Episode 13: Sacred Routines for Everyday Slowdown

Sacred Routines Workbook: https://app.typeset.com/play/GJMW81

Sacred Routines for Everyday Slow Down is your invitation to pause, breathe, and create space for what truly matters. Hosted by Maxine Bingham, this podcast guides busy, purpose-driven women through simple, soul-nourishing practices to bring calm into chaotic days. Each episode explores practical rituals, mindful moments, and heart-centered strategies designed to help you reconnect with yourself, honor your energy, and slow down without guilt.

Whether you’re juggling deadlines, caring for others, or just longing for more peace in your everyday life, Sacred Routines offers gentle, faith-infused encouragement and doable steps to reclaim your time and presence. Think of it as your weekly reminder that your life doesn’t have to be rushed — it can be sacred, intentional, and deeply fulfilling.

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Transcript

0:01

Hey there, beautiful souls. Welcome back to Soulfully Aligned Podcast. I am your host, Maxine, and I am so glad you're here joining me today. You know what, before we dive in, let's share a moment together. Maybe you're driving at the moment or you're folding that mountain of laundry or you're just curled up on your couch wherever you are. I'd love for you to pause with me for a quick second. Let's take one deep breath together. Just breathe in with me. Hold it for a moment. Now let it all go. You know what you just did. That's a ritual. One simple conscious breath. Isn't it amazing how something so simple? Can feel so powerful today, we are talking about sacred routines, but I don't want you to worry. I am not here to give you some rigid morning checklist or tell you to wake up at 5:00 AM This is about finding those little pockets of meaning in your day. Those moments that make you feel like you, again, I'll share some stories with you. Trust me. My journey from chaos to rhythm has been quite the adventure, and I think you might see yourself in some of these moments along the way. I will share some mantras, think of them as just little reminders that you can carry in your back pocket, and I'll toss in some questions for you to ponder. Don't worry, there's no pop quiz at the end. These are just gentle invitations to check in with yourself. You know, I could talk your ear off about my own routines, but that's not really the point. The magic happens when you discover what works for you, what fills your cup. So let's get cozy. I want you to imagine that we are sitting together in your living room. Maybe there's a candle flickering nearby, and we are just having a heart to heart about creating daily rhythms that remind us just how special and significant we really are. So why do these sacred routines matter so much? Let me paint you a picture from my own life. A few years back, my days were just one big blur. And I bet that some of you know exactly what I'm talking about. You wake up already feeling behind, grab your phone before you're even fully conscious, and suddenly you're drowning in emails and notifications before you had the chance to brush your teeth. I was living everyone else's life before I even started living my own. And here's what happens. When you start your day like that, you're playing catch up. From the moment you open your eyes always reacting instead of choosing feeling like you are being pulled in a million different directions. But here is where things started to shift. For me. I remember this one morning, so clearly I rushed into work totally frazzled. Having overslept and skipped breakfast, I had this big presentation to give, and while I somehow got through it, I honestly could not tell you what I said. Afterward, my body was there, but my mind miles away. It was like I was watching myself on autopilot, and let me tell you, that was my wake up call. Even though I was physically there in that room, my mind was somewhere else entirely. I felt completely disconnected from myself, and that's when it hit me like a light bulb moment. I realized routines are not just about checking boxes of a to-do list. They are about being fully present in our lives. Think of routines as your anchors. Keeping you steady when life gets stormy. Here is something beautiful I've learned along the way. You do not need fancy, complicated routines to make them meaningful. It can be as simple as lighting your favorite candle, whispering a little prayer or jotting down something you are grateful for. Sometimes it's just taken one quiet minute to yourself. That's all. Just one minute, that one minute. It is like a gentle reminder to your soul that you matter, that you have a place in this world, and that this moment right here it is all yours. Here's a little mantra that I love. I'm grounded. My routines keep me centered and remind me who I really am. Let's take a moment to check in with ourselves. Do your daily routines feel like they're keeping you anchored or are you floating through your days? If you could add just one tiny ritual tomorrow, something small but meaningful, what would it be? What simple practice would make you feel like you're truly showing up for yourself? Now, let's talk about mornings, because let's face it, how we start our day sets the tone for everything else. I will be real with you. My mornings used to be absolute chaos. I was that person hitting snooze five times. Scrolling through Instagram before my eyes were even fully open, rushing through a shower and throwing on whatever clothes I could find. Picture this me keys in hand, practically running out the door already feeling behind before my day even started. By the time I got where I needed to be, I was completely frazzled and running on fumes. Then one day I just could not do it anymore. I knew something had to change, so I started small, really small. I began with just spending a few quiet minutes, journaling in my office. Nothing fancy, just scribbling down whatever was on my mind. Some mornings I would sit on the edge of my bed. Say a little prayer and turn my shower into this peaceful moment where I could let yesterday's stress wash away. Other times I would wake up and put on my favorite playlist. I would dance around while making lunch, or take my time with my morning coffee. Here is what I figured out your mornings. Do not have to look the same every single day. They do not need to be Instagram worthy. They just need to feel right for you. Even something as basic as brushing your teeth can become a little moment of peace if you let it while you're brushing your teeth, try saying