AlexsJourney

My name is Alex and I'm ftm. Well, I'm more than just a label. I'm a man that loves to dream big and work hard.

[shoppingstars]

apps that can help you with your mental illness

daylio (available on google play and app store for free) - “Pick your mood and add activities you have been doing during the day. You can also add notes and keep an old school diary.” 

calm harm (available on google play and app store for free) - “Calm Harm provides tasks to help you resist or manage the urge to self-harm.”

impulse DBT (available on google play and app store for free) - “Impulse DBT is an invaluable tool for those who need to keep track of daily impulses for Dialectical Behavior Therapy.”

7 cups of tea (available on google play and app store for free) - “Whether you are going through a challenging time or just want to talk to someone, at 7 Cups you’ll find a path connecting you to kind people and helping you develop new skills to solve your problems. Over 16 million conversations.”

what’s up - mental health app (available on google play and app store for free) - “What’s Up? is a fantastic free app utilising some of the best CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy) methods to help you cope with Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Stress and more.”

pacifica (available on google play and app store for free) - “Pacifica gives you psychologist-designed tools to address them based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness meditation, relaxation, and mood/health tracking.” 

booster buddy (available on google play and app store for free) - “BoosterBuddy is a free app designed to help teens and young adults improve their mental health. Manage your personal wellness journey and earn achievements as your sidekick guides you through a series of daily quests designed to establish and sustain positive habits.”

[virgilssweaterpaws-blog]

This is so helpful I can’t not repost.

[batman-lover131]

Agreed

[dailyinspirationquotes]

follow for daily quotes

[batman-lover131]

Every. Single. Day.

[throughtheeyesofemily97]

Repeat after me…

[batman-lover131]

Maybe if I say it enough I’ll finally start believing

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

Avoid people who mess with your head. Avoid people who intentionally and repeatedly do and say things that they know upset you. Avoid people who expect you to prioritize them but refuse to prioritize you. Avoid people who can’t and won’t apologize sincerely. Avoid. Avoid.

Unknown (via onlinecounsellingcollege)

This is totally my ex-wife. Can’t believe I stayed as long as I did.

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

Sometimes it takes a heartbreak to shake us awake and help us see we are worth so much more than we’re settling for.

Mandy Hale (via onlinecounsellingcollege)

Sometimes Tumblr just speaks to me in ways I'm not ready for.

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

You can’t calm the storm so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.

Timber Hawkeye (via onlinecounsellingcollege)

Needed this today. I'm going through a pretty rough patch. Divorce on the horizon and all I need are my dogs and some peace and quiet in my mind.

[mindblowingfactz]

According to psychologist Arthur Aron, there are 36 questions that could lead to love. Each question is more probing than the previous one and leads to a mutual vulnerability that fosters closeness. The final exercise is to stare into each other’s eyes for 4 minutes.

Set I

1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

4. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?

5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.

9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

11. Take four minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.

12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

Set II

13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

14. Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?

15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

16. What do you value most in a friendship?

17. What is your most treasured memory?

18. What is your most terrible memory?

19. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?

20. What does friendship mean to you?

21. What roles do love and affection play in your life?

22. Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items.

23. How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people’s?

24. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?

Set III

25. Make three true “we” statements each. For instance, “We are both in this room feeling … “

26. Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share … “

27. If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.

28. Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you’ve just met.

29. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.

30. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?

31. Tell your partner something that you like about them already.

32. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

33. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?

34. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

35. Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?

36. Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen. source

image via pixabay

[transgenderteensurvivalguide]

“Is it normal?” The binding edition

Yes:

Getting winded after walking quickly/upstairs with binder on, but able to catch breath

Chafing in the underarm areas

Soreness (during or after) in arms, shoulders, or back

Increased acne on chest or back

Mild anxiety about tightness

Chest sagging

No, take it off and rest, see a doctor if problem gets worse or doesn’t go away after taking the binder off (or after one week):

