effect of my rosacea, but alas, if you too have sensitive skin like me or simply don’t have the budget for a multi-step routine, then let’s do our simple routine together with care and intention. When cleansing your face, make sure you’re getting the nooks and crannies of your face, from your hairline all the way down to your jawlines. Rinse off with cold water, and pat, not rub, dry. The next step is moisturizer, of course. I usually use half a dime sized amount of moisturizer for my face, and it’s plenty enough. Last but not least, I lather on Aquaphor on my perpetually chapped and angular cheilitis prone lips.

There is a significant change in the way I feel before a shower, after a shower, and after I put on skincare — the trendline of comfort and nourishment extends upwards in a positive direction, and by the end of my skincare, all I feel is deep contentment.

ခုနှစ် — open your windows and let the outside air in

Thanks to a recent post by Ayushi from

Milk and Cookies

, lüften- the cozy german fall ritual you need this season, I learned about lüften, conceptualized in German and defined by the act, or art, of ventilating their homes as a way to make buildings more energy efficient. I’ve grown up with parents who always opened windows in the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom every morning. It was a ritual for them. We rarely ever used the air conditioning unit or heater unless temperatures hit the extremes and I was uncontrollably shivering or sweating. However, during non-extreme weather months, such as right now (autumn), it’s the perfect time to let your windows open to allow fresh air to ventilate throughout your home. Once you make this a daily practice, you’ll start to smell and feel the difference between stale and fresh indoor air.

there’s a certain coziness that comes from letting in the crisp air of a fall morning. it’s a brief reminder of the world outside, the fresh start that each day brings, and the importance of connecting with nature—even from the comfort of your own home. the ritual of lüften is like a reset button for both your space and your mind.
— milk and cookies

ရှစ် — use french vanilla syrup in my coffee every morning

While the ritual of making coffee may be a comforting, calming routine to some, the addition of my Monin French Vanilla syrup has elevated my coffee game like no other—and it’s even better than the act of making coffee in the morning. Disclaimer: I don’t own a coffee machine of any kind, so my ritual is either 1) heat up water to mix my instant espresso powder or 2) pour some cold brew from the fridge, and add oat milk and vanilla syrup. Prior to my Monin syrup, I used to use Torani’s, but it just did not hit the same way.

If you are a black coffee type of person and actually enjoy it, major props to you.

However, if you think that black coffee is the gold standard, cut yourself some slack. Adding in that cookies n’ cream macadamia nut milk creamer or pistachio syrup won’t make you any less of a coffee aficionado.

ကိုး — trying a new recipe

This specific one is new to my life. I’ve disliked adult cooking (e.g., making real meals for myself instead of baking loaves of banana bread) for as long as I could remember. It’s tedious and requires my full attention. I can’t exactly tell you how or when this change came to be, but I quite like exploring new recipes now, especially ones that Mr. Beans or friends will typically order at restaurants. Recently, I made Thai Red Curry, and it was phenomenal. I’m on a Thai kick at this moment, and am excited to attempt drunken noodles next!

ဆယ် — choosing to grocery shop at the farmers market instead of the supermarket

Farmer’s market produce is so much better than what you’ll find at any supermarket. Ever since I’ve attempted to integrate farmer’s market runs in my Saturday routine, I’ve been able to notice the difference in taste, color vibrancy, and longevity. The produce from the market doesn’t last as long compared to supermarket’s, so it forces me to freeze them to use later. Bringing back my haul of fresh produce from the farmer’s market is so incredibly romantic, in the most cottagecore fantasy type of way.

If I had the capability, planting and tending my own vegetable and fruit garden would be peak romanticization of daily life.

There is generous overlap between romanticizing and the art of gratitude. The core of these concepts is the idea of embracing an active, not passive, role in your life—taking the time to notice your surroundings, acting with intention, and finding beauty in places that society deems a “chore” or the “boring”. Perhaps this is a manipulation of your brain to view life through this lens, but I see it as a reframing of your existing values and norms, and elevating them with softness and simplicity. Romanticizing your life is so much more than adding pretty, dainty touches to your routine, but rather accepting that your life and the way that it currently is is worth cherishing and appreciating on a daily basis.

Here are some inspiring ways that people on Reddit romanticize the mundane:

from this thread

from this thread

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