The Practice of Rituals

The Practice of Rituals

Author Erica Keswin’s story and her Exquisitely Timed New Book, Rituals Road Map

by Trystanne Cunningham

Erica Keswin is a bestselling author, internationally sought-after speaker, and founder of the Spaghetti Project, a roving ritual devoted to sharing the science and stories of relationships at work. She helps top-of-the-class businesses, organizations, and individuals improve their performance by honoring relationships in every context, always with an eye toward high-tech for human touch.

Her first book, Bring Your Human to Work: 10 Sure-Fire Ways to Design a Workplace That’s Good for People, Great for Business, and Just Might Change the World, was published in 2018. Her second book, Rituals Roadmap: The Human Way to Transform Everyday Routines Into Workplace Magic, was published in January 2021. Both books debuted as Wall Street Journal bestsellers.

Erica has always been a connector of sorts, rom setting up marriages to becoming an executive recruiter. Growing up in Connecticut, Erica’s father, a lawyer, believed “children from divorced parents tend to search for more connection in meaningful relationships because they always yearn for a family setting outside of their nuclear household.”

Coming from a divorced, blended family, Erica believes her passion for connection began early. Her most notable achievement was taking the risk of pivoting from a career in law to embark on a speaking career and becoming an author. Her strategy to use her books as a calling card to guide clients has proven successful. Publishing her first two books in less than three years shows her passion and dedication.

Marketing her books has been at her discretion since the publishing industry lacks the marketing that was prevalent in earlier years. As a mother of three, she thrives on always being intentional. When counseling her clients on job choice, her advice is to choose a path that will continue to broaden one’s mind and keep you growing intellectually. Erica’s writing kryptonite is early morning. She blocks out her time with no distractions, turning off all notifications from all devices.

She reminds us, “When you get interrupted, it takes 23 min to get back in the zone”. Success to Erica is being healthy, spending time with family and friends, having work that you feel passionate about, and the ability to give back. Her favorite ritual consists of having her favorite coffee drink wherever she might be in the world as close as the same time every day.

She treks to her favorite coffee shop and consciously enjoys every sip. An avid planner, she volunteers to book and organize all her trips and plans one every year with her favorite girlfriends. Erica teaches that traditions are essential and a poignant part of life. It signifies a healthy lifestyle.

Rituals Design your rituals roadmap. What do you do in life that makes you feel most like you, makes you feel good about yourself, your work? Beginnings and endings are prime rituals. Examples of this are: before you start a meeting, the beginning of your day, when you are ending your day, and gratitude practice at the beginning and end of your days. We’ve picked eight ritual examples recommended by Erica to share with you.

See examples to assist in drawing your very own road map:

1. A Beginning Ritual (Beginning of the day, before you start a meeting.)

2. An Ending Ritual (Ending to your day, before you brush your teeth).

3. Transition rituals (Driving to work, walking to the bus).

4. Rituals around taking breaks: (20x20x20 every 20 min take a 20- sec break, by taking 20 steps away from your computer.

5. Rituals around meals (where you’re mindful that you are eating, taste the food and have a meal.)

6. Rituals that reward (35 pushups every day at 3 pm in the office or virtually with colleagues.)

7. Missing Friends and family? (You can create a few rituals in one, as Erica does, by walking with one of her girlfriends during a phone call once a week. She also exercises while getting her steps in, catching up, chatting, and it also serves as a break

8. Does my calendar reflect my values? Ensure your belief system and goals reflects on your calendar. Establishing your meetings, and scheduling your events to align with your goals and what is important to you, will leave you feeling accomplished with a great sense of purpose and pride.

As one of the most innovative coaches of 2020, Erica Keswin will help coach your businesses and organizations, yourself, and your team, and consult on your every need to help make your life a success. “If you want some help looking at the interrelationships of people in the workplace and individually at home, I’m you’re girl.” Erica Keswin.

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