If you’ve spent enough time on my blog, you’ll know that I am a huge fan of Sanrio and Studio Ghibli.
I gravitate towards anything soft and cute to be honest.
Also, that’s why so many of us keep coming back to Studio Ghibli movies when life feels overwhelming.
It’s not just the beautiful animation or the stories, it’s for that simpler life I guess.
I just love that feeling of opening a window and letting fresh air into a quiet room. The feeling of cooking something simple with your own hands. The feeling of walking somewhere slowly instead of rushing everywhere. The feeling that ordinary life can actually be magical if you pay attention.
A few years ago I realized I was spending most of my days staring at screens. I would wake up, check my phone, work on my laptop, scroll social media, watch videos on Youtube (to learn skills), and then somehow wonder why life felt like I was living on autopilot.
Meanwhile, every time I watched a Studio Ghibli movie, I felt something so raw and drawn to simple living.
The characters lived such mundane lives.
They were gardening.
Making tea.
Writing letters.
Taking trains.
Listening to the rain.
Looking at clouds.
And somehow it felt so real. Of course, there is a nature component that we miss because we’re living in big cities.
But I feel we can still make that work!
Living like a Studio Ghibli character isn’t about moving to the countryside or wearing cottagecore dresses every day.
It’s about learning how to slow down enough to actually notice your life instead of letting it pass you.
Here are some of the habits that helped me do exactly that.
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1. Romanticize Ordinary Moments
We’re so allergic to boredom in 2026.
Why?
It’s okay to be bored. That’s how our brains don’t get overwhelmed.
We don’t need so much stimuli on a daily basis.
One thing Ghibli movies do incredibly well is making everyday moments feel important.
A girl sweeping the floor.
Someone hanging laundry.
A family eating breakfast.
A walk home from school.
These scenes would sound boring if you described them out of context, but somehow they help you slow time down.
Try looking at your own life through the same lens.
Instead of rushing through your morning coffee, sit near a window and actually enjoy it.
Crack open a book or even a journal and savor it.
Instead of treating dinner as something you need to get through, light a candle and put on music while you cook. Talk to yourself.
I even talk to my dogs while I cook and I love watching their animated faces even when I’m boiling water, lol.
Not filling every moment with something is so beautiful.
2. Spend More Time Outside
This is so difficult for me, but with the help of my friends, I’m able to do this.
Nearly every Ghibli movie has a strong connection to nature, you would have noticed this.
Forests.
Fields.
Gardens.
Rainstorms.
A lot of us spend entire days indoors without even realizing it.
Try taking a walk without headphones. Again, let yourself be bored.
Sit under a tree.
Watch a sunset.
Visit a botanical garden.
Keep your phone in your bag.
Start identifying birds in your neighborhood. I love doing this because I love birds.
Even fifteen minutes outside can completely change your mood.
I’ve noticed that some of my best ideas arrive when I’m walking instead of sitting at a desk trying to force them.
3. Learn to Cook Simple Comfort Food
I buy ingredients online because grocery shopping is very hard for me but I cook everything from scratch.
Ghibli food has a reputation for a reason.
Everything looks warm, comforting, and made with care.
The meals aren’t always elaborate.
Fresh bread.
Soup.
Rice.
Tea.
Eggs.
Vegetables.
Try learning a few cozy recipes that you genuinely enjoy making.
Maybe it’s homemade soup. Or a pasta?
Maybe it’s fluffy pancakes on a Saturday morning with a side of scrambled eggs. I love cutting a slice of cheddar cheese as well. It makes me so happy!
I even like making burnt basque cheesecake because it’s so simple!
Cooking for yourself creates a connection to your day that ordering takeout never really can.
The process becomes part of the experience.
4. Create a Cozy Reading Ritual
I love reading and it’s taken me time to build that focus so I can read a whole book without putting it down.
But I can honestly say that my life is so much better because of reading.
We were never meant to watch reels and consume so much content on a daily basis.
It’s not normal. Our brains grow fatigued and that’s why it’s difficult to remember what you watched yesterday.
Think about Studio Ghinli.
Ghibli characters often spend quiet moments reading, writing, or learning something new.
They take their time.
Those slower hobbies have become rare because our attention is constantly being pulled in different directions.
Pick a book you’ve been meaning to read and create a little ritual around it.
Make tea.
Grab a blanket.
Find a comfortable chair.
Turn your phone upside down.
Read ten pages.
You don’t need to finish a book in one sitting, that takes time to get there.
The goal is simply creating space for quiet.
5. Keep a Journal
I love writing down parts of my day. I love writing about how my loved ones make me feel cared for. I love writing about my dogs or my cute books. I write for myself and nobody else.
