Sold! I have done all three for a while. I journal in the mornigs on regular old notebook paper kept in a three-ring binder.I may write a few lines, or a page or more. I practice zazen meditation, occasionally taking a deep dive into sesshin. For list making, I am more in David Allen's bottom-up camp than Stephen Covey's top-down approach. I can do these three consistently, but run into trouble if I try to add a fourth. The new thing ends up pushing out either meditaion or journaling.
Kat, I agree; we all need our "me time." I'm glad you found the best daily rituals to support your calm. Reading can be a wonderful escape from the stresses of daily life. I know meditation can be challenging at first. Everyone's mind wanders in the beginning! Thanks for sharing your approach to finding your slices of peace.
Really helpful, Sandra. I am also a lifelong journaler and I often comment that I don't know how people who don't journal make it through. I find it so, so helpful. My journaling is most often in the morning, but if I feel I need to process something during the day, I take time to journal also.
I also live by lists. I have found that, much as I love planners, if my to-dos and things I need are buried inside a notebook, I forget about them. I have these daily cards from Ugmonk that I swear by. https://ugmonk.com/collections/analog/products/analog-lined-cards-3-pack. I have an inexpensive stand I got on Etsy that I prop my daily card on and I swear it makes me more productive.
Charlotte, I'm not surprised you're a lifelong journaler. Thanks for introducing us to these analog cards. I bet they would be a perfect solution for others who feel that out of sight is out of mind. I believe you when you say they make you more productive. You know yourself best and what tools work for you. I'm good with the list in my planner, but that doesn't work for everyone. How fun. I love sharing about all things stationery.
I love your insights - very thought-provoking 🥰 One thing we did to make things easier (since we have 4 adults living in the house) is keep one of those erasable whiteboards inside the pantry. Whenever someone needs something, they write it on there. Whoever is going to the store next, takes a picture of the whiteboard and gets the items on it. Then they come home and erase everything they bought, leaving stuff on there that the store may have been out of. Saves on paper!
Thank you for these insights, Sandra. Like you, these three routines have been a part of my life for years and help me remain calm and focused despite external influences.
Sandra, I love your focus on 3 things to do consistently...I always try to do too many things and end up just thinking about the ones I would like to do the best such as journaling. Diane
When I moved from Arizona three years ago, I was in my purging stage, similar to what you've described. Overall, I'm happy I did it, but there are a few things I wish I had kept, like the journals I also threw away.
Paulette, I'm so sorry you miss your journals! Sometimes, it's hard to know in the moment what we might want in the future. Thanks for sharing your experience. It might help others to think twice.
Thanks for the perspectives, Sandra. One of your sentences really resonates with me: "According to research on the mental health benefits of journaling, the practice can calm anxiety, reduce obsessive thinking, and regulate emotions." My wife and my oncologist urged me to begin journaling early in my chemotherapy and radiation treatments for my colorectal cancer. The practice helped me come to terms with my cancer experience, and I posted almost weekly on Substack. Now, I'm stitching the posts together in a book manuscript. Best regards, and let's stay in touch.
Mikel, thank you for sharing how journaling helped you during such a challenging time. Sharing your journey on Substack was a fantastic way to encourage others facing cancer treatment. I wish you the very best in getting your manuscript into a book and out to the world. Thanks for sharing your story.
I love thinking of these as rituals, rather than as routines or habits, Sandra! Changing the language reminds me that these can be sacred acts of care for myself, not just tools to get through my day. Thanks for this reframe and the easily applicable strategies to bring these rituals into daily life!
Lori, I'm so glad that little word change makes such a difference. I like the idea of seeing them as sacred acts. We need to take care of our vessel, so we can so we can become truly spiritual beings. Thanks for your support!
Sold! I have done all three for a while. I journal in the mornigs on regular old notebook paper kept in a three-ring binder.I may write a few lines, or a page or more. I practice zazen meditation, occasionally taking a deep dive into sesshin. For list making, I am more in David Allen's bottom-up camp than Stephen Covey's top-down approach. I can do these three consistently, but run into trouble if I try to add a fourth. The new thing ends up pushing out either meditaion or journaling.
This is super helpful, Sandra. I’ve recently started with a simple 10-minute meditation, and I’m excited to see where it goes. Fingers crossed!