Nausea during or after binding, including nausea caused by pain

Bruising

Out of breath/can’t catch breath when not wearing binder

Skin rash

Sharp pains in ribs

Not able to cough or sneeze

Numbness in arms

Feeling too tired/sore to do everyday activities

Suddenly having any of the above symptoms even if you’ve been binding for years 

No, see a doctor ASAP, could be a sign of serious injury:

Anything from the above category if you can just tell/feel something is wrong, better safe than sorry

Extreme claustrophobia/panic attacks 

Sharp pain in chest/heart skipping beats or beating very fast

Not able to breathe  

Dizziness

Blueness in lips or fingertips

Change in shape of ribcage

Fainting

[twinkbugspray]

good stuff to know if you wear a binder, especially if you’re new to it. this is way more informative than the basic “don’t wear it for more than 8 hours uwu!!!111!!” - although that is also good advice. sometimes the time you keep it on will vary because of your schedule, and you don’t have to panic if that’s the case. just pay attention your body, know what’s safe, and crack your poor back as often as you can.

[batman-lover131]

Just to keep

[transgendersuggestion]

A Transgender Person's Guide to Parents Masterpost

Someone recently reached out to me for helpful links that can be sent to parents to help educate them on transgender people and help them become more supportive of their children. Please reblog to help a trans person out. Here are some of my favorites:

Educating Parents: 

trans info for family and friends

respecting pronouns/ preferred name

is transgender a third gender

FTM ~ what is dysphoria

A Parents Guide for Their Transgender Child | FtM

Facts & Myths about Hormones For MTF Transgender

Transgender Q&As:

FtM Transgender Q&A!

FtM Transgender Q&A

FTM Transgender: Q&A with my mum

Mom & Transgender Son Q&A!

Q&A questions? MTF trans related

Q&A WITH MY DAD | MTF Transgender Transition 

TRANSGENDER Q&A (Surgery, Dating, & More) 

MTF Transgender Q&A

Transgender Kids’ Message to Parents:

To Parents Who May Have A Transgender Child 

Dear Parents of a Transgender Child

Advice to Parents of Transgender Individuals

Transgender Transition Timelines:

MALE TO FEMALE TRANSITION TIMELINE | MTF 

Male to Female - Transgender Transition Timeline

Transgender Transition Timeline: Male to Female

FTM transgender transition timeline

FTM Transgender Transition Timeline - 1 Year on T

FTM TRANSGENDER - Picture Every day for 5 years.

FtM Surgery and HRT:

FTM Phalloplasty Q&A

Phalloplasty FAQ

Q & A - Bottom Surgery

ALL ABOUT TOP SURGERY (FTM GUIDE)

FTM Top Surgery Checklist

[FTM] Top Surgery Q&A!!

FTM: 1 year on Testosterone

FTM Transition: 5 Years on Testosterone

MtF surgery and HRT:

Q&A Post Op SRS Experience

MTF SRS SCARS (Sex, Orgasm & Update)

My Breast Augmentation Experience!

Breast Augmentation MTF

BREAST IMPLANTS // MtF Transgender // Body Changes

What is HRT?

8 Months on Estrogen

Non Binary Genders:

Coming Out to Your Parents as Nonbinary

A Short Explanation the Gender Nonbinary

Understanding Nonbinary Gender Identities: Genderqueer, Agender, Genderfluid, Etc.

Explaining Non-Binary Systems: Gender Identity

NON-BINARY VOICES!

TRANSGENDER?? NON-BINARY?? HUH???

DO’s & DON’T’s of being non binary 

Parents Experiences:

From a Parent of a Transgender Child

FTM Transgender: Q&A with my mum

Mom & Transgender Son Q&A!

