When I think of a character that radiates positivity, without being saccharine, I remember Anne Shirley. She’s a tad melodramatic at the beginning of the “Anne of Green Gables” series. Overall, she is a thoughtful person who shapes her worldview around a belief that good things will come to her. Whenever I need a pick-me-up, I read one of those stories. Even if I just absorb a chapter or a quote about Anne with an E, I feel instantly better.
Recently, I was reflecting on how Anne, as a writer, attracted happy thoughts into her life. This brought me back to the format of my daily planner and how I might do the same.
Plan for Positivity
There are so many different tracker ideas, available on Pinterest and Instagram, that can boost your positivity.
Moods
Mood trackers allow you to shift your attitude in a more positive direction. You can see what kinds of things trigger stress, anxiety or negative feelings.
“Fancies are like shadows…you can’t cage them, they’re such wayward, dancing things.”
― Anne of Avonlea
I’m not very good at tracking long term but, I did a very simple mood tracker once. I noticed that toward the end of the month, when my workload got high, I felt very stressed. So, I looked for ways to alleviate that stress and shift my mood.
Playlists
These little auditory histories are so fun to look back upon. I never thought of tracking a playlist for the month until I saw it on Instagram. They’re fun in the moment but, also lovely to reset your mood to a happier time.
“I’d like to add some beauty to life,” said Anne dreamily. “I don’t exactly want to make people KNOW more… though I know that IS the noblest ambition… but I’d love to make them have a pleasanter time because of me… to have some little joy or happy thought that would never have existed if I hadn’t been born.”
― Anne’s House of Dreams
You can make a list of songs to listen to that always make you feel better. For me, it’s definitely “Fidelity” by Regina Spektor, every time.
Sleep
When I don’t get enough sleep, I get cranky. But, the seasons of life shift me away from sleep constantly. If you have that same problem, consider tracking your sleep.
“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”
― L.M. Montgomery
It helps you prioritize the rest and focus on the opportunity that sleeping creates for the forthcoming day.
Quotes
I have been collecting quotes for years. I don’t do anything elaborate. I just fill journals with lovely sayings as I find them. Most of the time, they come when I read books.
“It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.”
― Anne of Green Gables
If you have a place, make space to track quotes that make you feel good. They can even just be nice things that people said around you.
What do you track in your planner?
Whether or not you love L.M. Montgomery’s work, most writers and planners appreciate the moody viewpoint of her beloved Anne character. She’s verbose and entertaining — making her highly quotable– especially when she is feeling upbeat.
I’d like to hear about what you track in your planner. Does it help boost your positive feelings? Join me on Instagram.
