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You've likely heard of the concept of a bullet journal.
It's essentially an all-in-one planner
where you keep everything you need to write down.
So it's a journal, to-do list, sketchbook, et cetera,
all in one.
You use a basic notebook and create your own layout.
And there's a specific, but customizable, system
to help you stay organized.
I formed a dependent relationship with my bullet
journal around the same time that quarantine began,
when I was laid off from my job.
My sense of routine was stolen, and much of my life stability
was gone in the span of a few weeks.
It wasn't until that moment that I fully realized
how much I count on structure.
The morning after my layoff, I started
using my journal to plan my every move for the day.
This included obvious daily tasks like taking a shower,
making lunch, and washing dishes.
For some reason, writing down those to-dos
gave me the sense of clarity and purpose
I needed to get out of bed that day.
This has remained my main antianxiety coping mechanism
throughout lockdown.
Whenever I felt myself spiraling with a panic,
I opened my bullet journal.
The binds of this black notebook are my safe space,
where I have complete control.
Not only can I track my tasks, I can also keep tabs
on my moods, random ideas, goals, and literally anything
else I'd like.
The fact that it is a completely customizable system
is the main selling point for me.
Here's how my bullet journal has helped
me cope with anxiety throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
and how you could benefit, too.
Number 1, small wins.
I've been quoted as saying, did you even complete the task
if you didn't cross it off your list?
My obsession with lists is long-standing,
as is my love of beautiful pens and notebooks.
But the pandemic has made that appreciation evidently clearer.
For me, this habit really comes down
to self-encouragement and motivation,
and it serves a particular purpose right now.
In a New York Times article about low-stakes productivity,
Leah Fessler discusses how important
it is to celebrate small wins during this challenging time.
She writes, "This reality magnifies the importance
of recognizing and briefly honoring
the more mundane, but much more common, instances of progress
among ourselves, our family and our colleagues."
These days, I rely heavily on the self-made schedule
in my bullet journal throughout my day.
Every Sunday evening, I map out my week.
And then every morning, I like to write out my to-do tasks
in detail, sometimes even including an amount of time
next to the task.
For those of us working from home,
having a structured schedule can help separate work time
from leisure time, especially if they're done in the same room.
And as someone who's now self-employed as a freelancer,
this is a crucial part of staying organized and on task.
Number 2, brain dump.
The phrase, declutter your mind, may sound a bit lofty,
but in my experience, it has merit.
The concept of a brain-dump page is simple.
It's a place to jot down your thoughts so you can concentrate
on the task at hand.
This is really where the bullet journal melds its functions
as a diary, planner, to-do list all in one.
You can use the brain-dump page as a complete jumble of wants
and dreams, as well as things you need from the corner store.
Then organize your thoughts on separate pages if you'd like.
My mind is always running faster than it probably should be,
and I find this activity especially
useful for staying on task.
It keeps me from opening a million new tabs while working
and from getting up from my seat every five minutes.
Number 2, mood tracker.
A mood tracker is kind of self-explanatory.
It's a page in your bullet journal
which allows you to track when you're feeling happy, angry,
sad, tired, and so on.
Write down the days of the week and use a color-coded key
of moods to fill in each day.
So how can a mood tracker be useful?
Essentially, it can help you get in touch with certain triggers
that might alter your mood.
For example, you might notice that a particular kind of work
makes you feel happy or that Zoom meetings make
you feel very tired.
I feel you.
This knowledge can make you more self-aware
and give you the power to shape your days
with a sense of control.
For example, you can factor in time
to unwind before and/or after triggering instances occur.
Remember, creativity can be a coping mechanism.
During periods of mental health struggles,
it can be helpful to channel your energy
into creative pursuit.
Studies show that artistic therapy
is proven to reduce anxiety and depression.
And if you don't prioritize much time
for creativity in your daily life,
a bullet journal is a simple and low-stakes way
to introduce that practice.
Personally, I find it truly therapeutic on a Sunday
to set my intentions for the week using
a variety of colorful pens and highlighters
and my little black bullet journal.
Maybe you would, too.
It's certainly worth a try.