#mental positivity
What can you write in a journal for mental health?
Recently I was looking for some stickers and I found a tiny journal. I’m thinking of using it for mental health purposes.
These are the things I’ll write in it:
- Quotes that I find very motivational
- Moments from books that inspire me.
- Reasons why I like myself
- Reasons why others like me
- How I have improved my life with tiny changes
- Short plans on how to achieve certain goals or how to change things
- Bucket lists~
- Things that make me happy
- Character analysis for characters that inspire me and what traits I want to adopt from them
- Stuff that my friends said and they stuck with me over the years, motivational or just compliments
- My favorite coping mechanisms
- Compliments/encouraging words towards my person when I feel like giving up or when my self-esteem is down
aka. how to romanticize your life
If you watched a ghibli movie, then you know that’s the vibe/aesthetic i’m going to describe in this post.
These suggestions are things which i do to make myself happy. I (try to) choose 1 daily. Why? Because you have to actively choose to do things in order to make yourself happy, why wait until happiness comes.
go and grab it for yourself
- Spend time alone and whenever you do, have some sort of activity, even if it’s just daydreaming
- Make something you enjoy drinking; it can be tea in your favorite tea cup, it can be hot chocolate, it can be matcha latte etc.
- Choose 1-3 hobbies but don’t make them chores, have fun doing them; don’t pressure yourself with the idea of being good at it, just have fun (suggestions: drawing, origami, making videos, grow a tiny garden in 2 paper cups, learn to play play at your laptop, make friendship bracelets, crochet, knitting, learn a language, embroidery)
- Make something exciting to eat; pancakes, waffles, your favorite ramen, pizza pastries, lentil soup, mushroom soup, tarts etc. I said exciting, not your favorite because cooking something new can be amazing too.
- Wear something you like; don’t keep certain clothes for special occasions. If they make you happy, wear them.
- Try a new sort of tea or sweets. Your supermarket has something you haven’t tried before, i promise.
- Got stickers? Use one of them. You keep hoarding them for “special moments” but they are the perfect thing to make you happy because you gave them that power. Stick them on your phone case, laptop case, journal etc.
- Write yourself a love letter. By love letter i mean compliment yourself a bit. Tell you what you admire at yourself or tell you what you’re looking forward to do/learn etc.
- Doodle some cute things. Pinterest has a bunch of easy doodles/decorations etc.
- Go for a walk and take pictures. Find beauty in places you label as “ordinary”.. Maybe make a digital photo album as a diary.
- Read something that makes you happy and take notes. Write why you like that book/character etc. You have a bunch of beautiful things in your life, they wait to be acknowledged.
- Tell your friends they’re precious to you. Watch as they stumble upon their words as they process the words you just said.
- Have tiny crafting projects for others. Made cookies? How about making some boxes or bags (with the help of pinterest) then decorate them and give them to your friend?
- Go on a picnic with someone.
- Stay a bit late and look out the window at stars or just at the empty street while the window is open and the window is chilly~
- Clean your room while dancing or/and singing. Be proud of cleaning your space.
- Look around your room and think what you’d change/ what you want to change and try to do so. Make a new poster, get a plant, move things around etc.
- Learn something new. Enjoy the process. I said enjoy it, not aspire to be a master at it in 5 min. How do you enjoy the process? You remind yourself how 2 hours ago you didn’t know that, how you progressed and learn, how you improve, how this topic brings you joy and you won’t force it on yourself like you’re on a schedule.
- You get yourself a nice shower gel, perfume, face mask etc and enjoy a relaxing afternoon.
- Lie down and daydream until you fall asleep.
- Make yourself a bento even if you go no where. There’s just something about making pretty food that delights people.
- Get some handerchiefs and think of some design. Customize them by sewing or painting on them. You can make these for friends too.
- Have a tea party with your friends. or a sleepover if you can
- Have a journal where you write what you want to do, what goals you have, places you want to visit, what dates you want to go on, what people (fictional or real) you like, what songs inspire you etc. Make it a dream place.
- Actively try to look at things and people like they special. That sunshine? It feels warm and soft. Doesn’t it look nice? How does your friend make you feel? How would you describe them? Is it like the entrance of a magical forest ready to go on an adventure? Is it the comfort of staying under a blanket on a rainy morning? Is your meal making you excited to eat it? Is your drink making you happy you got it? Is your room the environment you envision yourself being happy in?
push yourself to get up before the rest of the world - start with 7am, then 6am, then 5:30am. go to the nearest hill with a big coat and a scarf and watch the sun rise.
push yourself to fall asleep earlier - start with 11pm, then 10pm, then 9pm. wake up in the morning feeling re-energized and comfortable.
get into the habit of cooking yourself a beautiful breakfast. fry tomatoes and mushrooms in real butter and garlic, fry an egg, slice up a fresh avocado and squirt way too much lemon on it. sit and eat it and do nothing else.
stretch. start by reaching for the sky as hard as you can, then trying to touch your toes. roll your head. stretch your fingers. stretch everything.
buy a 1L water bottle. start with pushing yourself to drink the whole thing in a day, then try drinking it twice.
buy a beautiful diary and a beautiful black pen. write down everything you do, including dinner dates, appointments, assignments, coffees, what you need to do that day. no detail is too small.
strip your bed of your sheets and empty your underwear draw into the washing machine. put a massive scoop of scented fabric softener in there and wash. make your bed in full.
organise your room. fold all your clothes (and bag what you don’t want), clean your mirror, your laptop, vacuum the floor. light a beautiful candle.
have a luxurious shower with your favourite music playing. wash your hair, scrub your body, brush your teeth. lather your whole body in moisturiser, get familiar with the part between your toes, your inner thighs, the back of your neck.
push yourself to go for a walk. take your headphones, go to the beach and walk. smile at strangers walking the other way and be surprised how many smile back. bring your dog and observe the dog’s behaviour. realise you can learn from your dog.
message old friends with personal jokes. reminisce. suggest a catch up soon, even if you don’t follow through. push yourself to follow through.
think long and hard about what interests you. crime? sex? boarding school? long-forgotten romance etiquette? find a book about it and read it. there is a book about literally everything.
become the person you would ideally fall in love with. let cars merge into your lane when driving. pay double for parking tickets and leave a second one in the machine. stick your tongue out at babies. compliment people on their cute clothes. challenge yourself to not ridicule anyone for a whole day. then two. then a week. walk with a straight posture. look people in the eye. ask people about their story. talk to acquaintances so they become friends.
lie in the sunshine. daydream about the life you would lead if failure wasn’t a thing. open your eyes. take small steps to make it happen for you.
