Journaling 101

Repetition has become a pillar of my quarantine life. One day blends into the next, maintaining a relatively constant routine. Going through similar daily motions every single day can get boring, so I’ve found ways to escape the static routine.

Feeling a physical disconnection from my friends has led me to increase my social media and technology use-- ultimately making me latch onto my phone a bit tighter than I did at the beginning of quarantine. I’ve noticed that finding activities which force me to leave my phone behind or out of sight has really helped me feel as though I’m in less of a routine. I’ve traded in TikTok for Party of Two (a must read rom-com); I started listening to podcasts on my walks instead of looking down at my phone, tracking my steps.

As summer is coming to a close and the start of school is rapidly approaching, I have lots on my mind: anxiety, nerves, and excitement alike. Journaling has quickly become a staple in my life as a means of recognizing these feelings without letting them control my day, further helping me break what feels like a boring routine. Because of my extra summer free time, I’ve started to use four journals. I don’t force myself to use these journals, but my days feel incomplete without writing as a means of decompressing. My natural gravitation towards filling each page coupled with my childish love of rainbow highlighters and glitter pens has kept up the journaling momentum without much thought.

Here’s a rundown of each of my journals and how I use them:

Affirmation/ manifestation journal

Positivity is difficult during trying times, but keeping a journal of affirmations has helped fulfill my daily dose of positivity. A simple way to do affirmation journaling has been to write something I will accomplish the next day, week, month, and year. To stay reasonable with my affirmations, I include a list of three realistic ways I can work towards each desired accomplishment. This way, I can actually work toward an affirmation instead of unreasonably thinking something will happen just because I journaled about it. When I don’t want to write, I make mood boards of what I want my future to look like.

Daily planner

Each night, I like to write down tasks I want to complete the next day. The process of writing everything down rather than trying to keep a jumbled schedule in my brain is cathartic. As new plans, tasks, and assignments pop up, I add them to my day. During quarantine, productivity hasn't really felt at its most high, so crossing off tasks and filling my day with “to-dos” has been extremely rewarding and motivating.

Gratitude journal

Every morning, I write three things I’m grateful for and three goals I have set for myself. (goals are much more long term and general than the tasks I include in my daily planner). I go through the same process at night before I go to bed.

Daily journal

I have yet to officially begin journaling in my daily journal, but I plan to include pictures, souvenirs, and notes about my daily life as a senior (starting once school starts).

Journaling has really helped me stay off my phone and get through the hurdles of routine days in quarantine. I'm not suggesting you keep tallies of your life in four separate places (although this works for me), but try to pick up a pen and paper more often. Too often do we turn to social media and other technology-based platforms, only to get caught up in unnecessary distractions.