Journaling is a relaxing, fulfilling part of planning, and last year we discussed ways to add mindfulness in your journaling. This week we’ll explore new methods for incorporating mindful journaling in your planning routine as we make active changes for the new year.

Journaling Affirmations

An affirmation is a positive encouragement that’s often said with confidence. By journaling your affirmations, you reinforce your positive beliefs and program your mind to more readily believe in yourself! This also brings mindfulness to the present you. You can explore incorporating affirmations in your journaling in a number of ways. Using our Journaling Inserts, start by writing immediate things you like about yourself in “I” and “my”present tense statements, and try to add strong adverbs. This can look like “I courageously achieve my goals” or “I am joyously kind”. You may also take any negatives that you’ve been holding onto, and flip them into positives. If you’re feeling that you fall short in a hobby, an affirmation flipping this may look like “I fearlessly grow in my hobby”. After you’ve written your affirmations for the day, speak it. They can be your mantra for the day, you can speak them to a close loved one, or just repeat your affirmations out loud after writing them.

I recommend keeping inspiring reminders, such as dashboards, regularly visible in your planner to remind you of your affirmations. My favorite examples are the Believe Dashboard, “As You Think” Dashboard, and Abundance Dashboard. It might also be beneficial to add your affirmations to sticky notes like the Note Neutrality Sticky Note | Ecru, or the Circle Sticky Note | Bubble Bath. Place these sticky note affirmations around your workspace or visibly on your planner. Mindfully repeat them either in your head or out loud whenever you notice them during the day.

Creating Reverse Bucket Lists

While a bucket list includes things you would like to experience or achieve, a reverse bucket list is about reflecting on past experiences and goals that you have accomplished. No matter how big or small, start by making a list of things you’re proud of achieving or doing. Our Bucket List Notebook is perfectly designed for both creating bucket lists and reflecting on achievements. Alternatively, reverse bucket lists can be explored using the Cornell Notes Notebook and Inserts. Write your experiences and proud accomplishments in the Subject, then reflect on the experience in the Notes section. Your reflection can include details like what it felt like to achieve your goal, what you learned from it, how you can still build from it, and a photo or sketch memory of the experience.