In my last post, I talked about art journaling–what it is, how to do it, and why it is good for you. It’s a good post and I recommend it to anyone who wants to start an art journal but is fearful, or confused about how to get started. The rule is–there are no rules! Just start where you are and go with it. That being said, I thought I would post here about how you can make your art journal yours and not feel like it is someone else’s.
There are so many blogs and videos online that tell you how to make an art journal, how to do an art journal, what to put into an art journal, etc. I thoroughly understand how a person who has never done anything remotely “arty” might be off-put or confused by the amount of and difference between all the information online. So, here I just want to clarify something for any person who has ever thought about starting an art journal and been stymied and never started; an art journal is what you want it to be. There really are no rules and you can make it however it serves your purpose.
Here is a good article on what is an art journal. You might want to read it, but remember this is her way to do it, not necessarily your way.
One Little Word
Let’s begin with what you want to accomplish with your art journal:
Do you want to use an art journal to play in?
Do you want to have an art journal to express your thoughts and feelings?
Do you want an art journal because you always thought it would be a cool thing to do?
Do you want to art journal because you need stress relief?
Do you think an art journal will be therapeutic for what you are dealing with right now?
All of these are a correct reason to start an art journal. If you just want to play, this is the place. If you want to learn to express yourself, this is the place, If you think it will be a cool thing to do, this is the place. If you need stress relief, this is the place, If you need therapy right now, this is the place. I hope you got the message that art journaling is for any and all reasons.
Let’s talk about what you can use to art journal:
Now we get to the nitty gritty. An art journal can be made on or out of anything. Surprised? I know people who use old magazines or sales catalogues; I know people who use a $.50 lined notebook; I know people who use individual pages that later are clipped together; I know people who use store bought journals; I think you will only be restricted by what you can find or have access to. There are even people that journal on playing cards! Think about that for a second.
Your art journal needs to meet your requirements. Do you want to only journal at home in a safe place? Do you want a journal you can keep with you at all times? Do you want to journal big? small? tiny? Once you figure out what you can use and the size, you are ready to get started.
Let’s talk about what you will need:
Here we can really get lost.
You can art journal with only a pencil and paper, or pen and paper. I have seen examples of such journals that took my breath away in their simplicity and beauty.
You can choose to use papers and collage for your art journal. I have seen artists who do entire portraits out of collage and entire landscapes out of collage, so there is no limit to what you can accomplish with using just paper. If that is your style, you will only need papers (trash, containers, magazines, mail, as well as store bought paper) scissors, and glue.
Then there is the person who wants to use paint in their journal. You go! Get yourself a very cheap set of acrylics for $2 at Walmart and get going. Make a mess with paint, or paint what you are seeing or feeling. Do use paint, you will need paper that can hold up under the paint, paint brushes (get those at the craft store of Walmart too), and something to hold water in. I use a bottle top from my laundry bottle. It’s free and it works, so I am confident you can find something for free in your own house. Let’s not forget that you can use watercolor or gouache paints too, but I find acrylics work best for me. You do you.
Then there is the person who likes to mix things up and use all of the above. My kind of art journalist. This type only wants to play and use various supplies to express themselves and their moods. They need all the above and usually have them already because they have dipped their toes in before but got distracted by life.
The bottom line is that everything can be used in an art journal, you decide what makes you happy and that’s what you do!
Let’s talk about how to get started:
Okay, you have your journal (paper or whatever), you have the supplies you need. Now what? Well the best answer to that question is just get started; but I know from my own experience that answer is not helpful. So let’s get real here. Maybe you need some inspiration. Go look online at other art journalists to see what they are doing, go watch some videos online to learn new tricks to try out, but my favorite is to find a quote somewhere that speaks to you (you know what I mean here I hope) and start there.
When I find a good quote, I usually think about it for a few days and images start to fill my head. After a while, I just have to get started putting them down on paper. Sometimes I draw, sometimes I collage, sometimes I paint. There is no rhyme or reason to it. It just happens. I play with it until I feel satisfied that I have done all I need to do. Then I move on to something else. It is not unusual for me to make 2 or 3 pages in one sitting, but that is me. You may take days and days just to finish one page. Again, you do you, boo!
However you find to get yourself started, just make sure you do it instead of putting it off for later. Later never arrives. You will be standing in your own way of progress.
Let’s talk about what you get out of art journaling:
You should get a sense of satisfaction that you created something that did not exist in our world before.
You should get a feeling of relaxation and decreased stress.
You should get a feeling of accomplishment: You did that!
You should feel happy and relieved.
You should have a release from the issues you were dealing with in that page.
Mostly, you should just be pleased with yourself.
Art Journaling is so good for your feelings of self-worth, self-esteem, and connection. When you play in an art journal, you receive so much back that you will wonder why it took you so long to get started.
