Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Journaling


I've been feeling extremely stressed recently. I'm a college kid, so you're probably asking yourself, "What's new?" I do NOT mean to be tooting my own horn, but I'm involved on campus, work during the week, sit as Homecoming Chair, work as a PR representative for one of my student organizations and go to class 15 hours a week. Some weeks I really start to feel it more than others. I'm not sure about my fellow college bloggers and readers but I'm sure we're all on the same page. 

I have a few VERY long email threads out there with some of my best friends. They are 20 and 30 and 40 emails long, but rereading them makes me laugh, cry, smile, and go just about crazy. It is,  however, even more time I spend on the computer.

Last week, I decided I was going to go old school so I bought a kid's sketchbook and I'm using it as a journal. I'm writing down all kinds of things for myself: prayers, quotes (sad, happy, inspirational, you name it!), fun things I find on Pinterest, funny Tweets, tons of stuff. It is a very interesting portrait to even look through myself. It's a lot more introspective than I am usually, but I think it's a good reflection. I know I look back on each week with my "Weekly Gratitude" posts (and if you don't do it, I think you should start, blog posting or just writing a few things you're thankful for down) but this journal is nice to be able to flip through and find an appropriate quote or note or lyric that better explains how I'm feeling. In a sense, my tumblr used to do that for me, but then it became a lot more public and the whole world starting reading that so I've transferred a little back into the real world: pen and paper. 

I can't begin to tell you how great it has been! I encourage everyone to do the same and start journaling even if it's just once or twice. I PROMISE something is going to come up and you're going to want to write it down. It's strengthening and helpful. 

How do you manage stress? Do you journal? Let me know some of your strategies--I'm open!

xxKatie

Edit: This was supposed to post at 9am, but silly willy over here posted it for 9pm! OOPS!

2 comments:

CapeCodCollegiate said...

I love this idea! I might have to steal it, and to go along with the sketch pad, I'd probably write in bright Crayola markers, just to make it more fun and happy :)

xx

♡ Mrs. BSK {Preppy Wife Preppy Life} said...

Sounds fun! I love journaling! (: