Sandwiching Your Day

How to get the best top and bottom, so you have the yummiest middle

Arguably, the best part of a sandwich is the middle. But what makes the middle the star is the two pieces of bread on the top and bottom. The middle wouldn’t exist without those parts—it would fall apart.

Growing up in an Indian household, our days were built on rituals. Indian culture (similar to other Asian cultures) is deeply rooted in habit-building. Across many ancient traditions, rituals and habits created structure, discipline, and a sense of purpose—whether for spiritual enlightenment, health, or social cohesion. Doing something every single day with intention has a soul-cleansing effect.

During our summer visits to India, we watched our grandmother start and end her day with the same dedication. She would rise early, before everyone else, and begin her spiritual ritual by picking flowers from the garden. After gathering a few more items, she would sit in her small room in front of the altar and begin her prayers and meditation, marked by the sound of a small conch. This sweet sound served as the household’s alarm clock—infinitely better than an iPhone alarm. And then…. every evening, she would do it all over again. Except this time, the conch’s blow signaled it was time to wind down. Our grandmother quite literally started and ended the household’s day with a single breath, blowing into the conch deeply from within.

Nostalgia and childhood memories aside, a repetitive, positive activity at the beginning and end of the day signals to your mind and body that it's time to wake up or wind down. This concept has helped us build structure into our days, ultimately leading to a better “middle part of the sandwich.” We’ve also found that these rituals improve sleep hygiene, making it easier to wake up and fall asleep—regardless of whether you’re a morning or night person.

Here are some of our favorite rituals that bookend our days (that doesn’t include no conch blowing):

No Phones
We stay off our phones for at least the first 30 minutes of the morning and the last 30 minutes of the night. We charge them away from our beds, resist the scrolling urge, and remind ourselves that no one needs an immediate response between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Walks
One of our favorites, though not always doable twice a day. We both start our mornings with a walk with our dogs and try to fit in another quick walk at the end of the workday. Since we work from home, this ritual helps us mentally transition out of work mode—physically leaving the house signals the end of the workday.

Tongue Scraping
Always, every day, twice a day after brushing our teeth. It’s essential for good oral hygiene and incredibly satisfying.

No Meetings
Our main work hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., but we have a rule: no meetings from 8-9 a.m. or 4-5 p.m. A quiet, focused start and end to the workday make all the difference.

Combing
Combing your scalp should be part of your morning and nighttime skincare routine. It helps distribute excess oil, remove buildup, stimulate blood flow, and maintain a healthy hair-growing cycle. Close your eyes—it feels amazing. And, of course, we use the S&K Handmade Neem Wood Comb. :)

Powered Water
Staying hydrated is a no-brainer, but our first and last glasses of water are always warm and infused with an Ayurvedic ingredient(s) based on the season and our body’s needs. Fresh grated ginger is good for digestion and cold months, mint in hot summers, ajwain (carom seeds) for indigestion, fennel seeds for bloating, methi (fenugreek) seeds during periods.

Incense
This one comes straight from our grandmother. Every morning and evening, she would light an incense stick and walk around the house, spreading a beautiful aroma while cleansing the space with good energy.

When you get the right bread on top and bottom, the in-between part can truly thrive.

< 3 Shaz and Kiku

STAY JUNGLI with Shaz and Kiku is where we share authentically about being first-time entrepreneurs, beauty founders, daughters of immigrants, running a family business… all while doing it together as sisters.