So, now my question is, What are you still doing here? Go get started!
In this post, I want to talk about art journaling. There is quite a lot of information available online and on YouTube about doing art journaling and making an art journal; but here I just want to break this process down to the bare bones so as not to overwhelm anyone.
Basically, and art journal is a type of book (it can be any kind of book, even a magazine) that you use to express your thoughts and feelings about your life or just about your day. There are very few rules to an art journal since it is yours to do with as you wish. When I first started out, I was confused by all the talk about pockets, tags, journal cards, etc. Then I discovered that none of that was necessary. I went to the Dollar Tree and got a lined book in the school section and that is what became my first art journal. It wasn’t the best choice since that paper did not hold up well to the addition of paints, but I used it until it was full up. Because I chose something that only cost me a dollar, it wasn’t precious to me and I did not mind making a mess of it.
That first art journal turned into a place for me to explore my style. To develop my style of art. It didn’t matter if it was any good because no one would ever see it. It was a place for me to spend time drawing, painting, journaling, and collaging. I would find artists I like on Instagram and try to make things in that style, then make it again with changes I liked. I would use it to perfect my drawing (especially perspective) and I didn’t care that some of my drawings looked like a child drew them. It was my private space to play, to grow, to practice my art.
Here are some ways others have used their art journals:
Document your experiences and memories through art and writing
Experiment with different art techniques and materials
Practice drawing or painting from observation or imagination
Create art to express your emotions or feelings
Record your personal goals and aspirations
Collect inspiration and ideas for future art projects
Use your art journal as a tool for self-reflection and personal growth
All of these will work for your art journal. I know some people with mental health issues who use theirs to learn more about themselves and their illness. People with chronic illness sometimes do art journaling to get relief from pain and to give them a break from their illness. There are so many reasons to art journal, surely you can find one that fits you.
Things that you can put in your art journal to help you:
Drawings, sketches, and paintings
Collages made from found materials (e.g., magazine clippings, old photographs, ephemera)
Handwritten notes, lists, and journal entries
Quotes, poems, or song lyrics that inspire you
Doodles, patterns, or decorative elements
Mixed media elements, such as washi tape, stickers, or stencils
Photographs or prints of your artwork or artwork that inspires you
The list could go on and on, so don’t limit yourself to these. You will find that as you journal, your mind will open up to more and more possibilities on ways to fill it up. Go with it!
Places to look to find your items:
There is the obvious craft store or art store
There are many online stores that specialize in art journal ephemera (some of my favorites are Amazon, Temu, wish, Target, Michaels, Shein, etc.)
Collect old magazines from the recycle stack
Find online free journaling pages
Look for old photographs, either your own or some you found online (this is my favorite–I like to make lives up for the old photographs I find)
Thrift and Charity stores have a wide selection of items that can be used in an art journal.
Here are some YouTube videos that explain exactly how to make your own art journal if you want to do that:
https://youtu.be/scCvJFcmQMI
There are so many more there for you to check out. Now that you know how to do this, go get started. I can’t wait to see what you do. Please leave a comment below and tell me about your journey with your art journal. I have another post about this subject here. If you want to see someone else’s art journal, you can check it out here!
It might seem like self-care is just a buzzword in recent years, but it is so much more than that. Self-care is a way to practice self-love and compassion for yourself. It is time
you set aside purposely to take better care of your emotional and physical needs. It can include health, nutrition, gentle movement, nurturing your emotional and mental health,
nurturing your body, pampering, and much more.
With regular self-care added to your routine, you are able to improve your mindset, your health, and your longevity.
The best thing about self-care is that it is for everyone. No matter what your lifestyle is like or what your preferences are for how you spend your time, there is a way to fit self-
care into your routine and actually enjoy it.
Here are some things to know about self-care and how you can find the right self-care practice for your lifestyle.
1. Why Everyone Should Practice Self-Care
Self-care is such an important part of setting yourself up for success. There are many benefits to practicing on a regular basis, preferably daily but at least as often as possible.
Here are some of the top benefits to adding self-care to your routine.
It is a Way to Be Kind to Yourself
When you practice self-care, you are practicing self-compassion, which is something everyone could use more of. It is so easy to get caught up in your life, with ll the
schedules and kids’ play dates and homework and all your home responsibilities, that you aren’t spending enough time for yourself.
Not to mention actually being compassionate to yourself. If you find that you think negative thoughts about yourself, whether your personality traits, what you think are
flaws, or physical traits, you need to be kinder to yourself. Self-care is a great way to do that.
By practicing self-care, you are forced to think more about yourself and your own needs, and you will benefit greatly by understanding how important you are to yourself.
You Give Yourself Time to Rest and Relax
It is also a good way to schedule time for yourself, when you otherwise would not make yourself a priority. Spending more time on everyone but yourself is extremely common,
but is also a bad habit you want to break. You can’t possibly be your best, most authentic self for other people in your life if you don’t care to your own needs as well.
