Whether we’re new to a city, travel often for work or have hectic daily schedules, what manages to set our heads straight, re-calibrate our emotions and give us a sense of quiet is routine. For some people it’s reading the New York Times with a cup of tea every Sunday morning. For others, it’s a weekly bike ride through their favorite neighborhoods. And for many, it involves a couch, popcorn and Netflix. I know for me, moving to a new city and starting from scratch has been more overwhelming than expected. I often feel like so little is in my control because I’m still green, but what keeps me from pulling my hair out are simple routines. They help create a sense of a home even if I still need a GPS to get anywhere.

But I know it’s not just me. How many times have you heard someone say that they need to start their day with a run or else the whole day seems off? Or that a week without watching Nashville is a sad one. (OK, that last one may or may not be me.) Routines take on an almost religious quality because they become a way of life. It’s only fitting that they be called rituals.

So that’s what I’d like to explore with this new weekly series my rituals: What are the rituals that make us tick, give us comfort and are almost mandatory to feel sane? I’ll be featuring notable folks from a variety of backgrounds and professional paths, who’ll share with us their rituals and why they’ve grown so accustomed to them. And to start, I’m sharing mine! I’m still in the process of figuring out the day-to-day in a new city, but these are the things that are keeping me happy at the moment.

Name: Archana Ram
Age: 27
Hometown: Cherry Hill, NJ
Current: San Diego, CA
Profession: Freelance writer and social media manager for PR agency

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