Creative Ways to Journal in These "Unprecedented Times"
We are currently living in unprecedented times. Unparalleled. Unmatched.
Yes, folks, we are in uncharted territory.
#COVID19
I have gotten so many retailer messages and other emails with these repeating phrases. After 25 days sheltered at home (where I am in Central Texas), I really don't need to be reminded of that.
At least none of these messages say, "we are in the last days."
With many of us nearing 30 days of sheltering-in-place, many of us are feeling the effects: stress, boredom, rebellion . . . or all of the above. Being confined to a routine, not of your choosing, is strenuous and emotional.
(Raising my hand here.)
This article from Business Insider suggested that people of Generation X (1965-1979) were born for this time of isolation due to how we were raised. That may be true. When we were preteens and teens, many of us were latchkey kids (myself included) when both parents had to work. Today, many of us remember what it was like to be on our own, to be self-reliant and resourceful. I can't say that I regret that.
While Gen X may have had some training ground, that doesn't mean we can't start to feel the pressure. There are only so many closets to clean and jobs to do around the house to release nervous energy.
One solution that has helped me is journaling. I write personal thoughts in an actual book journal, or I will post something here on my blog. I also scrapbook.
Like many others, I have been taking photos of day to day life during this sheltering-in-place and using scrapbooking as a way to photo journal. It's kind of like Instagram in a book. It works for me, and I really enjoy looking back in time.
My writing in my personal journal helps because it's a log of what I'm feeling. It also gives me a safe place to rant, summarize the day or just empty what's going on inside my head. I also list what I'm grateful for so pessimism doesn't overtake me.
Doing a written journal is nothing fancy. Grab a spiral notebook from your kid. Use a Word document. Just write. There is no need for spell check or Grammarly. You can even start your own blog if you want to share your thoughts with the world.
Yes, we are in "unprecedented times." But it's also memories. Don't let this time slip by without recording family memories or your own observations and thoughts of today.
Yes, folks, we are in uncharted territory.
#COVID19
I have gotten so many retailer messages and other emails with these repeating phrases. After 25 days sheltered at home (where I am in Central Texas), I really don't need to be reminded of that.
At least none of these messages say, "we are in the last days."
With many of us nearing 30 days of sheltering-in-place, many of us are feeling the effects: stress, boredom, rebellion . . . or all of the above. Being confined to a routine, not of your choosing, is strenuous and emotional.
(Raising my hand here.)
This article from Business Insider suggested that people of Generation X (1965-1979) were born for this time of isolation due to how we were raised. That may be true. When we were preteens and teens, many of us were latchkey kids (myself included) when both parents had to work. Today, many of us remember what it was like to be on our own, to be self-reliant and resourceful. I can't say that I regret that.
While Gen X may have had some training ground, that doesn't mean we can't start to feel the pressure. There are only so many closets to clean and jobs to do around the house to release nervous energy.
One solution that has helped me is journaling. I write personal thoughts in an actual book journal, or I will post something here on my blog. I also scrapbook.
Like many others, I have been taking photos of day to day life during this sheltering-in-place and using scrapbooking as a way to photo journal. It's kind of like Instagram in a book. It works for me, and I really enjoy looking back in time.
These photos show how I do my "pocket scrapbooking." Instead of full 12"x12" scrapbook layouts, I prefer to use the ready-made 12"x12" plastic pages with pockets, add photos and journal. I use my Canon Selphy printer to print wallet-size photos for the pockets.
It isn't necessary to buy the specialized cards for the pockets; dig into your stash of scrapbook paper to cut your own pocket cards. (That's what I did for this month's page: I used sheets from a 6"x6" paper pad.)
Scrapbooking while sheltering-in-place is a good activity for including your kids. Ask for photos from your teen's phone so you can record how they are coping with sheltering-in-place. Have your younger kids journal on their own cards with photos they have taken.
For other ideas, visit my Stampin' Up website, click "Shop Now" in the top menu,
then type "Memories and More" in the search box.
My writing in my personal journal helps because it's a log of what I'm feeling. It also gives me a safe place to rant, summarize the day or just empty what's going on inside my head. I also list what I'm grateful for so pessimism doesn't overtake me.
Doing a written journal is nothing fancy. Grab a spiral notebook from your kid. Use a Word document. Just write. There is no need for spell check or Grammarly. You can even start your own blog if you want to share your thoughts with the world.
Yes, we are in "unprecedented times." But it's also memories. Don't let this time slip by without recording family memories or your own observations and thoughts of today.
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