Q&A WITH MY DAD | MTF Transgender Transition

Transgirl and Mom Q&A! | Stef Sanjati

[self-care-suggestion]

Self Care Box

I personally am going to start compiling a self care box for myself, and I want to post about it and encourage you to do it too. A self care box is just a set of things you can go to when you’re upset, or need some calm. Some things to include are:

-A little first aid kit (colorful bandaids are a bonus) with bandages of varying sizes and some kind of antibiotic cream to care for your self if you struggle with self injury

-Stim toys (if this is your thing) like a plush, tangle, a spinner or a cube, anything that lets you mess with your hands to release nervous energy or calms you

-A special treat, sweet or snack that you don’t get very often (this can be special tea, some fancy chocolate, or just something simple that makes you smile)

-A movie or a CD with some music you like on it (don’t judge me for still having CD’s I’m nostalgic ok)

-Incense or scented candles

- Some bath salts/bombs and some lotion, perfume or cologne you don’t use regularly or only use for special occasions

- Some pictures that make you smile

-A blanket or pillow you can hold or wrap around yourself

-Anything else you can think of that will help you ground yourself, and get to a calmer more positive state of mind

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

When you do something noble and beautiful and nobody noticed, do not be sad. For the sun every morning is a beautiful spectacle and yet most of the audience still sleeps.

John Lennon (via onlinecounsellingcollege)

Seriously?

[studypatronus]

OneNote digital bullet journal x planner masterpost

So, before this university year started I realized that Passion Planner and my last year simple and mini bullet-journal don’t meet my requirements, so I needed something new. I love watching others bullet journals and planners, which are colourful and creative, and nice-looking. But I just don’t find it convenient, logical and useful - to spend so much money and time on a notebook (just my opinion, guys, relax). Like…what for?

AND THEN I’VE SEEN THE LIGHT e.g. HAD AN IDEA TO CREATE A DIGITAL BULLET JOURNAL.

This way you can save money and spend less time. And you can see it whenever you want. And don’t carry additional weight with you (which, if you’re like me and have lots of heavy stuff with you every day, is a real pro)

I’m using a netbook and usually carry it around with me to work on + I’ve got all books for classes there (and we’ve lots of those), so my choice landed on OneNote app. I think many of you are used to see it only as a note-taking app, for Cornwell’s system for example, but, in fact, it has so many great options to act as a planner or a journal, that I was AMAZED not to find anyone using it this way.

But enough talking, let’s see how it looks in practice!

Here you can see different sections/tabs and pages of a chosen tab. I use them for my everyday needs, like mood diary and recovery challenge; checking my students progresses, tasks and what we’ve learned; the tab for my coursework contains a calendar, research plan, some info and notes; and notebook is for my french philology when I need to work with pdf files and highlight something in the text or write over it. Anyways, the one that interests us is bullet journal.

·         This is how my month of October looks like. I have a small calendar on the top left and the description of important/highlighted dates below it. Then, opposing calendar, there are my monthly goals. In the center there are books I need and want to read, tv series/movies/anime I plan to watch. And a bunch of pics to add the colour. (Pay attention to the to-do squares and keep them in mind, we’ll come back to them later!)

·         This is how first week of October looked like. Pretty simple and minimalistic. I mostly tracked what I need to do on a certain day and some chores. And it was the week when I decided to differentiate symbols.

·         My tags are pretty simple and I don’t always use them all, mostly first 12 (well, I use almost all of them, whatever), but it’s nice knowing I’ll have from what to choose if I ever need to.

·         Then there’s food log for each week. Pretty simple and on a A5 page size. (fasting was due to the loss of the appetite for 4 days because of my depression)

·         And monthly habit tracker. As you can see, I failed the drawing one completely. I may change them from time to time, though sport, self-care (or skin care), planning and water trackers are always with me. I love keeping them colour-coded.

So, this is how I use OneNote. I’m still using my Passion Planner and some phone apps to keep on track. I hope you’ve found this post useful and enjoyed the walkthrough my digital bullet journal. If you decide to create your own, tag me. I’d love to see them!

