This week, I started writing in my gratitude journal and journal again. It’s something I do on and off and I always notice my change in outlook when I do it regularly.
2020 is a nightmare of a year to begin with. We are in the midst of a global pandemic. In the US, we have a president who doesn’t believe in science or equality (or a number of other things), racist hate groups supporting police brutality, and more division than ever among people.
As a teacher, I’m one of thousands reimagining their professions to accommodate and support students in distance learning while being told that we are nothing more than babysitters and our lives aren’t important, only being in a classroom to watch their kids is. Truly, the speed people seemed to flip from “teachers are heroes and should be paid triple” to “get back in the classroom even if it kills you” is astonishing.
On top of all that, not only I decide it was the perfect time to start graduate school, which coms with its own stress and time demands, but my body has decided this is the time for knee surgery (scheduled for the 19th).
It’s all about finding the things that help you stay grounded, focused, and organized both physically and emotionally.
To say it’s a stressful period is an understatement. It can be very hard to focus on the good and remember why I chose this profession and why I’m pursuing this degree.
Enter my gratitude journal.
It’s nothing fancy; just a blank journal I picked up from a street vender because I liked the look of it and the feel of the pages. My process isn’t anything special either. I make a quick list before bed of at least five things I’m grateful for that day. Some days I go well beyond and some it feels like a struggle to get five. But they’re always there, even if they’re small things. It helps a lot to focus on some positivity right before bed. Then I open up my journal (just a plain composition notebook ) and write for as long as I feel like.
It’s only been a few days since I’ve started adding these to my routine again, but having that be the end of my day has already had some positive effects. I’ve had trouble sleeping for months and the past few days have been better. Not ideal yet, but better.
I know from experience that this will continue and it will bleed over into my waking like as well. When I keep these habits up, I notice that I feel less stressed and ragged throughout the day. When I get the inevitable curveball, it doesn’t rock me like it would otherwise. My outlook overall becomes more optimistic and hopeful, which are things that I sorely need in my life this year.
It’s all about finding the things that help you stay grounded, focused, and organized both physically and emotionally. For me, part of that is gratitude and journaling.
Originally posted as part of the Full Sail Mastery Journal.