Many Ghibli characters are observers.
They notice things.
They reflect.
They pay attention.
Journaling can help you do the same.
Write about your day.
Record small moments.
Describe a conversation you enjoyed. Maybe someone said something that made you laugh or think!
Write about a dream you had.
I had a dream that an Indian Peafowl was trying eat my dog yesterday, and I was running with her, scared out of my mind. It was a funny dream.
List things that made you smile.
Some of my favorite journal entries are completely ordinary. A good meal. A funny thing my partner said. A rainy afternoon that got him upset because his basketball game got cancelled.
Years later, those memories become treasures.
6. Slow Down Your Mornings
Most mornings today feel like a race.
Alarm.
Phone.
Email.
Coffee.
Rush.
Repeat.
A Ghibli-style morning feels completely different.
Open the curtains.
Stretch.
Make breakfast.
Listen to birds outside.
Sit for a few extra minutes.
Even if you only have ten spare minutes, they can change the entire tone of your day.
7. Develop a Hobby Just for Joy
Not everything needs to become a side hustle, even though that’s okay too.
Sometimes it’s okay to do something simply because it makes you happy.
Drawing.
Painting.
Knitting.
Gardening.
Learning an instrument.
Pressing flowers.
Photography.
The happiest people I know usually have at least one hobby that exists purely for enjoyment. Sometimes I do puzzles. Sometimes I watercolor even though I suck at it.
8. Walk Whenever You Can
I love walking becuase it is the easiest exercise ever and I don’t perspire.
Walking is everywhere in Ghibli films.
Characters walk to school.
Walk through forests.
Walk to work.
Walk to visit friends.
Walking gives you time to think and notice things.
If a destination is reasonably close, try walking instead of driving.
Pay attention to flowers.
Neighborhood cats.
Interesting houses.
Street food.
Tiny details become much more visible when you’re moving slowly.
9. Build a Connection With Your Home
Ghibli homes feel lived in.
They’re cozy.
Personal.
A little imperfect.
Your home doesn’t need to look like a Pinterest board and it doesn’t need to be aesthetic. It should just make sense to you.
I like keeping things tidy so I spend a lot of hours a day cleaning and doing laundry. Since I have 2 dogs, the shed fur is my utmost priority, lol. I vacuum a ton!
Add things to your home that make you feel happy.
Plants.
Books.
Candles.
Soft blankets.
Photos.
Favorite mugs.
A home should feel comforting when you walk through the door.
Not like another thing on your to-do list.
10. Appreciate Seasonal Changes
Ghibli stories often celebrate the seasons.
Spring flowers.
Summer festivals.
Autumn leaves.
Winter snow.
Try paying attention to what season you’re currently living in.
Make seasonal recipes.
Go for seasonal walks.
Wear clothes that match the weather.
I absolutely love loose clothes now, despite being fit. I don’t feel the need to wear tight clothes or uncomfortable footwear. There are so many pretty clothes that are loose and comfortable that I’ve found on Pinterest.
11. Protect Your Sense of Wonder
I’ve been asking questions ever since I was little and sometimes people find it annoying but I’ve learned so much because I continue to ask questions.
Children in Ghibli films often notice magic because they’re still curious.
Adults sometimes lose that.
Try getting curious again.
Visit a museum.
Learn about stars.
Watch fireflies.
Explore a new neighborhood.
Read about folklore!
Ask questions.
Wonder doesn’t disappear because we grow older.
We just stop making room for it.
12. Prioritize Meaningful Relationships
I love my partner, my dogs and my friends.
Many Ghibli stories are ultimately about connection.
Family.
Friendship.
Community.
Love.
Spend time with people who make you feel safe.
Write thoughtful messages.
Call your grandparents.
Plan coffee dates.
Have long conversations without looking at your phone.
Years from now, these relationships are what you’ll remember most.
13. Let Life Be Softer
This might be the most important lesson of all.
We’re so used to making everything about hustling and productivity.
Not every day needs to be productive, though.
Not every hour needs to be optimized.
Not every hobby needs a goal.
Sometimes it’s enough to watch the rain.
Take a nap.
Read a chapter of a book.
Play the piano.
Bake cookies.
Sit with your pet.
Listen to music.
The older I get, the more I realize that happiness often hides inside small moments we usually rush past.
Studio Ghibli movies remind us of that.
They remind us that life isn’t only made up of major milestones.
It’s also made up of warm cups of tea, quiet walks, shared meals, open windows, and ordinary days that become beautiful simply because we paid attention to them.
