“No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the Rosary. Either he will give up sin or he will give up the holy Rosary.”—Bishop Hugh Doyle
A daily rosary can seem like an impossible task. One that is only attained by hermits and such.
But I’m here to tell you it is possible. And that there are ways to set yourself up for success. If you haven’t read my post There is Power in the Rosary: A Guide For Deeper Understanding, definitely check that out on why the rosary is such a beautiful daily habit to maintain.
I have friends who have so much engineering homework that they struggle to find time in their day to eat, yet they still get a daily rosary in. So no, you’re not too busy, and yes, it is possible.
So I put together a list of things I’ve figured out from my own experience, the experience of friends, and a bit of common sense. At the end of the day, though, if you commit to this, the Lord will provide the time. For if we put Him first, everything else will fall into place.
And if you’re still trying to figure out if it’s worth the 20 minutes a day, just know that prayer works and is essential for any and everything we do. So it’s 100 percent worth putting some thought into.
1. Rosary Walks
This is hands down my favorite way to pray the rosary. I work remotely and spend most of my day sitting, so any chance I to move around is a huge win. And because I already desire to walk, it makes it so much easier to say the rosary. Whether it’s a few laps around the block after dinner (great for digestion) or walking between classes, it’s an easy way to pray without feeling like you have to sit still and be ultra-focused. Plus, they say mind, body, and soul are connected, and a walking rosary feeds all three.
2. Rosary Drives
Have a long commute or even just errands to run? As long as you’re not an awful driver, this is such a life hack. Seriously, if you’ve got a twenty-minute drive, you’ve got time for a rosary. I like to plug in an audio version or even just say it out loud (I probably look so silly). It’s a surprisingly peaceful way to make use of time that might otherwise be spent zoning out to music or podcasts. I love having a rosary hanging from my windshield to a) show that I’m Catholic and b) reminds me to pray.
3. Accountability
Praying a rosary alone can be hard. It’s amazing how much easier it becomes when someone else is also trying to build the same habit. Last summer, my college friends and I did the 54-day rosary novena together as a way to stay in touch while still keeping each other accountable. Better yet, pray it with someone either over the phone or in person. Whether it’s your roommate, your sister, your boyfriend, or a long-distance friend, this kind of accountability makes it feel like a shared mission as you challenge each other towards greater self discipline and holiness. My fiancé and I have been praying the rosary together, and not only has it been a great way to see his spiritual leadership in our relationship, but created the accountability I needed to succeed. There is a reason they say Saints always come in clusters.
4. Rosary on Your Wrist
This is such a simple but powerful reminder. Wearing a rosary bracelet or even one of those single-decade ones can keep the rosary literally at your fingertips. It’s perfect as if I find a quiet moment waiting for class to start or in line at the store, I can start praying right then and there. It’s subtle, stylish, and spiritually practical. The one I used to love broke, and the number of times I have decided to say a rosary, then realized I don’t have one on me is incredibly high. Definitely on my list of things to buy. The one below is from Chews Life.
5. Use an App
There are so many good rosary apps out there, and they’ve totally changed the game for busy schedules. Apps like Hallow, Amen, or Laudate offer guided rosaries that walk you through each mystery, so you don’t have to keep checking your place or get lost mid-decade. Some even have soothing background music. Last summer I would use Hallow to play the rosary recording on my car Bluetooth on the way to work.
6. Create a Prayer Corner
As women, we tend to love creating beautiful spaces that inspire peace and joy. Let’s use this superpower to orient our souls towards heaven. I’m talking a candle, a little image of Our Lady, maybe a journal or your favorite devotional. Even just a chair in the corner of your room with a blanket and a rosary nearby can feel sacred and make praying more special. It’s like your soul knows: “When I sit here, I pray.” It doesn’t have to be fancy or Instagram-worthy. Just make it yours, and let it be a place of peace and prayer.
7. Ask for Mary’s Help
This one might seem obvious, but sometimes we forget. The rosary is Mary’s prayer she wants us to pray it. If you’re struggling to find time, focus, or even the desire to pray it, just ask her. A simple prayer like, “Mother Mary, help me desire to pray the rosary,” can be the beginning of a beautiful devotion to the rosary. She will help you. She will gently draw you into her Son’s heart, one bead at a time. Don’t try to do this alone, she’s literally waiting to help.
8. Habit Stacking
This is one of my favorite little productivity tricks that works like a charm for spiritual life. Habit stacking means adding a new habit (like praying the rosary) to an existing one. For example, after making coffee in the morning, you say the first decade. Or every night after brushing your teeth, you pray the next part. It removes the guesswork and builds consistency in a natural way. Before you know it, the rosary becomes just another part of your daily rhythm, and the amount of self-discipline needed becomes significantly less.
So what do you say, give it a shot?
The rosary doesn’t have to be some lofty, out-of-reach spiritual practice reserved for saints and cloistered nuns. It’s for each of us. Right now. In the middle of your busy schedule, and all the daily chaos. The Lord desires to meet you in those moments, and Mary wants to walk with you, decade by decade, into deeper peace and closeness with Jesus.
Whether it’s during your walk, your drive, in your cozy prayer corner, or split up throughout your day, the rosary can fit into your life. And once it does, it transforms it.
So don’t overthink it. Just start. Choose one of these tips and give it a try. And when you miss a day, don’t beat yourself up, just begin again. Comment below on which tip you are going to try!
Ask Our Lady to help you, and she absolutely will. Because when we say yes to praying the rosary, we’re really saying yes to Jesus. And that’s always worth it.
You’ve got this! I believe in you!
Praying for you always,
Xoxo
Rory😊
What are your thoughts?