Paste It and Go

Story By: Ryann Jenkins-LeFlore

Fall is the perfect season to cozy up in your bed, office or wherever you choose to work and journal. The beginning of fall is also the part in every college student's semester where we start to feel extremely overwhelmed, tired and depressed. So taking a few minutes out of your day, even if it's just five, to journal your feelings or current events can help to quiet the mind from all the chaos. If you’re worried about how to begin, don’t worry, I've got you covered in three simple steps.

Step 1. Set the Scene

Start with aroma. Pick out your favorite candle, essential oil or wax melt, or turn on your potpourri. The scent is entirely up to you and whatever you’re feeling. Once you’ve settled on your fragrance for the evening, choose an ambiance. This can look like finding an ambiance video on YouTube, lighting candles or drawing a bath. You can even turn on light music if you wish. The point is to create a space that allows you to disconnect from the world. Lastly, if you haven’t already, change into a cozy outfit for the evening. Setting the scene before you write is really important because not only does it prepare you for the activity and relax your mind while doing so, but having an environment specifically for writing makes it easier to do.

Step 2. Grab Your Materials

Select your favorite journal. Mine is a mustard-yellow leather journal with a compass embossed on the front from Earthbound, in addition to my sketchbook that I'll occasionally use for journaling – which we’ll get to a bit later. Choose your best pen, marker or that special writing tool you’ve been dying to use. Scissors, glue and glitter may be needed as well. Lastly, choose a light source. You’ll come to find that candles can be essential for journaling as they not only help to set the scene but also provide light when you don’t want to use a lamp.

Step 3, Part 1. Get To It

You’ve created an atmosphere, you have your materials, and now it's time to journal. There isn’t a correct way to journal. If you choose to write about your day, a situation or create a collage just because it’s pretty, that is perfect. So long as you’ve done it in a journal, you relaxed your mind and you consider it journaling, then you’ve succeeded.

Step 3, Part 2. For the Non-writing Enthusiast

For some people, writing isn’t their favorite activity and doesn’t sound calming. That's okay! Writing isn’t the only form of journaling. If you wish to communicate in a more visual way, then this method may be best for you. Choose what you want to express: a person, a place, a situation or your day are some examples. Look up images, find quotes around your room, use a receipt from your day – find things that visually explain your topic. Now have fun with those pieces and paste them in whatever way feels natural to you. Journal until your heart's content or set a timer if you want to challenge yourself.

Remember that there isn’t a correct way to journal. You can journal every day, once a week, once a month or once a year and for as long as you want. Just do what makes you happy, relaxed and able to disconnect.