Akanksha, Thank you! I'm excited about your new, simple 10-minute meditation, too. I hope it goes well for you!
Everyone deserves “me time”. Being overwhelmed is not a feeling I enjoy, so I try to make the necessary adjustments to keep myself in check.
I’ve never been able to meditate. I try, but my kind wanders. Too much going on to hope for a quieted mind; but at times I still try.
I find reading to be my solitude.
Kat, I agree; we all need our "me time." I'm glad you found the best daily rituals to support your calm. Reading can be a wonderful escape from the stresses of daily life. I know meditation can be challenging at first. Everyone's mind wanders in the beginning! Thanks for sharing your approach to finding your slices of peace.
Really helpful, Sandra. I am also a lifelong journaler and I often comment that I don't know how people who don't journal make it through. I find it so, so helpful. My journaling is most often in the morning, but if I feel I need to process something during the day, I take time to journal also.
I also live by lists. I have found that, much as I love planners, if my to-dos and things I need are buried inside a notebook, I forget about them. I have these daily cards from Ugmonk that I swear by. https://ugmonk.com/collections/analog/products/analog-lined-cards-3-pack. I have an inexpensive stand I got on Etsy that I prop my daily card on and I swear it makes me more productive.
Charlotte, I'm not surprised you're a lifelong journaler. Thanks for introducing us to these analog cards. I bet they would be a perfect solution for others who feel that out of sight is out of mind. I believe you when you say they make you more productive. You know yourself best and what tools work for you. I'm good with the list in my planner, but that doesn't work for everyone. How fun. I love sharing about all things stationery.
I love your insights - very thought-provoking 🥰 One thing we did to make things easier (since we have 4 adults living in the house) is keep one of those erasable whiteboards inside the pantry. Whenever someone needs something, they write it on there. Whoever is going to the store next, takes a picture of the whiteboard and gets the items on it. Then they come home and erase everything they bought, leaving stuff on there that the store may have been out of. Saves on paper!
Julene, Love this idea! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Awww thank you, Sandra! 💖
Thank you for these insights, Sandra. Like you, these three routines have been a part of my life for years and help me remain calm and focused despite external influences.
Tracy, I’m happy to know these three rituals have served you well, too!
Sandra, I love your focus on 3 things to do consistently...I always try to do too many things and end up just thinking about the ones I would like to do the best such as journaling. Diane
Diane, It makes it simple, doesn't it! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Yes, it does make it simple!! It's nice to reconnect with you again!
Wonderful!
When I moved from Arizona three years ago, I was in my purging stage, similar to what you've described. Overall, I'm happy I did it, but there are a few things I wish I had kept, like the journals I also threw away.
Paulette, I'm so sorry you miss your journals! Sometimes, it's hard to know in the moment what we might want in the future. Thanks for sharing your experience. It might help others to think twice.
“Routines can be calming when they’re not overdone.
An arm’s length list of daily must-do rituals, however, can send you into a stressful spin.” Are you in my living room right now?! So so relatable!
Jessica, I've been there! I'm happy you found this relatable. All the best!
Whoook excellent
Thank you so much, Sarah!
Thanks for the perspectives, Sandra. One of your sentences really resonates with me: "According to research on the mental health benefits of journaling, the practice can calm anxiety, reduce obsessive thinking, and regulate emotions." My wife and my oncologist urged me to begin journaling early in my chemotherapy and radiation treatments for my colorectal cancer. The practice helped me come to terms with my cancer experience, and I posted almost weekly on Substack. Now, I'm stitching the posts together in a book manuscript. Best regards, and let's stay in touch.
Mikel, thank you for sharing how journaling helped you during such a challenging time. Sharing your journey on Substack was a fantastic way to encourage others facing cancer treatment. I wish you the very best in getting your manuscript into a book and out to the world. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thanks for the warm note, Sandra. Let's stay in touch, definitely.
I love thinking of these as rituals, rather than as routines or habits, Sandra! Changing the language reminds me that these can be sacred acts of care for myself, not just tools to get through my day. Thanks for this reframe and the easily applicable strategies to bring these rituals into daily life!
Lori, I'm so glad that little word change makes such a difference. I like the idea of seeing them as sacred acts. We need to take care of our vessel, so we can so we can become truly spiritual beings. Thanks for your support!