Consistency doesn’t have to be boring: the habits and rituals of our grandparents may have seemed strange to us in the past – but most of them have a purpose. And could be good for our everyday lives today.
Nowadays, flexibility is undoubtedly a key qualification in order to keep up with our society. The world of work is changing almost as quickly as our media landscape, cultural and entertainment offerings are changing like fashion trends, and what is considered healthy eating or good parenting practices today was only yesterday the worst thing we could have done.
We are used to adapting, changing from one moment to the next and getting involved in a new situation. In fact, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing at all. After all, as humans we fundamentally have the ability to act spontaneously and improvise, and there is nothing wrong with using this ability. But where possible, we could try to establish habits, routines and consistency in our lives, because they give us security, make decisions for us, allow us to find peace, breathe deeply, recover and recharge – and that can balance us out Given all the variety and fast pace of our time, it’s very, very good.
Many of our grandparents are or were true experts in everyday rituals. Following our grandparents’ rituals, we were able to set our clocks and rely on them more than any weather forecast. Perhaps some of their habits may or may not seem special and quirky at first glance, but upon closer inspection they can sometimes turn out to be real treasures and lifelines. And so we are only too happy to be inspired by it.
10 everyday rituals of our grandparents that we would like to revive
1. Afternoon nap
When the sun is shining on the terrace or balcony, otherwise in the TV chair or in bed: for grandma and grandpa, the nap was at lunchtime. For many younger people it might be unimaginable at the moment to find the necessary calm and hit the brakes in the middle of the day – but perhaps that’s precisely why it wouldn’t be the worst habit for some.
2. Pocket candy
Caramel, eucalyptus or peppermint, the flavor may vary, but grandparents typically don’t leave the house without a candy or two in their pocket. What’s the point of that, some people may ask. But if we just think about it for a minute, everything suddenly becomes clear: after all, life can unexpectedly bring us into a situation at any time in which we need a piece of candy – even if it’s to offer it to the person sitting across from us .
3. Evening newscast
For decades, numerous grandmas and grandpas turned on the television and watched the news at 8 p.m. – a ritual that is increasingly going out of fashion in the face of push notifications, streaming services and news feeds. But wouldn’t it perhaps be quite pleasant to get an overview and inform yourself once a day at a fixed time, instead of updating yourself 24/7 and being bombarded with news? It might be worth a try.
4. Canning
We get everything at any time. Our grandparents, on the other hand, learned that berries were only available in summer, apples only in autumn and beets in winter. In some years more, in others less. So they harvested it in good years and bountiful seasons, and ate it in leaner times. Will we ever need this again? Doesn’t matter. After all, it can be a lot of fun to preserve something yourself and enjoy it later. We don’t always have to act out of necessity.
5. Special water
Some grandparents swore by a splash of vinegar, others preferred lemon in their water – but quite a few of our grandmothers and grandfathers consistently drank a glass of water with a special ingredient every day. Does that help? Who knows. But it certainly won’t do any harm.
6. Sunday puzzles
There is or always was a crossword puzzle in the weekend edition of many daily newspapers. So Grandma and Grandpa sat down on Sundays and solved it. A nice ritual to stay mentally fit, learn new things and simply have fun doing something. Such a puzzle day could definitely come back into fashion.
7. Morning coffee with newspaper
Before even considering taking any action, many grandparents would sit down at the breakfast table, drink their coffee, and read the newspaper. This habit may no longer be conceivable or practical for many people today. But it would probably be good to give ourselves half an hour in the morning to collect ourselves – or distract ourselves – before diving into our to-do list.
8. There is fish on Fridays
Fish on Fridays, meat on Sundays, leftovers on Mondays and always seasonal anyway. Many of our grandparents had and still have very strict habits when it comes to their diet. Younger people, on the other hand, often say: “What could I cook today?” And then there is frozen pizza. Absolutely understandable. After all, it’s damn exhausting to first have to decide and then put in the effort. Maybe the effort would work better if we follow Grandma and Grandpa’s example and save the decision for at least a few days a week in the future.
9. Afternoon table setting
At 3 or 4 p.m. many grandparents had coffee and cake. And not to go and as a snack on the go, but comfortably at the kitchen table. Who else still fits a ritual like this into their daily schedule? On the other hand: Why can we no longer adapt our daily schedule to nice rituals?
10. Recycle
Newspapers, wrapping paper, plastic packaging and boxes – grandmas and grandpas hardly throw anything away straight away. Almost everything that we throw away without thinking about it, we keep and reuse it or repurpose it for other things. It may seem complicated at first glance, but after all we can buy everything and have it delivered with just one click. But our grandparents’ approach is certainly good for the environment – and for our wallets too.