Journals and Planners

This week began like most of my weeks — sitting with my journal before me. Typically, I check my appointments and make sure they're all represented in the appropriate time slot. Then, I list everything I must finish during the week. Finally, I mark down the things I need to work on but, not necessarily finish. It's a chance to bring together all the parts of my life like my work, my son's school, church obligations, my husband's work, and his army schedule. Like many people, it looks much fuller on paper than it does in my head. For some [...]

Whenever I need a burst of creativity, I read either a memoir or a fictional story written in the first person. It pushes me out of my own mental boundaries and makes me consider another person's point of view. My mind takes on that new role and flexes into new thoughts. One of my favorite stories to revisit is The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The main character's reflection on her own state of mind mirrors the process I go through when I jot in my own journal. Although I am not in a state of mental anguish, keeping [...]

My journal eases that mental strain of considering, "What do I need to do today?"

With COVID-19 disrupting my waking and sleeping hours, I decided to nip the problem in the bud. I made a plan to break that habit before it got out-of-control again. This time, I used my journal to help remind me of my plan.

Just don't ask me to help you pick a planner or lend you her favorite set of pens -- because you will never fill out the planner and you will probably lose my pens.

The system organizes reminders, lists, brainstorming and other organizational tasks into one blank notebook.

I wanted this new life to have some semblance of the order I had enjoyed before my joyous son came into my life.

Handwritten planners offer a break from all the bings and beeps of digital reminders on harsh screens.