Whether you’re a weekly planner, bullet journal-er, or avid to do list maker, don’t forget to make sure this one particular thing is in your planning routine. Memory keeping.
For the longest time I avoided memory documenting because I thought I had to be good at scrapbooking (which I most definitely am not). It seemed like such an expensive hobby to get into to be any sort of good at it and it just wasn’t what I wanted to spend my free time on (I rather be napping honestly). So I added a few photos here or there but didn’t really do any memory keeping. I missed out on preserving a lot of awesome moments and now I’m here to make sure you don’t miss out like I did.
So why should you start? Because it’s super easy. I just use the
softbound notebooks from Erin Condren and paste down business cards, birthday cards, ticket stubs, and of course photos. My rule of thumb is if I have at least photos and one memento from an event, it’s worth documenting.
It may seem silly to document little things like a baseball game now, but I know future me will appreciate the effort. One day I’ll look back and easily remember the event and it’ll be awesome to see me and Alex in our early years of marriage.
So whether you add some memory planning into your current planner on some note pages or you break out a whole new notebook, just start. Grab the scissors and glue and get to work. You’ll become addicted to it in no time.
I’m no stranger to burnout. It’s like anxiety in how it constantly hangs around, unwanted, giving unnecessary feedback. Sure I much rather have it not exist at all, but burnout is a part of any profession in one way or another. So here’s how I’ve learned to embrace it over the years.
First off, I’ve accepted that burnout is inevitable. It’s going to happen no matter how hard I’m motivated or passionate about what I’m doing. Sure it may become less frequent, but it can’t be avoided forever. I think once I accepted this fact, burnout stopped being so crippling. I no longer feel like a complete failure if I’m feeling burnt out, but rather that it’s just part of the cycle and I’ll be back to being motivated in no time.
I’ve also started scheduling more mental health days to try and add more distance between burnouts. I’ll take a half day off of work to do something just for fun. It helps reset the batteries, keeps me motivated, and usually has a way of inspiring me in the process.
When burnout eventually does strike, I look at it as an opportunity to try and look at things from a different perspective. I’ll try and work on another project or putz on things around the house. I find it’s when you’re not paying attention that creativity strikes. And if a great new idea doesn’t strike during burnout to jump start things again, that’s ok too. I try to remind myself why I started to remain positive and let the burnout pass.
Burnout is going to happen, especially if you’re working in a creative field that constantly demands new things from you. It’s better to embrace it rather than fight it, because burnout will win in the end. So go along for the ride, take a day off every once in a while, and don’t stress out too much (I’m talking to you Kayla in the future).
Today marks the first day of the Oh, Hello
Box Bits Sale so what better way to celebrate than to talk about some of my most used box items (available individually until Sunday) from the past six months. Of course I love everything in the boxes (I designed and curated them after all), but these products are the ones I use most often in my everyday life.
My enamel pin obsession knows no bounds and I’m still completely in love with them. Each box has an
exclusive enamel pin and I love seeing how the collection continues to grow each month. It’s an amazing way to remember all of the boxes so far. I also find myself using the
toiletry bag often with all the trips we’ve been taking lately. It’s incredibly roomy and fits everything I and my husband need for a long weekend away.
The
three zipper pouch is also a favorite for convenient travel packing. On our last trip to Washington state I used it to organize my makeup. I love the compartments to separate out brushes and makeup bits into categories.
I never realized how badly I needed the
tech taco in my life until I had one. It’s the perfect tool to keep my cords from getting tangled in my bag and has saved me a lot of frustration trying to untangle cords. It’s such a simple thing, but has made my coffee shop work outings so much easier.
However I think my most used item out of all the Oh, Hello boxes has to be this pocket sized traveler’s notebook from the very first box. It goes everywhere with me and houses any random ideas or notes I take on the go. It’s my constant companion.
My most complimented item is definitely the
tartan tote from the coffee shop themed box. I grab it whenever I’m headed out to make returns or bring items to a party. It’s heavy duty while still flexible to fold up and put in my suitcase too. It’s like a classier version of a reusable tote.
Be sure to take advantage of the
Box Bits Sale this weekend through Sunday. Quantities vary from item to item in the sale and there are a ton of other products I didn’t mention in this post. Plus use coupon code
BOXBITS to save 20% off everything in the sale!
Oh travel anxiety. I swear no matter how often I travel I still get anxious before flights. What’s that about brain?! While I try to figure out a way to trick my brain out of anxiety, here are some things I do that could help you reduce travel apprehension.
Do your research. A lot of my anxiety stems from a lack of control. I like having information, the more the better. So I always do my research about what’s around the hotel I’m staying at so I know options for food and shopping if I happen to need something. I look into weather forecasts and the distance from the airport to the hotel. I print off schedules if I’m going to a conference. The more information I can find the more at ease I am.
Have a packing list that you can continually update after every travel adventure. For the longest time I kept forgetting my hairbrush. Nothing annoys a planner more than when things don’t go according to plan. So now I stick firmly to a packing list on my laptop that I’ll print out and use for every trip.
Set a loose schedule of what you want to do at the destination. The key word is loose. I tend to have a problem of over planning which leads to expectations being crushed when we don’t get to everything on my impossibly long schedule. I like to choose two to three main things I want to do every day and leave room for a little planned spontaneous (see what I did there) adventures in between.
Prepare where you can and try to let go of worrying about what you can’t. This is a discussion Alex and I have constantly. I can’t control if our plane is delayed or not, but I can control whether or not I have things to do if it is. Have things in place just in case some of those silly anxieties actually come true, but don’t stress about things you can’t control.
Now plan that next adventure and face that travel anxiety head on. Don’t miss out on amazing memories.
It’s so easy to ignore mental health as the calendar fills up and the days get busy. Yet when your mental health suffers, everything suffers. So here are five easy ways to make mental health a priority in your life.
Plan fun outings and events to have something to look forward to beyond work. A few weeks ago I went with my friend Taylor to
a candle bar to make our own custom candles. We were only gone a few hours, but the adventure did WONDERS for my mental health. Plus it gave me something new to talk about besides work things! Something as simple as going to the movies and taking a break from reality can hugely improve your mental health.
Create a list of stress reduction activities that you can reference if you’re feeling anxious or stressed. My list includes things like a long bath, a walk outside, and a hydrating face mask. Write down things that bring you joy and help you to get out of your head.
Go to therapy. Whether it’s every week or a few times a month, set aside time to talk to someone. Even if you don’t think you necessary “need” therapy, schedule an appointment anyway. You’ll be surprised at how much lighter you’ll feel after an hour of judgement free conversation.
Unfollow and defriend accounts that bring you stress. Whether it’s that second cousin who is constantly starting political fights on Facebook or that Instagrammer with the unrealistically perfect life, delete them from your social sphere. Don’t think about it, just do it. The effect will be nearly instantaneous. You won’t feel crappy after a quick scroll through Instagram but rather inspired by feeds that make you feel good rather than like shit.
Schedule time each week for mental health activities like yoga or meditation. Even if it’s just ten minutes before bed to journal about the day, set aside time for YOU.