[pup-punk]

150 Self-Discovery & Reflection Journal Prompts

1. What is going well in your life right now? 

2. Think of the last time you had a really great day. What was the best part of it? 

3. Write about a time you felt brave. 

4. How will you enjoy creativity and nature today?

5. List as many things as you can that make you happy. 

6. How can you take a break today? 

7. When is the last time you lost track of time? What were you doing? 

8. What is the last thing you created that you were proud of? 

9. When is the last time you were excited? What was happening? 

10. When do you create the best results or make the best decisions in your life? 

11. How do you enjoy spending your free time most? 

12. What are your greatest strengths? 

13. What values are most important to you? Are you living true to these values? Why or why not? 

14. If you could make a difference in the world, what would it be? 

15. If you had no fear, what would you do? 

16. What is the biggest barrier between you and your full honesty in journaling? 

17. What would you do with $10 million? 

18. Write a letter to your teenage self. 

19. What have you learned today that will make tomorrow better? 

20. What are you most grateful for? 

21. What would you do if you had no fears? 

22. Do you own things, or do things own you? 

23. What happens when you let go of expectations? 

24. What are you currently worrying about? 

25. Who are you? 

26. Who do you want to be? 

27. Write about a difficult time in your life when you showed strength. 

28. What makes you unique? 

29. Write a letter to someone who has supported you through the most difficult time in your life. 

30. What do joy and wellness look and feel like to you? 

31. What qualities do you look for in a friend? 

32. List your accomplishments and successes. 

33. Who made you feel good in this past week?

34. What activities make you feel energized? 

35. Reflect on the happiest moment of your life and write down how you felt, what you heard, etc. 

36. What is your most treasured possession and why?

37. What is the greatest life lesson you’ve ever learned? 

38. How do you feel about your body? 

39. Do you consider yourself a victim of your circumstances or a survivor? 

40. How does journaling help you? 

41. If you could run away, where would you go? What would you bring with you? 

42. What are two unforgettable moments in your life? 

43. Share your innermost secret; something you’ve never told anyone before. 

44. What is one thing you can do today to improve your health? 

45. What is the driving force in your life? 

46. What is your personal motto? 

47. Write a letter to someone you need to forgive. 

48. What are you angry about? 

49. How do you want to be remembered? What do you want to be remembered for? 

50. Choose a number and write a gratitude list. 

51. What do you need right now? 

52. Who or what means the world to you, and why? 

53. Share your favorite positive affirmations. 

54. What are you passionate about? 

55. Reflect on an old photograph and write about it. 

56. Write your own obituary. 

57. How do you manage stress? 

58. How does it feel to be the age that you currently are? 

59. What does authenticity mean to you? 

60. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Who was it from? Why is it the best? 

61. Do you practice any time management techniques? If not, do you think you could benefit from some? 

62. If you could relive any experience in your life, what would it be? 

63. Are you addicted to social media? Honestly assess yourself. 

64. Reflect on some of the changes you’ve seen in yourself over the last 5 years. 

65. What is your earliest childhood memory? 

66. Write a review of a book or movie that had a huge impact on you.

 67. What does growing older mean to you? 

68. What is your guilty pleasure? 

69. Write a letter to your future or current child. 

70. Look in the mirror and write about what you see. 

71. Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, 20 years? 

