By Kavya Thathsarani

Let’s be honest, life can feel like a never-ending cycle of to-do lists, emails, chores, and the occasional existential scroll through social media. It’s easier to think, “Why doesn’t my life look like a movie? The kind of movie that even a bad day is bathed in soft, aesthetic lighting, the main character goes to sleep in a gentle glow of candlelight, yet somehow wakes up looking effortlessly beautiful!?” Here’s a little secret: Your life could look like that, too. You just need to romanticise your life a little.  

What is Romanticising Life? It’s the art of making everyday moments feel magical.  It’s not about reaching perfection or having a big budget. This is about perspective; choosing to see things through softer, rose-tinted glasses. 

The beauty had been hidden in plain sight, in books, poetry, movies, fun hobbies, and even in those little moments of joy, like completing a small task or making the bed just right. It’s about being your own muse, sitting in a café, sipping your coffee, while scribbling down your thoughts in your yellow-toned notebook. Romanticising life is also about deep conversations, long hugs, eye contact, and embracing the never-ending love around you.

Turn Routines to Rituals
You don’t need to wake up at 5 a.m. and drink green juice while journaling your ten-year plan (unless that’s your thing). Romanticising your morning could be as simple as waking up 20 minutes earlier to make a warm cup of tea and listen to a playlist that makes you feel like a star of a feel-good film. This gives you a slow, peaceful start- something we all need. Instead of jumping straight into your daily plans, you can start with intention. You can light a candle, open a window, eat your breakfast slowly, and dress up just for you. Even applying your skin-care routine can become a self-love ritual if you treat it like you’re painting a masterpiece. Turn the rush into rhythm. These small shifts in the way your day begins can change your entire mood.

Add Aesthetics to the Everyday
Those chores you’re dreading, such as cleaning your room? Put on your favourite playlist and dance while you clean. If you’re studying or reading, take yourself out on a cute, cosy café date. It doesn’t have to be anything grand. It can be just a change of scenery and a little joy. Even when you’re working, you can romanticise it. Maybe you can take a break with a sweet treat, or go for an evening walk and people-watch. 

Romanticising is not about faking happiness; it’s about creating small joys. You can add fairy lights to your space, drink water out of a wine glass, and even write your to-do list with gel pens and stickers. It may look silly, but it’s fun. Let the moment be yours! 

Do Something Just for the Vibes
We get caught up in being productive that we forget to do things just for the fun of it. Instead of ending your day by endlessly scrolling, you could choose something more fulfilling. You could cook your favourite meal, journal with soft music in the background, or watch a comforting movie with someone you love. These small, thoughtful choices add warmth and colour to your life.
Sometimes things don’t go as planned. You are stuck in traffic, and something falls through. It’s frustrating, but even then, you can take back your control. Put on your “main character” playlist and vibe through the chaos. You decide what ruins your day… and what doesn’t!
 
Plan Little Adventures
You don’t have to travel far to find beauty. Explore a wetland park you’ve never been to. Go to a new café you've always wanted to try. Take a different route and notice the details: the flowers blooming, the way light hits the road, the stranger’s dog sticking its head out of the car window. 
Look forward to something fun every single day. Your life is yours to shape. Keep a “romanticizing life” bucket list with ideas like: watch the sunrise, visit a bookstore and buy one random book, take yourself out on a solo date, go on a picnic with your favorite people, go on a nature walk, bake your favorite recipes, watch the sunset at a beach, and the list goes on. Once a week, pick one. You will start looking forward to life again.

Life’s a Vibe, If You Let It Be
Romanticising life is a choice. It’s about appreciating the moment you are in instead of being caught up in the past or stressed about what’s next. And when you begin to see life this way, you realise life is actually worth living, and there’s always something waiting to be noticed every single day.
So yes, light the fancy candle on a Tuesday. Dress up to go grocery shopping. Play your soundtrack while washing dishes. You’re the main character, and you get to make life beautiful in your own way. Because why not?