For “Respawn Point” January, we are talking about positive changes, habits, and routines that you can start right now to make yourself happier and healthier!
I want to talk to you about Journaling.
There are many ways to journal. And it doesn’t take a lot of time, energy, or money to get started!
So grab a notebook that you have laying around, and your favorite pen, and let me tell you about my new Journal. It is called The Heroes’ Journal and brandishes the tagline:
“Give your goal a quest”.
Let me tell you why I love this little Journal! You may decide to pick one up yourself (see the link below). Or, you might just be inspired to use part or all of the format of the journal to help yourself get started.
https://shop.theherosjournal.co/collections/all
Each day of the year has its own two-page spread, thoughtfully and artistically laid out for you with 7 writing prompts to get those mental juices flowing!
So, lets go through each of the features, one by one!
“Today I’m grateful for”
In this section, you are given 3 lines to write what you are most thankful for on that day.
Because this journal doubles as a day planner, I like to fill mine out first thing in the morning while I drink my coffee. It has improved my mood tremendously as I find myself focusing more on those positive things as I go through my day.
Day Planner
Here you will find an hour by hour schedule where you can plan out your day!
If you work from home, like me, it helps you to organize the things you need to do to keep you on track.
As a stay at home mom, it is so easy to sit down at the end of the day and feel like you didn’t really accomplish anything. By writing down all of the things you do, believe me, you will feel like a super hero!
If you do have sections of your day blocked out for work or school or other things, just having that visual will help you see where in your day you have time to do things for yourself!
No matter what your life looks like, by holding yourself to the standard you set in the morning, you are going to not only improve productivity, but you are going to feel happier!
“Today’s Allies”
No adventurer can accomplish their quest on their own! This section is similar to the “Today I am grateful for” section because it again asks you to look around for the positives in your life!
Maybe your ally is your partner, your kid’s teacher, one of your collegues, etc.
Whoever you have in your life helping you accomplish your goals for the day, it is nice to take this moment to acknowledge them in writing. After doing so, you may find yourself remembering to thank them in person too!
“My Quest”
This is your overarching goal for the day.
When you go to bed this evening, what do you need to do or feel in order for your brain to tell you “mission accomplished”?
It could be something very specific. For example, today my quest was to finish this blog post. It was something I had been trying to finish for a few days, and I knew that I would feel so much better if I could get it done today.
It could also be something more vague, a feeling you hope to achieve. Maybe you want to “feel healthy” or “Be a great mom” for example.
That brings us to the next section directly under your quest.
“To Seize the Day”
This section is a check-box style list that gives you a spot to write the 3 things you can do to accomplish your quest as featured above.
In the example of “Feel Healthy” you could say
- Work Out
- Take my vitamins
- Cook and eat a healthy meal
I love check lists because of the satisfying feeling you get when you check off the items one by one.
My favorite part of this little section is the famous quotes from nerdy books or media. There is a different inspirational quote every day from places such as the Harry Potter series, Tolkien, the Cheshire Cat, C.S Lewis, and many many more. I look forward to reading them every morning!
Dot Grid
This simple dot grid takes up a third of one of the pages.
It is a great place to draw, create, and be artistic! You can always use your phone as a day planner (and I do that too) but there is something inspiring about writing and doodling in a real, physical journal.
Just the act of writing gets the creative juices flowing and make you feel connected to your thoughts and feelings.
“Today’s Threats”
Every adventurer must face enemies or traps along the way.
This final section is a chance for self reflection and a quick dose of reality.
Maybe the enemy is within yourself. I personally suffer with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and find myself paralyzed by anxiety or just exhausted by it some days.
The enemy could be outside of yourself, a difficult co-worker, or even the weather!
Every day, there will be roadblocks in the way of you reaching the goal that you set. By writing them down, you call those enemies out of the shadows.
Because to defeat your enemies, you have to see them.
To sum it all up, I am really happy with this little journal. It is well laid out, well made, and visually appealing. My days have improved since using it, and I hope that reading this has inspired you to start a journal of your own!
Remember that your mental health is important and requires time and attention, just like your physical health.
So, take the time to be with yourself, talk to yourself, and encourage yourself. You deserve it!
Dice Mom 
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