72. Write about your family members. 

73. Why is it important to embrace your inner child? 

74. What excites you about your future? 

75. List 5 short-term and long-term goals. Explain the steps you’ll take to achieve each of those goals. 

76. Share your bucket list. 

77. What bad habits do you have? 

78. Write about the place you grew up. 

79. Discuss an important and controversial topic that is relevant in the world right now and explain your stance on it. 

80. Write a letter to a pre-teen about body image. 

81. How do you maintain your mental, physical, and spiritual health? 

82. Are you honestly happy with how you have lived your life so far? 

83. What do you really, truly want? 

84. How can you amplify what you’re currently doing in your life? 

85. How can you make someone’s day today? 

86. What are you currently fighting or resisting? 

87. What does life want from you? 

88. What do you need to give yourself permission to do? Write a permission slip for it, as long as it is healthy. 

89. What do you want to learn today? 

90. What would happen if you forgave yourself for doing something you regret? 

91. How can you do more? 

92. How can you do less? 

93. Do you ever get in your own way? How? 

94. On this long journey of self-discovery, what do you hope to achieve or find?

95. What do you think shaped you into the person you are today? 

96. Knowing that you must let go of some things in order to move forward, what do you need to let go of? 

97. Is there anything you need to get off your chest? Write it out. 

98. When do you feel free and the most confident? 

99. List questions you need answers to. 

100. When you’re old and gray, what do you hope you remember about your life? 

101. Do you have depression or anxiety? If so, write about what it feels like, what it looks like, etc. 

102. What is motivating you to journal for self-discovery? 

103. Write a list of people you can trust or go to in times of need. Note contact information. 

104. If you lost everything, what would you do? Where would you go? 

105. If you knew you had a month to live, who would you call? What would you say? What would you do? 

106. How is your relationship with your parents? 

107. What is your dream job or profession? 

108. What is your stance on religion? Do you consider yourself religious? 

109. What is the most outrageous thing you’ve ever done? 

110. What is worse: never trying, or trying and failing many times? 

111. What is the worst thing that’s ever happened to you? 

112. What would you change about your body? 

113. What does success actually mean to you?

114. How do you express your anger? Is this a good or healthy manner of expression? 

115. If you had 3 wishes, what would you wish for? 

116. List some of your favorite songs and note why you like them. 

117. Do you have any sexual fantasies? 

118. What is the biggest mistake you’ve ever made? 

119. Write a letter to someone you strongly admire. 

120. Do you procrastinate? When? What could you do to stop procrastinating?

121. What are your weaknesses? 

122. Describe your favorite season and why you like it. 

123. Write about how your sense of style has changed over the past 5 years. 

124. What is the meaning of life? 

125. What is your life’s purpose? 

126. What are you currently craving? 

127. What is something you would love to do, but aren’t sure if you can do? 

128. When do you feel the best about yourself? 

129. When do you feel the worst about yourself? 

130. Who are you not? 

131. How does your intuition or conscience speak to you? 

132. What aspect of your life do you need support in? 

133. What gave you great joy today? 

134. Did you feel lovable today? Why or why not? 

135. What expectations of yours haven’t been met recently? Why or why not? 

136. When you think about your future, how do you feel? 

137. Write about some of the negative things your inner critic says to you, and then disprove them with rational thoughts. 

138. If your life could be summarized or exuded in one word, what would that word be? 

139. Write about a moment experienced through your body. It could be making love, eating breakfast, laughing, etc. 

140. What couldn’t you live without? 

141. What does unconditional love look like to you? 

142. What do you wish others knew about you? 

143. If your body could talk to you, what would it say? 

144. What do you love about life? 

145. What emotions do you feel or associate with confidence? 

146. What are some things you’d like to say no to? 

147. How can having a positive attitude change your life? 

148. Write a pep talk to yourself for use the next time you feel upset or depressed. 

149. Write a letter to your future self. 

150. What have you learned by journaling for self-discovery?

[batman-lover131]

Needed

[ssehuns-deactivated20250424]

Hi💕💕💕💕 I just started with my Bullet journal,any ideas of what spreads i can do? Other than the normal monthly and weekly logs

Ok I’m really sorry this was supposed to just be a simple list of some pages for a bullet journal and it turned into this

Bujo basics (see more bujo masterposts at the bottom):

what is a bullet journal? (video)

how to bullet journal (video)

official bullet journal website

a blog post about bullet journaling

Here’s some basic bujo advice that I can’t back up because I’ve never had one:

use pencil first if you’re trying our a new format (and just in general because you never know when you’ll make mistakes).

stick to a limited color palette (preferably lighter colors) if your worried about how it will look.

be realistic about how much you can do; if you’re not a good artist, don’t make the focus point of your spread a huge elaborate drawing.

don’t beat yourself up over mistakes you make. only you have to see your bujo so it’s really not the end of the world if you mess up a bit.

Notebooks:

Leuchtturm1917 (the official bullet journaling notebook)

Rhodia Webnotebook

Dotted Moleskine

Essentials Grid-Lined notebook

Baron Fig Confident notebook

a cute infographic breaking down 4 of these notebooks

Just a tip: there are 4 main kinds of notebooks - lined, dotted, gridded, and blank. I only linked dotted notebooks above, but those brands also made other notebooks so they shouldn’t be too hard to find.

lined notebooks are good for when your bujo is writing-heavy (so if it’s also functioning as a journal).

dotted notebooks are probably what you see most often because they’re so versatile. they’re great for both writing and more doodle heavy bujos (but if you have trouble writing in a straight line they probably aren’t for you).

gridded notebooks are great if your a perfectionist because they make it super easy to draw straight lines.

blank notebooks are what you want to use if your bujo will be very art focused.

