Some weekends are meant for productivity, and I have a lot of those posts on this blog. This is not one of those posts.
A Studio Ghibli weekend is the one where time slows down without you forcing it because you require a real break.
As a 33-year-old woman, I feel like I am constantly rushing to fix my life and optimize everything.
What if we could just exist without waking up to noisy alarms and eating toast hurriedly over the sink?
No screens and no expectations.
A Ghibli weekend is a quiet rebellion against all of that. It’s choosing beauty in ordinary moments and letting yourself rest!
This is how I like to do it.
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1. Start your weekend with a slow, cozy morning
A Studio Ghibli weekend begins the moment you wake up and decide not to rush.
No jumping straight into messages or notifications
Let yourself lie in bed for a minute. Stretch. Notice the light in your room. The quiet. Even if it’s only quiet for a little while.
Make a warm drink and actually sit with it. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, whatever floats your boat. Use your favorite mug. The chipped one is fine. Drink it slowly.
For me, that’s spearmint tea or a cup of hot chai.
Look out the window if you can. If you have plants, water them. If you don’t, open a window and let some air in.
If you like journaling, write a page about how you want this weekend to feel, not what you need to get done.
Words like calm, gentle, playful, cozy. A notebook like “The Ghibliotheque Anime Movie Guide” is a lovely thing to keep nearby for inspiration, even if you just flip through it while you sip your drink.
This sets the tone. The rest of the weekend follows this energy.
2. Plan a simple Ghibli watch list, not a marathon
I have a softness for Kiki’s Delivery Service so it’s on the top of my list, lol.
Maybe watch 1-2 films this weekend?
- If you want comfort, think My Neighbor Totoro or Kiki’s Delivery Service.
- If you want reflection, Spirited Away or Only Yesterday.
- If you want quiet beauty, Whisper of the Heart or The Wind Rises.
Make it intentional. Light a lamp. Pull out a blanket. No half-watching while doing chores. Let the movie be the main event.
If you want to learn more about the films as you go, “Studio Ghibli: The Complete Works” is a beautiful companion book to keep nearby.
You can flip through it between movies and notice details you missed before.
3. Cook or prepare one comforting, Ghibli-style meal
I absolutely love Kiki delivery’s pancakes or the chocolate cake. I like making the jam thumbprint cookies from When Marnie was there!
Food in Ghibli movies always feels special because it’s simple and made with care. Choose one meal and make it slowly.
Maybe it’s fluffy rice with vegetables and a fried egg. A warm bowl of noodles. Toast with butter and jam. Even baking something easy like muffins or bread counts. And the recipes are very easy to follow!
Put music on while you cook. I love the Studio Ghibli Jazz playlist on youtube. Set the table, even if you’re eating alone. Use a real plate. Sit down to eat instead of standing in the kitchen.
If you enjoy Ghibli-inspired cooking, “The Unofficial Studio Ghibli Cookbook” is full of cozy ideas that feel very achievable, even if you only try one recipe.
Eating like this feels grounding. It reminds you that care can be simple.
4. Create a cozy corner just for the weekend
This is my favorite thing to do!
Just choose one small area and make it feel special. A corner of your bed. A chair near a window. A spot on the floor with cushions.
Add a blanket. A pillow. A lamp instead of overhead lighting. Maybe a candle if you like them. Bring a book, your journal, or your sketchbook there.
This becomes your Ghibli corner. A place you return to throughout the weekend to rest, read, think, or do nothing at all.
A soft book like “The Art of Spirited Away” fits perfectly here, even if you just look at the artwork and don’t read every page.
5. Spend time outside, even if it’s brief
Nature is a huge part of the Ghibli feeling.
If you live in a city like me, it’s difficult to find a forest or countryside escape, lol. So, a short walk counts. Sitting on a balcony counts. Standing in the sun for five minutes counts.
Go outside without headphones for at least a little while. Notice trees, clouds, birds, sounds. Let your thoughts wander.
If you live somewhere busy, look for small pockets of quiet like a park bench or side street. These moments add a surprising amount of calm to your weekend.
That little sun and outdoor air will do you good.
6. Do something creative without trying to be good at it
I am not good at painting, I suck and I don’t mind it.
Ghibli stories celebrate creation for the joy of it. Drawing, writing, baking, arranging flowers, even doodling while watching a movie.
Pull out pens and paper. Paint badly like me. Write a short story that goes nowhere. Make something just because you want to.
A book like “Steal Like an Artist” is a great reminder that creativity doesn’t need permission or perfection.
The goal is to have fun!
7. Dress comfortably, like a Ghibli character would
This might sound silly, but what you wear changes how your day feels.
Choose clothes that are soft, loose, and cozy. I love Korean pants and nice graphic tees that are more soft. I choose ones with croissants and baked goods on them usually.
By now you’d have figured that I love to eat.
This isn’t about looking cute for anyone. It’s about feeling at ease in your body. When your clothes don’t pinch or restrict you, you relax without even realizing it.
That comfort becomes part of the weekend atmosphere.
8. End your days with quiet
In the evenings, resist the urge to fill silence with endless scrolling. Dim the lights. Light a lamp. Put on soft music or nothing at all.
Read a few pages. Stretch on the floor. Write a paragraph about what felt good today. Think about nothing for a bit.
If you like reflective reading, “The Comfort Book” by Matt Haig is one of my favorite cozy reads!
Let your nights feel gentle. Sleep comes easier when the day ends softly.
9. Carry one small feeling into the next week
When the weekend ends, don’t try to recreate everything.
Just take one feeling with you. Maybe it’s slower mornings?
Or cooking one comforting meal during the week. Or sitting without your phone for ten minutes a day.
I now have breakfast in complete silence. It just sets my mood for my workday ahead.
A Studio Ghibli weekend isn’t an escape really.
Life doesn’t have to feel rushed all the time. Rest is allowed. Joy in small things is allowed.
You can return to this feeling anytime you need it!
I have loads of Studio Ghibli posts on this blog if you’d like to read them:
