Journaling & Crafting Your Thoughts (Natalia)
There is never a soundless moment. Thoughts and words come rushing through your mind like crickets on the “silent” night. During times of reflections, I just want to sit in silence and converse with myself. As someone who likes to keep my own things private, it is crucial for me to let out my emotions, and there are a few ways that I do it in which I encourage people to indulge.
During difficult moments, seeking additional help can be tough in many ways. There are basic commandments that must be changed in order to preserve our mental health and wellness, and engaging in crafts and journaling is a way to create those positive habits in your life. I made an activity to make a collage with visual representations of my future goals and other endeavors I want to accomplish throughout my life. I decorated it and enjoyed doing it. I ended up hanging it on my desk in order for me to have a reminder as to why I wake up everyday and it is a way to keep me motivated. This is more known as a vision board, but I turned it into a more hands-on activity. There are so many other ways you can design your collage / board. This website is a great way to start for you to plan and figure out what you would like to do: https://artfulparent.com/collaging-my-life/
Here is an example as well:
These can be renewed every year, or if your goals have shifted, they are great to do while listening to music and maybe doing it with the ones you love too!
In regards to an everyday activity, journaling creates a safe space for you to heal and evoke mindfulness in the journey of self-identity and personal growth. The main reason why I enjoy doing it is because you have no limit, there are no instructions on how you should have or do your journal because you are the one in charge; the only thing you need is a pen, notebook, and your creativity. Not only was it a great help to let go of all the feelings of the day and to understand them in a clearer way, but I felt relieved and at peace when I finished writing. Journaling was able to improve my mental health especially because it was difficult for me to openly talk about what I was going through, and I knew how to identify my emotions throughout the day. In addition, I always listen to jazz music when journaling to add a sense of relaxation to reduce stress.
Here are a few examples:
https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/journaling-ideas.html
https://www.habitify.me/blog/journaling-ideas-for-self-improvement
Crafting and journaling supports me emotionally and it benefits me internally with boosting the brain in comprehension, memory, and processing. Journaling is for anyone, and I truly feel that it is beneficial due to my encounter with it. While there are other important elements, my experience with journaling and crafting have been worthwhile. I hope you are able to indulge in these very insightful activities and wish you luck on all your future endeavors; you can do it!
If you are feeling down and need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at Letters Against Depression if you haven’t already. We send letters of hope and support to those who need someone there for them. This can be a great way to connect with someone while connecting with yourself. You can request to receive letters here.