Life can be repetitive. It can be dreary, dull and drab, but it doesn’t have to be.
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on my childhood—specifically, growing up in the 2000s.
Polly Pocket rubber slippers, tinsel hair, blanket forts and Tamagotchis were some of the many niche things that made my elementary years all the more magical.
Now, my life lacks these enchanted elements and the trinkets that fill my room tend to reflect more of school supplies or everyday necessities.
This got me thinking: I need to be more whimsical, and everyone else should be too.
Whimsiness doesn’t need to come from tangible things—it can emerge from finding the fun in the repetition of everyday life.
With that said, here are some ways we can make the mundane more magical:
- Having a Tea Time
For Christmas this year, my family gifted me a white teapot with cherries on it. It is my prized possession. Around 3 p.m. every day—my 3 p.m. slump—I like to put some water on for myself and whoever else is home and have a nice hot cup of tea.
Now, this doesn’t have to be your simple black tea. We have a strawberry apple, anise and chocolate flavor—pretty much any tea you might dream of.
This eight-ounce cup of water and herbs makes my day even more wondrous– although I’m sure the caffeinated tea assists in this. But there is truly something elevated about having a physical teapot, pouring the water and sipping your hot drink while going about your day.
You get extra whimsy points if you imagine yourself in a castle or fantasy novel while drinking your afternoon infusion.
- Handmaking birthday cards
For my 21st birthday, my roommate took the time to hand-draw a card for me, complete with an inside joke of ours.
The card brought me back to all the times I created handmade cards for my friends growing up, and it got me thinking, “Why did I ever stop?”
This is my proclamation that we need to bring back homemade cards (and gifts too, if you’re feeling fancy).
Hand-drawn cards are youthful and creative, bringing joy to the recipients with their thoughtful, whimsical touch.
In a world where mass-produced items constantly surround us, there’s a special kind of magic in creating something with your own hands. It’s a simple, yet meaningful way to say, “I see you, and I appreciate you.”
So let’s bring back this art of handcrafting—whether it’s a card, a “DIY” gift or just a little note—it’s the kind of connection we could all use more of.
- Listening to jazz music while cooking
For some, cooking can feel frustrating. You’re hungry, impatient and just want to eat.
I know when I get back from my 5 p.m. class, the last thing I want to do is stand and wait for a pot of water to boil as my stomach grumbles so aggressively it could cause an earthquake.
But in moments like these, adding a bit of jazz could make all the difference.
With an average BPM of 60 to 80, jazz music lowers your heart and respiratory rate, thus reducing stress, according to the New Orleans Musician’s Assistance Foundation.
That’s why jazz music or other soothing musical genres can provide a focused, relaxing atmosphere, turning a simple act into a more glamorized or whimsical task.
- Making a wish at 11:11
When I was in middle school, I never missed making a wish when the clock struck 11:11. I felt like Paul Revere, alerting my friends every time the clock struck that special time.
Without fail, I made my daily wish.
Did these 8th-grade wishes come true? Probably not, but living for the hope of it all got me through the trenches of adolescence.
And now, as college students or adults, we don’t do enough living for the hope of it all. Dreams dissolve with age, but they shouldn’t.
Wishing and having a sense of hope is the purest form of whimsical, so I encourage you to make a wish the next time the clock hits that magical moment, and maybe, it will even come true.
Now, these are obviously some surface-level actions you can take to have less of a humdrum routine.
I certainly have some peculiar habits that help bring more whimsy into my life, and I’d be happy to share them if you’re interested. Of course, everyone is different, and what works for me might not work for you. That being said, I encourage you to discover your own version of whimsy and infuse it into your everyday life, banishing the dreary, dull and drab from your days.
Cecilia Wallace can be reached at wall1238@stthomas.edu.