Pens:

Staedler fineliners (colored pens)

Stabilo fineliners (more colored pens)

Muji gel pens (black)

Muji gel pens (colored)

Pilot G-2 0.5mm pens (my personal faves)

Pilot Juice pens (colored)

these are just some pens that are popular in the studyblr community, but you can literally use any pen (or pencil) that you want. any pens that you already have in you house are fine, so please don’t go out and buy any of these just for your bujo!

EXTRA: you can check my supplies tag and there should be some swatches like this

More supplies:

here are some stationary websites & brands!

stationary masterpost

stationary websites masterpost

style your journal

huge stationary masterpost (this one’s awesome)

Brands:

if you don’t want to go through all those  links, here are the most popular places to get stationary!

amazon

jetpens

muji

kikki.k

paperchase

EXTRA: washi tape

Spreads:

you’ll generally have four types of spreads: daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. people have a combination of the for (daily and monthly; weekly and monthly; weekly, monthly, and yearly).

EXTRA: some resolutions that you can track in your daily log

Page ideas (what the ask was really about):

bullet journaling masterpost (this is the most comprehensive)

a guide to bullet journaling (the pages section)

comprehensive bullet journal masterpost (pages section)

my masterpost of masterposts (bujo section)

what to do with notebooks (just adapt them for your bujo)

some cool bujos (any inspiration you might need)

my bullet journaling tag (more inspiration)

bullet journal basics masterpost (more pages and a few tips and tricks)

EXTRA: (a lot of) themes for your bujo

the above is where bullet journals get even more customizable. you can add whatever pages you want to your bujo, usually in front or behind your weekly spreads.

An extra section:

some specifics about what you can add to your bujo if you want it to look great

fonts:

calligraphy swatch

calligraphy practice printable

faux calligraphy guide

***my header tag

the outline font

font sheet

sunbeam font

all of studypetals font sheets

doodles:

all of studypetals doodle sheets

all of studypetals banner sheets

plant doodles

more doodles (video)

literally just google “studyblr doodles”

EXTRA: a lot of quotes

Some more bullet journaling masterposts:

bullet journaling masterpost (this one’s super comprehensive)

guide to bullet journals

online bullet journals

starting a bullet journal

masterpost of bullet journals

guide to bullet journals

People with AMAZING bujos:

@studypetals

@studywithinspo *

@emmastudies

@sprouht-studies *

@eintsein

@hwangmyeons

@stillstudies *

@obsidianstudy

@productivityplant *

@carlostudyblr

@hittingthebooks

@studytherin *

@studyfulltime *

@journalsanctuary

@milkteastudies

@studie-s

@sweetlighttriumph *

*people with really cool layouts great for inspiration

[batman-lover131]

Love it

[thestudyfeels]

- ̗̀ a list of my masterposts ̖́-

I now have a big?? list of links under my masterpost, so I thought it would be better to just list them in a single post; hope this helps! + this will be updated every time I make a new one :^)

words for better writing skills

20 ideas for being kind

how to : study biology

making a study routine during exams

how to : maintain a bullet journal

the complete guide to a study routine

how to study and survive when you are sick

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Zentangles

Creating zentangles is very therapeutic and calms the mind. Starting them can be a little intimidating however. If you’d like to know where to start, keep reading this post. I will explain how to start very basic zentangles, and even share images from my journal. 

1. Starting with the right materials. You don’t necessarily need a journal to make zentangles, but you do need a piece of paper that will withstand your writing materials. I use my sketchbook as an art journal because the pages are thick and I like to use Sharpies. 

