What is your ideal summer breakfast - Public Micro Journaling #4
In my entire life, I have never considered, even for a moment, what my ideal summer breakfast would be. And yes, when I saw @nosebleedclub post it as journaling prompt, I was filled with excitement.
Yesterday, it was -18 C where I live. Today is -4C and tomorrow will be 16C. That's just the bipolar nature of spring in the frozen wastelands of southern Ontario. And frankly, I'm sick of it!
I'm sick of shoveling snow. I'm sick of bundling up in layer and layer just to go outside. I'm sick of risking hip fractures walking on icy walkways. I'm sick of it all.
I'm ready to feel hot air on my face (not the heater). I'm ready to wear t-shirts in public. I'm ready to spend lazy Sundays on grass. I'm ready to sustain myself off of watermelon and David's Tea. Which brings me to breakfast...
My ideal summer breakfast would be...
A fruit bowl with watermelon, kiwi, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, cantaloupe and lime.
A tall glass of iced Coconut Oolong Tea from David's Tea
Creating A Relaxing Space For Increased Productivity
Does the physical environment of your workspace stress you out? Maybe your work area is excessively untidy, or your associates are too noisy; Perhaps your manager is continuously looking over your shoulder, or you can't stand the florescent lights. Whatever the cause, there's a decent possibility it's influencing your state of mind and productivity.Â
You probably know at least one friend whoâs read âThe Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizingâ by Marie Kondo, and wonder if it is really that amazing and life changing.
It is.
Susan Kousek, a Certified Professional Organiser (CPO), says that âOur productivity is impacted by our level of organisation, ...Disorganisation bothers most people and causes stress. The clutter of disorganisation drags many workers down.â
Having a simple and relaxed space helps you to focus, and minimises the stress of having too much paper clutter or distractions that keeps you from being productive at work.Â
Here are some tips on creating a relaxing space for a stress-free environment:Â
Add Personal Touches
If your workspace stresses you out, try adding some personal items to your desk, cubicle, or office. Be it photographs of loved ones, an inspirational quote, a decorative item that has a special meaning to you, or even a book.Â
Clean and Organise the Workspace
As mentioned above, it is difficult to focus when your desk is filled with clutters. Get an organisation system in place, and keep things neat and tidy. Dorothy Spira, the community expert at Evernote says that a messy desk or office results in lost ideas and documents, interrupted workflow, and reduced productivity.
If youâre having trouble deciding what should stay what what should go, ask yourself a series of questions, such as:
âDoes this item have a purpose?â âDo I use it on a daily basis?â
âAm I keeping this because I need it, or because I might need it? If I need it, when?â
Do you remember that this was here? Clutter exists because our brain tricks us into thinking that everything is important. Ask yourself these questions, and you should know what to do with it, even if you donât like the answer.Â
Play Some Music
Put some upbeat music on to kickstart your day, or relaxing tunes to help you concentrate on a busy day. This Workday Zen Playlist by Spotify is a great one to listen to.
Incorporate Relaxation Exercises
If youâre allowed to, take a couple of minutes at least once a day to do some stretching, meditation, or go for a walk for some fresh air. Being cooped up in the office can drain you mentally. Breathing in some fresh air can help you to clear your head and put some thoughts into perspective, which can help to spark creativity!
Add Plants
Flowers are soothing, both visually and aromatically. If you donât have green fingers, try getting a succulent or cactus, which requires less attention. The lemon balm plant is great as well, as it can survive in direct sunlight or shaded areas. Lemon Balm has been studied for its reported mood-boosting abilities. The pleasant smell of lemon that this plant releases is enough to make you feel better throughout the day, according to a study by Ohio State University.
Use a Diffuser, Candle, or Essential OilÂ
Treat yourself to a spa-like environment or make your workspace feel more like home by having a diffuser on the desk. Some diffusers come in aesthetically pleasing glass jars, and choosing a favourite scent can help to make you feel better throughout the day.Â
Go the extra mile to burn a candle, or massage a drop or two of essential oil on pressure points like your temples or wrists during the day to relieve tension and uplift your spirits.Â
Calming scents like Lavender, Rosemary, or Jasmine can fight physical exhaustion, headaches and mental fatigue. Peppermint or Lemon are great refreshing and invigorating scents as well.Â
Extra: Keep a Journal!
Journaling is a form of therapy that can raise self-esteem and make you feel happier overall. Expressive writing can also bring healing â emotionally, physically, and psychologically. Dr. Pennebaker, author of Writing to Heal has seen improved immune function in participants of writing exercises.Â
Stress often comes from emotional blockages, and overthinking. Journaling increases your emotional intelligence, as it helps you process your emotions and increases your self-awareness. This internal familiarity becomes a bridge of empathy, youâll better intuit and understand what others are experiencing.Â
Journey is a cross-platform private digital journaling app that can help you to do just that. Itâs completely private, and even the backup to your Google Drive is hidden and encrypted! Use it as a diary to jot down your daily thoughts and vent your frustrations, keep a gratitude journal, track your fitness and health, or much more!Â
Journey is available to download and use for free on Android, iOS, Chrome, and Web; and paid on Mac, Windows.Â
Não fiquei exatamente deprimida, levantei da cama cedo e apesar de ter demorado pra começar minhas merdas, e agora esteja escrevendo em vez de trabalhar, tå tudo dando certo.
Parece que eu tinha medo de achar pavorosa ente entediante ser funcional.
"What energy am I bringing into this new day?" - Public Micro Journaling #2
ty to @friendlyneighbourhoodravenclaw for providing so many great journal prompts :)
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I am convinced that waking up and opening Tiktok is the equivalent to choosing violence. It does not help that TikTok's algorithm (at least on my FYP) focuses on enraging, highly political content in the AM and reserves the dad jokes, sketches & Seinfeld recreations for later in the evening. And yet the addictive nature of the app has lead me to commit the CARDINAL SIN of good mornings.
So naturally, now I'm a hateful shrew.
However, I have a laundry list of jobs to apply for today so unfortunately, my "shrewdery" will have to wait. If nothing else, today will be a wonderful exercise in mood regulation. FUN!
In all seriousness, I acknowledge that emotional regulation is a great challenge for many people (including myself). While I haven't found an end-all or be all solution, I have noticed that deep breathing exercises are a little thing that goes a long way. More tips are always welcomed!
Since August, I have been living the wonderfully idle life of a housewife without kids. The experience was a welcomed change from the chaos & trauma of my past employment (marketing for an SME with no unique value proposition in an already oversaturated market).
However, the novelty of being "delightfully useless" quickly escalated to "pathetically useless" (well, in my head it did). Every desperate attempt faking "worth" has rapidly been disillusioned by entire days of NetFlix and TikTok binges.
In truth, I really don't want to go back to the insufferable anarchy that is enterprise marketing. And I also have trouble sticking to a hobby with no ROI. Writing is a skill that I've wanted to improve for a shamefully long time and if I can accomplish this goal while attaining mental clarity for my social-media-cluttered mind...
God has plans. He is purposeful. He is intentional. He has specific plans and acts accordingly to those plans. He has created each of us according to His plans & purposes. May the days ahead be filled with Good Times & Godâs Grace... #micromemoryplanner #microhappynotes #microjournaling #goodtimes #GodsGrace #unmeritedfavor https://www.instagram.com/p/CKT-8Plp71X/?igshid=llpdxudipi0w