to yourself, I am getting ready for today. And I have got this. Let's talk about your mornings for a moment. What if you gave yourself just 10 minutes? Not a huge chunk of time, just 10 precious minutes that are all yours before the world starts asking things of you. Maybe you would sit quietly, maybe you would stretch. Maybe you would actually taste your coffee instead of gulping it down. Maybe you would. You would whisper something kind to yourself in the mirror. Whatever feels right to you. That is what your morning rou routine can be. It is your time, so make it count. Let me share with you the mantra I use for this part of our journey, and here it is. I start my day. My way, these morning moments are all mine. You know what? Let's get real for a second. I have got to ask. What's the first thing you do when you wake up? I'll go first. I used to grab my phone right away. And maybe you do too. Or have you found a gentler way to start your day? Just imagine if you had 10 precious minutes tomorrow morning. What would you do with them? You know what's interesting? We talk so much about mornings, but let's chat about something that does not get enough attention. Those tricky afternoon hours I have to tell you about something that I have learned. We all know that afternoon slump, am I right? It usually hits around 2:00 PM I bet you know exactly what I'm talking about. I used to try to fight it with coffee, sugar, whatever I could find, but here is the thing. My body was not begging for caffeine. It was just asking for a little break. Do you wanna know my little secret? I have started doing these mini resets during the day when I feel my energy dropping. I'll just step outside for a minute or two. Nothing fancy, just feeling the sun on my face, taking in some fresh air and breath in deeply. Sometimes I'll take a deep breath in and let it all out. Other times I will grab my journal and quickly write down something I want to let go of and something I want to welcome in. And on my really busy days, I will just take a mindful full sip of water instead of just gulping it down. I actually notice it is, it cooled against my tongue or is it warm. It is such a tiny thing, but it brings me right back to myself. These little moments are little gentle nudges reminding me that I am not just some robot going through the motions. I am human and it's okay for you to take these little pauses. So here is what I want to tell you. Listen. To what your body is trying to tell you, start sprinkling these tiny moments of peace throughout your day. Sometimes two minutes is all you will need. Just two minutes for you to come home to yourself. And here's a little mantra that I absolutely love. I can pause whenever I need to. Each breath is a fresh start. Every pause is a gift to myself. Let me ask you something. What happens when that afternoon tiredness hits? Do you push yourself harder or do you give yourself permission to take a breather? What could your own little two minute reset look like tomorrow? Now that we have talked about these midday moment? You can pick and choose what feels right for you. Make these practices your own. They should fit naturally into your day, not feel forced. Let's talk about something else that's really close to my heart, those precious evening hours and how we can make them truly nourishing. Can I be totally honest with you? My evenings used to be where all my good intentions went out the window. I would come home, flop onto the couch and just lose myself in mindless scrolling Before I knew it, ours had slipped away while I was caught up in everyone else's highlight reels. And I would drag myself to bed with heavy eyes. I would end up even more exhausted than when I got home. No surprise, I would wake up feeling totally drained the next day. You know what? I did not get back then. I wasn't really closing my day properly instead of taking time to unwind mindfully. I was just dragging all that heaviness with me into tomorrow. These days, my evens look so different. Some nights I will just grab my journal, jot down a few thoughts, what am I grateful for, what do I need to let go of Other nights, I'll just sit quietly with my favorite cup of tea. It is become this peaceful little ritual that's helps me to wind my day down. You know what has been a game changer for me? I started putting my phone in another room. It is amazing how just having it nearby was like this constant pull to keep scrolling, but hey, your evening wind down. It does not have to look anything like mine. Your evening should feel right for you. Maybe it is saying prayers with your children, diving into scripture, soaking in a warm bath, or getting lost in a good book. What matters is finding what fills you up instead of wearing you down. Here is a little evening mantra for you. I let today go with gratitude and I give myself permission to rest. And let me ask you this. How do you tell your body and soul? It's time to wind down. What is one small ritual you could try tonight to help you find that peaceful rest? That you deserve. Let me share some final thoughts about creating your own sacred routine. Here is what I really want you to take away from our chat today. These routines are not about being perfect. They are about being present. Do not wait until you have the fancy journal or the latest meditation app. You can start right now, right where you are. Maybe it is just two minutes with a cup of tea soaking in the quiet. Let it grow naturally from there. Add things that feel good, switch things up when they do not, there is no rule book that you have to follow. You know what I have learned? Is that those little things we do each day, they become our life story. So make it your story, a story that you love, create rhythms that bring you back to who you really are deep down. And here is one last mantra to carry with you. These routines are mine. They honor my life, my energy, and who I am. Now, take a moment to think which part of your day needs a little extra love right now? What's one small ritual? You could start this week to remind yourself just how special you are? I would really and truly love to. Thank you. For sharing this time with me, I hope that you are leaving with not just ideas, but with the confidence to create moments that remind you of your worth, because you, my friend, are absolutely precious, and your routines can become sacred too. So until next time, keep showing up for yourself. Choose rhythms that restore you, and remember that you deserve routines that you love. Thank you so much for listening to Soulfully Aligned. See you next time.