2. Creating the first shapes. There are many ways to begin zentangles, but I found that this way is so much easier for me. I take my roll of duct tape, a cup, the edges of a book, sticky note pads, or anything that has a defined shape. I outline the object numerous times over the page, or mix it up with different shapes. 

3. Choosing a starting point. Once you have overlapping shapes covering the page, you need to pick a place to start drawing your zentangles. It really doesn’t matter which place you choose. I honestly skip around quite a bit while I do these. 

4. Actually starting to draw. Many people don’t know which shapes to draw when zentangling. (Making up new words for you all.) Here is a [link] to cheat sheets that I use for my art journal. 

5. Go crazy. Let yourself get lost in the drawing. You can use colors if you want as well. I tend to stay with black ink, but I’ve seen some really pretty colorful zentangles.  

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How to Start an Art Journal

Here are some hints and tips to help encourage and inspire you!

1. Buy a journal or sketchbook with blank white pages so you can express yourself freely without the constriction of lines. (Or if you prefer lined pages, that’s great too!) The thicker sketchbook pages are great for practice. If you don’t want to go through the trouble of buying a journal, printer paper works as a good canvas.

**Using cardboard behind your pages when painting is a good technique to help keep paint from leaking and helps it dry faster.**

2. Purchase some basic art supplies like watercolor paints, acrylic paints, spray paints, letter stencils, colored pencils, multicolored sharpies, Staetdler fineliner pens, etc… These supplies don’t have to be fancy and expensive to work. Take some time to figure out what you like to use and what effects you want to produce with your art.

**A lot of popular journaling techniques involve creating a watercolor background and a mixed media layered effect for their creations. But, this is about you! Get creative and experiment!**

3. Use words, quotes, images, mixed media, and simple and elaborate drawings to create personal pages that express who you are as an artist and writer.

**Get out of your comfort zone and draw things you wouldn’t normally draw. If you don’t like what you’re creating, give yourself time to grow and learn. It’s important to be patient with yourself and let go of your high expectations. Give yourself credit for trying and keep practicing! Don’t give up!**

4. To learn more about art journaling, you can always use Google for more information, look up tutorials on Youtube, check out books from your local library, or even take online art journaling classes. Some classes are even free! There are tons of resources for you to research.

**Don’t wait until the “time is right” or when the “inspiration hits you.” Dive right in and go for it!**

Some art journaling prompts:

