Create a Ritual: Swimming, Stretching and Small Moments of Calm

Swimming socks from my recent trip to the Design Museum.

As we ease into summer and the days get a little warmer, I’ve been ramping up my swimming. I’m incredibly lucky to live close to a lido, and I usually try to go once a week—but this week, I’ve set myself the challenge of going three times.

It’s a bit of a mission getting there and back, but swimming has long been part of my life. I’ve been a dedicated lane swimmer for years and feel like I’ve sampled nearly every public pool in North, East, and South London.

What I both love and hate about swimming is the faff. The gathering of kit, the awkward showers, the post-swim hair... It’s all a bit of a process. But over time, I’ve come to realise that this process has become something else: a ritual. A mindful, familiar rhythm that marks out a moment in my week. There’s comfort in remembering all the things I need, the meditative pace of the laps, and the quiet act of hanging up my wet things when I get home.

Rituals as a form of mindful meditation are nothing new. Lots of people have routines that bring a sense of calm to their day. It might be a morning coffee in a favourite mug, making the bed just-so, ten minutes of stretching, or even a quick crossword.

But maybe the missing link isn’t what we do—it’s noticing what we do. Really noticing. Taking one small moment in a routine and pausing with it. The steam rising from the coffee. The way your hands move as you stretch. The feeling of water on your skin. These tiny moments, when noticed and savoured, start to build a quiet bank of calm in your life.

Alongside swimming, I’ve been adding daily stretches into my routine using the Calm app’s “Daily Move” feature. It’s a gentle nudge each day, and they often share reflections on ritual and intention too.

They also have an article on ritual and mindfulness - https://www.calm.com/blog/how-to-bring-meaningful-rituals-into-your-daily-life?

So whether it’s in the pool, on your yoga mat, or just standing at the kettle, I invite you to choose a moment this week—and let it become your ritual.