We are big believers that it not just about where you’re working on any given day, it is how you show up to do that work that really matters. Between calendar invites, inbox overload, and the constant buzz of a Teams message or espresso machine, the pace of the day can blur by fast. On the days where our calendar feels more in control than ourselves, we rely on a series of micro-rituals to stay on track to hit our goals. To us, micro-rituals are any of those small and intentional moments throughout your day that create a sense of reflection and rhythm that help you stay rooted.

These don’t have to be big gestures. In fact, the power of a micro-ritual lies in its simplicity. It’s the quiet structure you give to your day, the repeated behavior that helps your brain switch gears, the tiny habit that signals “I’m ready” or “I’m done” or “this moment matters.”

Here are some of the micro-rituals we see practiced daily by our team and members at The Shop and why they make all of the difference:

1. Starting with a familiar scene
Before opening laptops or diving into deep work, many of our members start their day by grabbing a cup of coffee from our community kitchen. It’s not just about caffeine (but let’s be honest, it is about 90% about the caffeine) it’s about that walk down the hall, the familiar nods to neighbors, the moment to set an intention. Whether it’s an iced cold brew in Salt Lake City or an oat milk latte in New Orleans, that first sip is often the unofficial start of the workday.

2. The main floor loop
At The Shop Workspace, the main floor will always function as a hub of movement and energy. We’ve noticed members doing what we now lovingly call “the loop” – a quick walk around the floor to stretch their legs, check in with familiar faces, and recalibrate between meetings. It’s short. It’s casual. And it helps reset your brain between back-to-backs.

3. Desk setups with meaning
We’ve seen members turn a Commons desk or private office into something sacred with just a few personal items: a favorite pen, a small plant, a notebook they actually write in. These tiny shrines of intention are a reminder that you can bring pieces of yourself into even the most professional space and it makes the day feel less transactional and more intentional.

4. The lunchtime pause
It’s easy to eat lunch at your desk while answering emails, but the members who step away onto the rooftop in Salt Lake City or New Orleans, or out to the promenade off the Gowanus Canal, return with more clarity. That break doesn’t have to be long; it just has to be real. A small ritual of rest can carry you through the second half of the day with more grace. Plus the extra few steps and rays of sunshine definitely can’t be bad for you.

5. The magic of check-ins
We’ve made it part of our team culture to check in with one another, not just about tasks, but about how things feel. A 10-minute debrief after an event, a quick pulse check during a morning stand-up. These rituals help us move from doing to connecting, and they make a difference in how we show up for our members.

In a world of big ideas and bold ambitions, it’s easy to underestimate the small stuff. But micro-rituals are what keep us human. They’re grounding, they’re personal, and at The Shop, they’re part of what makes our community feel less like an office and more like a place where you belong.