1. Practice hand-lettering your favorite words. 2. Practice using calligraphy for your journal entries. 3. Draw your favorite silly emojis. 4. Draw symbols that hold significance to you. 5. Illustrate a cute scene from your favorite TV show. 6. Create your own comic book page inspired by a day in your life. 7. Make your own mandala and color it in. 8. Make a favorite quote page. 9. Fill an entire page with random doodles. 10. Dedicate a page to your fictional or irl crush. 11. Tape in photos from your favorite trip and add meaningful captions. 12. Illustrate a page on how to cheer yourself up when you’re upset. 13. Use stencils to create word art that describes how you feel right now. 14. Cut out your favorite adjectives from the newspaper. 15. Make a “Truths and Confessions” page to release some tension. 16. Color a page red. Write a long rant until your feel better. 17. Illustrate a monster that has scared you and confront it with words. 18. Create a page filled with characteristics of people you admire. 19. Cut out images from magazines that illustrate your dream life. 20. Use a waterbrush pen to write your favorite book quote. 21. Dedicate a page to your favorite band. 22. Doodle and write your favorite lyrics. 23. Write the words you want to say to someone important to you. 24. Sketch a character you’ve fallen in love with. 25. Create geometric or odd shapes. Make them flow together. 26. Use ink and colored pencil to outline your plans for the week. 27. Write a poem. It doesn’t have to rhyme. Let it come from the heart. 28. Write about the people, places, and things that inspire you. 29. Create a symbol that reflects your life. (Ex: zigzag= stressful) 30. Sketch or write a list of things you’re thankful for. 31. Make a favorite holiday page. 32. Make a page for your favorite personal photos. 33. Create a new identity for yourself. Illustrate your personality. 34. Illustrate a scene from a fairy tale or make up your own. 35. Draw a totally new character that represents your alter-ego. 36. Dedicate a page to your favorite colors. 37. Write one word that describes you well in big, bold letters. 38. Go outside. Draw the first object you see. 39. Write/illustrate your surroundings. 40. Create a page detailing your ideal peaceful environment. 41. Let the day’s weather inspire your pages. 42. Express whether you’re a night owl or an early bird. 43. Create a layered effect by using old letters, important notes, etc… 44. Create a personal mantra page. (Ex: “Live. Laugh. Love.”) 45. Doodle your favorite silly facial expressions. 46. Make a page dedicated to the places you want to travel to. 47. Draw your inner god/goddess. Name them. 48. Write about the talents you have and the talents you wish you had. 49. Create a “Good Memories” page to make yourself smile later on. 50. Draw a broken heart. Journal about your heartaches. 51. Draw yourself in your favorite clothes. 52. Illustrate your favorite place to write, read, study, etc… 53. Mod Podge old book pages to your journal page for a background. 54. Spray paint your favorite symbol on the page. 55. Journal about superpowers you wish you had. 56. List the things that make you laugh. 57. Draw your favorite plant or flower and explain why you like it. 58. Use a childhood experience to influence your journal page. 59. Draw a candle and write about how it symbolizes hope. 60. Journal about the habits you want to change. 61. Fill a journal page with compliments to yourself. 62. Create a venn diagram and compare/contrast yourself with a friend. 63. Write a “Note to Self” page. 64. Illustrate a favorite career page and how you want to make money. 65. Create a system of symbols that represent people, places, and things. 66. Make a page dedicated specially for your zodiac sign. 67. Illustrate your most embarrassing moment from last week. 68. Make a page of regrets and write about how you could fix them. 69. Draw a stack of books and illustrate your reading goal for the year. 70. Take a heart stencil and dab red paint inside the lines. Write about the things you love most in the world and why they’re worth living for. 71. Cut out stars from copy paper and glue them on the page to form your favorite constellation. 72. Draw a line. Name one point Start and the other one End. write about how you want to grow as a person throughout your life. 73. Stain your journal pages with a damp tea bag to give it an old parchment look. Once it’s dry, write a magic spell for your life. 74. Find your favorite poem and journal about why it inspires you. 75. Dedicate a page for things you’d tell your younger self. 76. Draw your favorite animal then fill it in with bright colors. 77. Use some of that old junk mail, glue it in, and paint over it. 78. Write a “Pet Peeves” page. Don’t stop writing until you feel better. 79. Write about your day and shape the sentences into a spiral. 80. Draw or write with your non-dominant hand and see what happens. 81. Paint a rainbow and write about what your pot of gold (a goal or a dream) would be on the other side. 82. Sketch a sunset and describe how to bring closure to your problems. 83. Tape multi-colored notecards or sticky notes in your journal. Jot down little positive reminders to yourself. 84. Use only acrylic paint and puff paint to doodle and write. 84. Journal about the wisest thing you’ve heard someone say to you. 85. Write about your addictions/obsessions. 86. Create a simple collage of things you dislike with magazines. 87. Illustrate a door opening and journal about your new opportunities. 88. Draw your ideal relaxing vacation. 89. Make a list of the places you’ve been today. 90. Tape in receipts of the special things you’ve bought. 91. Tape in ticket stubs of the movies you’ve seen this year. 92. Press leaves and flower petals onto the page. 93. Paint or draw old sayings like “The pen is mightier than the sword.” 94. Record a dream and draw a few people or places you saw in it. 95. Journal about your beliefs. 96. Create a new style/font of handwriting. 97. Use stickers and stamps to make a border around your page. Fill in the center by writing about your “stick-to-itiveness” or perseverence. 98. Draw you and your friends from an old photo and embellish the sketch with an inspiring/relatable quote. Capture the happy moments. 99. Use all the colors of your sharpie pens to write out your thoughts. 100. Make a page detailing all the things you want for your future.

Express yourself without fear. Remember journaling is all about you. This is your personal journey, so you don’t have an obligation to show anyone your creations.

Make good art!