All throughout school, I always used planners and journals outside of class notes to keep myself organized. And to be honest, I was no artist, there weren’t any breathtaking sketches or special color coded detailed itineraries. Sure, i highlighted a few things like every other kid, but nothing too crazy. However as I began to understand how I liked to personally structure my thoughts I realized that bullet journals were for me. I started to only buy notebooks that didn’t have lines because I liked the freedom of a blank page. Still, I wasn’t crazy into color coding and I am still no artist, but I enjoy doodling just like everyone else and just having a blank canvas to write about anything. Whether it be personal thoughts, quirky doodles, or french notes, I felt comfort in having my journal as a physical representation of what goes on in my brain. And to this day I have full journals and I love looking back at them because they’re kinda like stored files of past memories. I don’t have the best memory, and being able to reflect on journals I’ve gone through in different stages of life is like having a souvenir of that certain version of me.
So that’s why I love to journal. But why should you? Well first of all, I’m not telling you to do anything. All I’m saying though is that journaling really helps me organize my life in a way that lets me exercise my creative freedom at the same time. Journals are the ultimate customizable novel of your brain. I even have a few journals that have black pages which means I have to use neon pens to write in them so it’s like a journal in dark mode which I really dig. I journaled every day in 2020 and am continuing to journal every day of 2021; It’s a healthy habit that I’ve grown because not only does it let me feel creative, it also helps me keep track of my goals and what steps I need to take in order to reach my next stepping stone to accomplish these goals. So if you happen to have some extra time and a pen, I definitely recommend journaling. Whether it be doodling, writing about your ambitions, or planning out your week, a simple pen and paper can help clear your mind… and then you can look back at it later 😉