While we all hoped that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) would simply pass and we would be able to get back to our regularly scheduled lives, that is proving itself to be far from the truth. In reality, only essential employees are still going to work each and every day, schools have taken on a home-schooling approach, people have learned the art of stocking up when they take their weekly or bi-weekly trip to the store, Zoom has become one of our most commonly used words and some of our biggest anticipated events are being canceled or “postponed indefinitely”. Personally, I had been looking forward to participating in a spring break service trip, working my university’s open houses, taking my final New York City trip with the Honors College, attending various senior year banquets, pitching at an on-campus “shark tank” competition, defending my thesis in front of professors and peers, and, oh you know, walking across the stage and receiving my diploma at graduation!
Now that so much of that is out of the picture, I go back to my bullet journal each day, look at the void of events written on my monthly calendar and want to cry. It has been hard enough to find the motivation within me to complete my assignments and attend my online classes. But with so little in our near future to look forward to, it can be tough to stay happy and healthy.
It does not have to be like this, however! By simply changing our mindset, we can find a whole new perspective in order to succeed (and maybe even thrive) throughout this COVID-19 pandemic! And your bullet journal is here to help!
3 Ways to Practice Self Care using your Bullet Journal
1. Ways to Destress/Things That Make You Happy List
About 2 years ago, I had made this “Ways to Destress” list, and honestly, it was so therapeutic in itself, but even after it was made, I always had a list that I could look back on whenever I was feeling down or stressed in order to find something that would lift my spirits. While we are making our way through COVID-19, I believe this is a great list to make/have. Make it a goal of yours that, once you write out your list, you consciously do each activity to bring a little bit of happiness to each day!
Some Happiness List examples could be:
- Read a book
- Listen to music
- Call/text/email/video chat a friend
- Play a game
- Throw/kick a ball around
- Go for a run/walk
- Write in your bullet journal or diary
- Doodle in a coloring book
- Knit/sew something
- Play an instrument
- Learn a new hobby or skill
- Watch a movie/tv show
- Look up jokes or memes
These are just a few general examples, but hopefully they will get the creative juices flowing to help you think of some things that bring a smile to your face!
2. Gratitude Log/Thankful For List
I have found that, instead of thinking too much about all the negative surrounding this pandemic, focusing on the positive and recognizing the little things that I have, here and now, has helped foster motivation. Each day, I pay close attention to the things that I have, the people who I am self-isolating with and the experiences that I go through, and I bring those to the forefront of my thoughts. Since I already keep a monthly gratitude log, this has been where I write these thoughts each night.
Another idea, if you do not want to keep a daily gratitude log, is to write out a thankful for list. On this page, you could list each and every thing, big or little, that you are thankful for during this pandemic. In this case, some of mine would include:
- My parents who I am self-isolating with
- Zoom meetings with my classmates & professors
- My boyfriend who has called me every night since being home
- Social media for allowing me to feel connected with my friends
- All the home cooked meals I would not have had at school
- The ability to go for a walk around my neighborhood
- Music and its ability to fit every mood/feeling
- Board games which have drawn my family and I together
Again, these are obviously very personal to me and my experiences, but I am sure you can draw a few ideas from these that apply to you in order to be mindful of the positive elements of your life!
3. Little Things List
Finally, create a “Little Things” list. This is something I recently thought of after reading a Facebook post. The post said that, initially everyone was saying that they cannot wait for things to go back to normal, but now, so many of us are hoping that society is able to learn from this pandemic in order to create a new normal. So I am planning on incorporating this list into my bullet journal in the coming week, and I think you should too.
In your Little Things list, write out all of the things you have taken for granted over the years, but that you are looking forward to embracing and even appreciating after COVID-19 passes. Here are some of mine:
- The feel of a warm embrace from a loved one
- The way our fingers interlock when my boyfriend and I hold hands
- The roar of a stadium full of fans
- The bustle of a café
- Families and friends that swarm the beaches and boardwalk
- Availability of items in the stores
- The ease of attending or hosting an event
- Waiting for a seat or meal at a busy restaurant
- Going into work, sitting at my desk and interacting with my coworkers
This is merely the start of my list. By the time I design this page in my bullet journal, later this week, I am sure I will have plenty more items to add. It is crazy how, even the things that used to bother me the most, are the things that I am yearning for. I never realized how much I took these freedoms for granted until I am no longer free to do them.
So after all this, I hope that you are not only able to use your bullet journal to change your mindset and see the positive aspects of your life in order to be happy and motivated, but I hope we, as a collective, are able to use this as a way to change society’s mindset. The coronavirus will end eventually, so long as we continue to practice social-distancing, washing our hands for 20 seconds, wearing a mask when going out in public and all of the other preventative measures. Therefore, if we take the time now to show our gratitude towards the little things, once we are all back together again, we can continue these efforts and be able to make a huge impact on the world! In the meantime, stay happy, healthy and 6 feet apart!
Comments