Sometimes I see people roll their own cigarettes. I asked a person who did this if they liked them better. They said (surprisingly to me) that it was the same when smoking them more or less, and not especially cheaper, either. But they enjoyed the ritual. Plus, they said, as an added bonus they smoked fewer of them overall because of the extra effort.
What struck me is that they separated those two benefits. But really, those are the same thing. The point of ritualizing something is to add consideration to it – both during and before, when you’re deciding if you’re willing to put in the effort.
Making yourself food is slower than getting takeout, but that’s the point. If it’s healthier or cheaper than takeout, it’s because you slowed down to do it. To take time to involve yourself in the process. To think about it more deeply.
The actual added benefit is that the rest of your life gets pushed away for a bit. While you’re rolling a cigarette or cooking a meal, that’s what you’re doing – not answering emails or scrolling your phone. You’re just present in the act of doing something for yourself.
Take the time and do it more. It’s good to slow down and smell the cooking.
The Opportunity Machine 