5 Ways to Romanticize Your Life

I feel like “romanticize your life” has become such a buzz-phrase in the last year, but there’s some really wonderful things about taking it seriously. If you haven’t heard this before now, basically it means to take advantage of your life and start doing things that make you feel like your living to the absolute fullest in every way. It doesn’t have to major things either — so many of the ways people bring about romance in their everyday life is through little things. Some examples I’ve seen are to make every meal special by adding a little garnish and lighting a candle for the table, wear clothes that make you feel good and confident every day even if you’re sitting at home, or even as simple as dancing around to your favorite song.

I’ve started doing little things of my own to improve and spice up my life, and so far I’ve been noticing some wonderful changes about myself. I appreciate simple things more, I find myself wanting to go out and experience things (even if it means going alone — which is not typical for me), I’ve even found that on my really low days they make me feel the slightest bit better. As a boudoir photographer, my mission is to create art with my clients, and make you feel confident and at home in your bodies just the way you are. In a way, I want to help you romanticize yourself. So I felt like this blog post was one that really fits here in my space. Today I want to share with you 5 ways you could consider romanticizing your own life, because they’ve been really great for me!

Slow Down

This one pretty much applies to the idea as a whole. Our lives are dependent on how fast we can go, how quickly we can get work done, or how soon we can achieve our life goals. Society tells us we need to go faster, but really the faster we get something done, the sooner we reach the next thing that has to be done, and the cycle never ends. I don’t mean to go on a soapbox here, the point is there is so much life and beauty when we intentionally slow down.

My favorite way to do this is to go on a walk. I don’t use my phone*, I’m not checking my email or socials, I’m not texting — just walking. Go to a spot with lots of foliage, or a beautiful view (not hard to find in the Northwest, thankfully!) and just look around. And I totally get it that it’s tempting to not have something in your hands when we’re so used to our phones all day, but really challenge yourself to just walk, take in the scenery, take deep breaths, listen to the wildlife or the wind, and maybe explore! I think a lot of us forget that we can still explore and play as adults. Taking walks and just being lost in thought is probably my favorite way that I’ve brought romance into my every day life.

*The exceptions to the no-phone rule are changing a song if I’m listening to music, and using my phone camera to take photos of lovely trees, wildlife or scenery that inspire me.

Reconnect with Yourself

Self care has also been a buzz-phrase for a while now, but it’s another one that holds a lot of importance for us as humans. Like I said on my soapbox before, the world tells us to do everything as fast as we can, and it’s usually exerting energy working for/taking care of someone else. So setting aside time to care for ourselves is so crucial, because you can’t pour from an empty cup. It’s not always easy to intentionally do things for ourselves, but I swear it’s worth it. Simple things like taking the time to moisturize your body head to toe, reading a book for an hour, indulging in self pleasure, or giving yourself a morning routine can slowly change the way you carry yourself throughout the day. You are worth spending your time with.

Treat Yourself

You know what else you’re worthy of? Nice things. Little treats. Big treats, too! It doesn’t have to be every day, and it doesn’t even have to be something you purchase every time. But show yourself you care, like you do for your loved ones. Treat yourself to a morning coffee at your favorite cafe, or even spice up your coffee at home by adding cinnamon to your coffee grounds (I do this everyday and it just makes the coffee better, it just does.) Put together an extra boujie bath with essential oils, flowers, candles, and your favorite book or tv show. Wanna really treat yourself big? Book a boudoir session. I know a gal 😘 A boudoir photoshoot is such a great way to have tangible pieces of art that embody you and your whole wonderful self. What could be more romantic?

Decorate

I became exponentially happier in my house once I had decor on the walls, especially in the rooms I spend the most time in (for me it’s the living room and dining room.) Photos of my friends and family, art prints that I made, art pieces that have been gifted to me, even a big ol photo of myself from my beach set. That’s right, I walk the walk, okay! Showing yourself you care about your home/personal space can go a long way, and being able to look around and see something you love is such a little life glimmer. It also gives you a great excuse to print your damn photos. Trust me, they are so much better being held in your hands or displayed in a beautiful frame.

Journal

Keeping a journal can be a simple thing with a big impact on your mental health. It can also just be another way to slow down, and appreciate the little things more often. Journal entries could be just reflecting on your day, little interesting (or totally mundane) things you notice around you or about yourself, a list of things your grateful for, or just brain dumping for a few minutes to yourself to clear your head.

When we’re talking about how to romanticize your life, it might feel overwhelming or not worth the effort. But in a world that doesn’t value self-care, it’s an opportunity for us to really enjoy and live our lives to the fullest. And of course, as a boudoir photographer, I can’t pass up the chance to let you know that if you’ve been contemplating a boudoir session — let’s chat about it. It’s big and it’s exciting and a little intimidating, so let me walk you through the process, and get you in the studio so you can feel your full romantic self. Click the button below to get in touch!