I think everyone goes through times when they're feeling a little overwhelmed, either because achieving their goals is dependent on factors outside their control (e.g., other peoples' choices or material factors they can't change), or because the ultimate goal is so large that any efforts to accomplish it don't seem to have an effect. In these situations, it's sometimes helpful to figure out something small and easily-achievable you can do to improve your life, even in a minor way. These minor efforts might even evolve into regular or semi-automatic habits, subtly but continually improving your productivity or general well-being.
This is probably one of the reasons why rituals of all kinds can be appealing; they can offer reassurance that a person is making regular progress, even if it isn't noticeable. Even if the rituals don't actually have any effect, they can still provide a person with a sense of control over their lives and problems and serve as a source of comfort.
