From an article in Lifehacker, this is a really brilliant idea: customize your own holidays! The idea being to ritualize practices in the same way you do for holidays. If it weren't for the Fourth of July (aka ZiegerFamilyPicnic), I would almost never see a good portion of my extended family members. I need a "get in touch with relatives day." Of the examples, I particularly like: 11/18 - Day of ascetic fasting and restraint. Do as little as possible. Spend your time in quiet places. Drink only water or tea. If you must eat, do so with great restraint and simplicity. Stay in one place as much of the day as you can. Don't watch TV or use the computer and consume as few resources of any kind as possible. See how few things you can use or consume in one day. The full entry here.