How to romanticize your life? 50 whimsical ideas & practical tips from my experience

I try to spend at least the first 30 minutes of the day without a phone. Next time you wake up early in the morning, pay attention to how the air smells and how slow life seems.

In spite of my anxiety, I love hearing a human voice. Texting lets us hide, but calling forces us to face the moment.

There’s something mysterious about showering in candlelight. Your bathroom looks almost the same but different. Flickering dimmed light shifts focus away from visual clutter and onto internal sensations.

(Almost) every evening, I write down one thing I enjoyed that day. Beforehand, I never took the time to think about positive things in my life. Apparently, my life has never been as bad as I thought it to be. 

In my memory box, I have old concert tickets, ribbons, wish cards from friends, stones from vacation, etc. It appears that things that were destined to be trash have more positive memories for me than photos on social media.

Romanticizing the morning coffee was the first romantic thing I mastered. Pick up a pretty mug, observe the process of pouring coffee, experiment with syrups—this and your favorite music playing in the background… Chef’s kiss!

I don’t mean to approach them by asking for their personal details. I mean, tell that girl you think her pants are cool. I had the best, most in-depth conversations with strangers I’ll never meet again.

I spent too much time overthinking that I’ll look weird. Then, I ended up not knowing what I actually like. So, self-express! People won’t think about you more than they think about themselves, so why care altogether?

I haven’t necessarily read the paper, but I just love the tactility of holding and turning over the enormous pages. I also love that physical media stays with me. The “out of sight, out of mind” approach of digital media is not for me.

Here’s what I mean: I drink orange juice daily. I don’t even pay attention to it. But when I got ice trays in shame of tiny stars, it added more whimsy to my daily ritual. Making something prettier lets us enjoy the moment more.

Firstly, you are more mindful of cooking steps and processes when you think about how it will look on camera. Secondly, you can’t be on your phone when it’s filming you, so you’re already more mindful of the process.

I take a moment to write physical letters to my loved ones on special occasions. I love to think that they’ll also have physical proof of my love. Something they can reread and feel good about themselves.

A gentle reminder: you don’t need a special occasion to feel pretty. Flowers in the hair bring a unique, whimsical vibe straight out of fairy tales. They’re not practical. But why does everything have to serve a function?

Social media has killed off curiosity. We only consume what we’re given. Doing research on topics of my interest has shown me that I miss out by only listening to TikTok influencers, who choose clickbait topics.

Imagine your pet understood what you’re talking about. What would you rant to them about? I told my dog how much joy and love he brings me and thanked him for that.

White walls in your apartment most likely don’t reflect who you are as a person. Since I painted my walls, I got more excited to simply wake up. Even after a year, I still catch myself thinking, “How cool do my walls look!”

Oh, the forgotten ritual of taking your pajamas from under your pillow, putting them on, and doing the evening routine… For me, sleeping in pajamas vs. an oversized T-shirt shows that I actually put effort into myself.

The majority of us cannot afford to see the night sky in big cities. But whenever you get the chance to go out of the city, use this opportunity to watch the stars. It just reminds me how small we are in the universe.

There’s something surreal about sitting in an empty cinema. The traditional evening thing done in the morning. To be honest, when I go early, I also go around the cinema and try to see how the movie looks from different rows.

I used to save my favorite scents exclusively for going out or special events. Then, I thought that it meant I only choose to smell good if it’s for someone else. Since then, I’ve been spritzing on perfumes just to sit on my couch.

Sweet notes around the house are reminders that we’re not lonely, that we’re loved. I put some intimate notes in my bedroom, and now I understand how happy I am to have all of the loving people in my life.

Making something simple with your hands is proof that you’re capable. Craftsmanship allows you to reach a flow state, which is one form of mindfulness, so enjoy the moment.

I’m no professional artist, but I do carry a tiny sketchbook. It forces me to look closely at the world around me. The thing is not actually in drawing, but taking a moment to look around and pay attention to where you are and who surrounds you.

Although it sounds cheesy, a relaxing bubble bath decorated with flowers, candles, and fruits is an ultimate act of self-care. You devote time and resources and tell everyone around you, “Hey, this time is just for me.”

If making dinner is a hassle for you, create a menu of 7-8 dishes that you regularly make. “Order” from a menu as if you were in a restaurant and cook whatever you’d like.

When you ditch the sofa and sit cross-legged on the kitchen floor with your friend, there’s an instant loss of pretense. For some reason, kitchen conversations are deeper than formal dinner parties with invitations.

I can’t wait for my lunch break to rest during the day. Since I started having lunch outside, or at least in front of an open window, I use my phone less and less. 

Write notes with motivational messages or lessons you recently learned, and slide them into public spaces. For example, in cafes, libraries, public benches, etc. It’s almost like sending a message in a bottle.

Forests, swamps, lakes—any space where humans haven’t stepped a foot—are peaceful. Here, where life happens without humans, everything feels different. Almost more magical.

I have a bunch of things I’ve wanted to try but never had time to. So I started writing them down and doing 2-3 things a week. I called them side quests, and they helped me break free from routine and brought me more whimsy.

Even if you eat noodles, you can make them pretty. Boil an egg, put some greens on top, and eat it with chopsticks. Cheap food doesn’t mean that it’s lame.

Listen to nature. Look for cozy spots where you can sit in silence and just watch the sky or other people. It’s so healing to see that we’re not alone in this world.

Most of the time, there’s no reason for us to hurry. Slow down whenever you have moments for yourself, like in the shower or when you’re running errands.

Saving a parking ticket or a stone from a walk with a friend doesn’t cost you anything. But when you go through these trinkets, the memories suddenly come to life.

Big lights expose everything. Candles, table lamps, or LED lights create a romantic atmosphere that draws more attention to inner feelings, not objects around you.

Say out loud about how well you did certain things or how brave you were. Highlight positive moments in your day that would otherwise go unnoticed.

One of the simplest ways to notice beautiful things around you is to capture them with your camera. Not to share it, but to remember the beauty that you’ve seen today.

Don’t just meet for coffee or watch a movie. Set a tone or an atmosphere. Do unusual things together or choose a niche topic you’ll discuss today.

A clean home is a home where you want to be. When my apartment is clean, I feel like I have more energy to do more side quests and the capacity to be creative.

I bet you have unused notebooks, perfumes, expensive tableware, etc., that you don’t use. Every day you’re alive is a special occasion. Stop postponing good things.