I’m sure no one has forgotten that we’re in a pandemic. Our negative mentalities have peaked as this time of isolation and loneliness has lasted far longer than expected. It’s easy to say that “life isn’t fair” and “I wish it were over,” but these mentalities only make the pain worse because negative perceptions are making the dread—and the distressing feelings associated with it—last longer. And while the idea of stoicism, “the endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint” (Oxford Languages), can be applied very well to something like a pandemic, it’s necessary to connect this mentality to other aspects of life as well, like mental and physical health, relationships, work, and education. It is important to keep in mind that all aspects of life are affected by the pandemic, no matter who you are.
Now, hear me out. It’s okay to complain and it’s okay to be sad. The definition of stoicism isn’t necessarily a ride-or-die mentality. But, as you begin to develop a stoic attitude and live in the moment, you will start to lead a happier and more fulfilling life. Bullet journaling has immensely helped me develop a more positive outlook on life. These are basically just fancy notebooks that are used to track your habits, tasks, and responsibilities in an enjoyable way. Bullet journals are a habit in themselves, but they can greatly aid in the development of more beneficial habits and eventually larger lifestyle changes. The idea behind bullet journaling is to forget the bad experiences of the past and focus on how the future can be better.
As college students are bombarded with schoolwork and a lack of social connections, it’s easy to get upset that we are eating unhealthy, not working out, or not drinking enough water. And, it makes sense that we are engaging in habits we would not normally have; we can’t go on our weekly trips to the gym or to our favorite vegan restaurant with our friends, where we focus on the conversation rather than the food. While these are all technically physical things, they still greatly affect our mental health. We often feel lazy, unmotivated and all-around sad at the end of the day when our bodies haven’t moved and we aren’t properly nourished.
Starting a bullet journal can help reduce some of these feelings and can give you the motivation to change your life for the better. Lifestyle changes can seem like a big deal, but there are ways to make the process far less tormenting. I recently started my bullet journal for February and one of the first sections is a habit calendar. I mark each day when I make my bed, floss, drink four water bottles, go for a walk, and more. It’s not necessary to go all-in and get rid of every bad habit all at once, but slowly introducing one habit after another can make life just that much more fulfilling. By the way, checking things off the calendar with a colorful marker is so satisfying. Rather than being disappointed in yourself for not completing a task, this habit calendar gives you something to look forward to at the end of the day and acts as a mechanism for tracking your behavior.
I find happiness in bullet journaling because it has helped my mental health remarkably. I remind myself to go into the day with a stoic attitude where I can disregard the small interruptions and move past whatever might be causing me anxiety. There will always be another version of myself that I wish I could be, but I am happy now because I know that the future holds so much happiness, passion, and fulfillment. In the meantime, breathe and take note. There is always time to start again.