Cozy Studio Ghibli After-Work Routine

I’ve been drifting more toward a slow living lifestyle.

It’s taken me a while to understand that less is more and I’ve been relishing each day lately.

It doesn’t matter how hard my work day is or what health problems I’m facing, I try to take each day as it comes and the rewards are endless.

Some evenings are just too heavy, your shoulders ache, your brain feels scrambled, and all you want is to feel like you again after a long day of work and responsibilities.

This is where a Studio Ghibli-inspired after-work routine can feel like magic.

Not because it fixes everything.

Not because it’s perfect.

But because it gently slows the pace. It romanticizes the ordinary.

It reminds you that you’re still allowed to feel soft and safe, even when the world feels loud.

If you’ve ever watched Kiki flying through the sky after a long delivery, or Chihiro quietly soaking in a bath at the spirit inn, or Sophie cleaning a messy house just to feel a bit more in control… then you know this feeling.

This post is for you.

Here’s how to create a slow, cozy Studio Ghibli-inspired after-work routine that feels like a warm hug:

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1. Change into something loose and flowy

This will help your body relax and set the mood as well.

Get out of your stiff work clothes. Step into a cotton nightgown.

Or wide linen pants and a soft tee. Think of something you’d wear in a Ghibli cottage — light, breathable, and gently oversized.

Clothing has energy. Changing into something relaxed tells your brain the workday is over. You’ve stepped into a slower world now — a world of comfort, not deadlines.

Add a pair of soft house slippers. Tuck your hair in a messy bun or loose braid. Let your body breathe and soften.

I absolutely love this: Loose Loungewear Set – Cottagecore Aesthetic

2. Light a candle and play a Ghibli soundtrack

Create instant atmosphere with two things: soft lighting and nostalgic music.

Light a soy candle with a cozy scent (lavender, green tea, vanilla), and play a Studio Ghibli piano playlist on low volume.

It doesn’t have to be fancy.

Even a single tea light on your table or desk changes the whole vibe. Let the soundtrack transport you, whether it’s “The Path of the Wind” from Totoro or “Merry-Go-Round of Life” from Howl’s Moving Castle.

This is the scene-setting moment.

The transition from outer noise to inner stillness.

Try this: Studio Ghibli Relaxing Piano Collection CD

3. Make a simple but comforting dinner

Remember, your food has to nourish you but also not feel too heavy.

Think of Ponyo’s ramen. Or Howl’s bacon and eggs. Or a miso soup with rice.

The goal here is warm, cozy, and easy, not fancy.

No pressure to perform. Just nourish yourself.

Even instant noodles can feel like love if you serve it in a cute bowl and add a soft-boiled egg. Add seaweed, chopped scallions, a drizzle of sesame oil.

Cooking can be slow living if you approach it with curiosity, not stress.

Let this be your moment to wind down through smell, taste, and slowness.

I absolutely adore this cozy cookbook I just bought.

4. Do a small tidy-up that feels satisfying

Sophie didn’t clean because she had to, she cleaned because she needed to feel grounded.

Pick one small area: your nightstand, your entryway, your kitchen counter. Wipe it down. Put things in place.

I also like re-arranging a shelf in my closet because it feels more doable. I’ll also plan my next day’s outfit.

When your space starts to breathe again, so do you.

Play the soundtrack while you tidy. Hum. Smile. Make it a moving meditation instead of a chore.

5. Take a long shower or bathe with a natural scent

You don’t need a bathhouse like Spirited Away.

But you can recreate the softness of it.

Use a forest-scented body wash. Let the steam clear your head. Imagine the water washing away the day’s noise.

Bonus: wrap yourself in a huge, warm towel like you’re at a cozy inn.

This is your moment to reconnect to your senses — the warmth of the water, the quietness of the room, the scent of pine or citrus.

Try this: Japanese Cleansing bar – Japanese Spa Scent

6. Sip on a warm drink while journaling

Pick a tea that feels grounding, roasted barley, chamomile, or matcha.

Or a warm golden milk if you’re craving sweetness. Pair it with journaling prompts like:

  • What drained me today?
  • What tiny joy did I miss that I can notice now?
  • What would Kiki do to unwind?

Write like no one’s watching.

Use stickers, doodle, or tape in a leaf you found. Make it magical.

I loved this journal: Zen Guided Journal with Prompts

7. Watch a comforting Ghibli movie (or read a cozy book)

You don’t have to finish a whole movie.

Just 20 minutes is enough to shift your mood. Choose something gentle: My Neighbor Totoro, Whisper of the Heart, From Up on Poppy Hill.

Or curl up with a book that gives the same cozy, slow-living vibes.

Think healing, magical realism, quiet joy. Light another candle. Pull on your softest socks.

I have a beautiful cozy list of books that give off Studio Ghibli vibes.

You are allowed to rest.

Try this: Studio Ghibli Complete Movie Collection Box Set

8. End the night with a tiny ritual

Maybe it’s misting your pillow with lavender spray.

Or pulling a self-care card. Or lighting one last tea light while you say a quiet thank you to the universe.

Rituals don’t have to be spiritual.

They’re just tiny actions that help your nervous system feel safe. And when done consistently, they become anchors in the chaos.

End your night the way you want to feel tomorrow.

You don’t need a new life to feel a little more peace.

You just need small pockets of softness… and the permission to savor them.

Your evenings can feel like a Ghibli scene. You just have to slow down long enough to notice them.

Here are a few more posts on this topic:

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