Being a studyblr doesn’t mean you need a Macbook.
Being a studyblr doesn’t mean you need all the fancy stationery.
Being a studyblr doesn’t mean you need to be a “perfect” student.
Being a studyblr doesn’t mean you need to know what you want to study if you plan on going to college.
Being a studyblr means that you find an interest in school and want to continue working hard. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone. You’re doing this for yourself.
I PRAY THAT MAY, JUNY, JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER ARE ALL MONTH FULL OF GROWTH, BLESSINGS, PRODUCTIVITY, NEW DOORS OPEN AND OPPORTUNITIES.
ⓘ THIS USER WANTS TO RUN AWAY FROM REALITY.
YOU ARE WORTHY EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT.
Becoming less reactive is a big part of growth & decreasing stress. Sometimes this type of avoidance can be looked at as lack of interest or uncaring, but it isn’t. If you let everything get you worked up, you’re damaging your mind, body & soul
glowithin-deactivated20220219:
How to Cope with Winter Blues.
The cold season is approaching for a lot of us, and it can be a challenging time, many even dealing with seasonal depression. Some suggestions on how to make it easier to manage the cold long winter months… Everyone copes differently, so these are just my personal suggestions.
Keep your body moving. Bundle up for a walk, go indoor swimming, work at the gym or simply follow at home workouts. Exercising helps boost our mood by producing feel good endorphins!
Check your vitamin D levels. Sunlight is a source of vitamin D, a nutrient linked to sharper thinking and better emotional health. So talk with your doctor if they think taking daily vitamins will be best for you.
Speak with a medical professional about how you’re feeling mentally, and seek help if needed. Many people tend to be diagnosed with seasonal depression during the colder months. So don’t hesitate to seek help!
Stimulate your senses. Scents can add to your feeling of well-being; try diffusing peppermint or citrus essential oils or some other energizing scent. Or bring out bright colours into your home decor. Maybe purchase every week a bouquet of flowers! Or buy a few plants for added greenery.
Nurture yourself. Do more of what makes you feel good, whether that’s taking a warm bubble bath, watching your favourite shows cuddled in cozy blankets, writing in your journal, talking to a loved one, baking your favourite dessert, eating your favourite foods, etc; Anything that makes you feel warm, safe and happy inside. Also make sure to take good care of your body, eating foods filled with vitamins and nutrients that’ll boost your immune system. Vitamins like Vitamin C, Echinacea, Vitamin B, etc; are great for immunity.
Create healthy routines for your day to day life. You don’t necessarily have to follow a strict schedule, but making sure to incorporate healthy and motivating habits into your daily life.
Whenever the weather allows, plan to go outside and hang out with someone or even go out for a walk during the day time. Get as much sunlight as possible. Keep your curtains open! Wake up early enough to catch enough day time.
Invest in a sun lamp, or light therapy! Bright light therapy has proven to be an effective treatment for winter blues and seasonal depression.
Keep warm! Make sure your heaters at home are working before the cold hits. Invest in a good quality winter jacket, and boots. Make sure you’re stocked up in warm drinks such as teas, and hot chocolate!! Get out your cozy blankets!
Take up a new hobby. It could be anything, such as painting, knitting, joining a gym, keeping a journal, or writing a blog. The important thing is that you have something to look forward to and concentrate on. Teach yourself new things, learn about new topics. Keeping your mind busy!
Keep in contact with friends and family. Socializing can be good for your mental health and helps ward off the winter blues. Make an effort to keep in touch with people you care about, and accept any invitations you get to social events, even if you only go for a little while.
Inexpensive things that make me feel luxurious
1. Matching pajama sets. I got a cute matching set a target for under $30 and it just makes me feel super expensive wearing them to bed. Plus they’re super comfortable.
2. Silk robes. I found one on Etsy for about $30 and I even got my name embroidered on it. I love wearing it, especially while doing my skin care routines.
3. Bubble baths. Bubble baths are so relaxing and soothing, especially after a long day/week. I like adding Epsom salt to mine and the salt and soap cost less than $10 all together.
4. Candles. Candles just add that little something extra to your space that makes it feel cozy and lived it. I love fall scents, spa scents and floral scents. A nice candle a bath and body works is about $30 but not only can you make your own for not much money, stores like tj maxx sell luxury candles for less than $10.
5. Fresh flowers. Fresh flowers really brighten a space up, plus they smell super good too. Every time I buy fresh flowers, I smile whenever I see them on my table or dresser. Most flowers are under $15 for a bouquet. Plus you can get cool vases for them, especially at thrift stores.
6. Bowls of fruit. Having a nice bowl of fruit just makes me feel like I’m being healthy and just reminds me of all the luxury fruit boards I see on Pinterest.
7. Sugar scrubs. Sugar scrubs feel great on tired, dry skin and makes me feel so smooth and silky, like I’ve just been to the spa. You can make your own sugar scrub or buy one for less than $10.