With a regular self-care practice, you schedule in time for your self-care activities, so you will naturally begin to relax more and have that rest time in each day or on a weekly
basis.
It Often Includes Activities You “Don’t Have Time For”
Self-care is not just activities you enjoy, but frequently includes those special ones that you rarely make time for. Maybe you do read from your book every day, but you don’t
often have time for more creative activities. Or you might find that you don’t get enough pampering in and can’t remember the last time you set aside extra time for a face mask
or to get your nails done.
This is why it is a great idea to make a list of any activity you have been wanting to do for yourself, but haven’t had the opportunity in a while.
Self-Care Can Boost Confidence
When you start practicing more self-care, you may notice a big boost in your self-esteem and confidence. This is a wonderful side benefit! It doesn’t always happen right
away, but the more you practice self-compassion and put aside this time for your own needs, the more you will begin to feel better about yourself.
It is not just those pampering self-care activities that boost your confidence, but self-care itself where you are spending more time on your own needs. It really does shift
your mindset drastically.
It Prevents You From Burnout and Overwhelm
If you have been struggling with burnout lately or feel overwhelmed, self-care is a great place to start. With this extra time you set for rest and relaxation, you have no choice
but to unwind and just rest for those few minutes every day. It might not seem like much, but it really can make all the difference when it comes to burnout.
2. How to Fit Self-Care Into Your Routine
The big question is often what self-care activities to include and how to actually fit them into your routine. Just like any new habit you incorporate into your life, it is a matter of
figuring out what your current routine is and where you might have space for a new activity. This isn’t going to happen overnight, so think of it as a process to adding a new
habit into your current lifestyle.
Here are some tips for fitting self-care into your routine.
Analyze Your Current Daily Routine
Before you can fit self-care into your daily routine, you need to have a better idea of what your current routine looks like. Take some time writing down the basic activities
and schedule you have on a consistent basis. Start with your work schedule, including when you get ready in the morning, what time you leave the house, your commute, what
time you have during your work day, and when you get home in the evening.
Do the same thing even if you work from home, but adjusting it slightly for when you tend to start and stop working for the day. You can then write down anything you do
every morning or every evening, from brushing your teeth and taking a shower, to putting the kids to bed or taking your dog for a walk.
The objective here is to understand your habits and routine, and at what time you do them. You are looking for times when you do activities that might not be completely
necessary, when you tend to waste more time, and when you might have a free window.
When Do You Tend to Procrastinate or Waste Time?
There is likely a time of day or certain task that tends to take a little more time and energy away from your regular routine. Maybe it is in the evening, when you sit in front
of Netflix for 2 hours before you go to sleep. Could this be the time of day when you schedule in 20 minutes for a little self-care?
Think about the schedule you just wrote out and when you might be able to fit in self-care because you were wasting time on something that didn’t need to be done, or taking
longer than you really needed to.
Morning and Nighttime Routines
Many people like to fit their self-care into either their morning or nighttime routine. These tend to be more flexible, because you aren’t at work or tending to your kids. Adding self-
care to your routine doesn’t have to require a lot of or energy. It could mean 5 or 10 minutes a day, even broken up into multiple segments.
Weekly and Monthly Self-Care
Another option is to do self-care less often, but still fit it into your schedule. This is for people who either don’t feel like they need it every day, or simply can’t find the time. If
this sounds like you, start with self-care just once a week or even once a month or so. This still allows you to focus on yourself and your own needs, but without a big time
commitment in the beginning.
3. Self-Care Ideas for Every Type of Person
Now for the fun stuff – finding the right self-care activities for you! Included below are 8 different types of people and lifestyles, so you can get an idea of what types of self-care
might be best for you.
But keep in mind you don’t have to stick to these specifically. They are simply a way to give you an idea of what self-care might look like in your lifestyle, but there are an
endless amount of possibilities when it comes to self-care.
Self Care for Homebodies
If you are a homebody, you might be someone who either prefers to be alone most of the time, or you just need to recharge more often when in your home. There is nothing
wrong with that! For you, the more traditional self-care activities are going to be great for you.
Say no to social events – Yes, just turning something down without needing a reason can be a form of self-care! Especially when you are a homebody or introverted person,
this just gives you a relief of responsibility and more time to do something at home that is only for you.
Pampering activities – Since you spend more time at home, it makes sense that your self-care would include those indulgent, pampering activities. This might be taking a long bubble bath once a week, doing a face mask, painting your nails, or sitting in front of the fireplace on a cold evening and enjoying the quiet time.
Watch or read something – Self-care for you may also be to watch or read something new. It takes you away from work and other responsibilities and allows you to just relax
in your favorite way.
Self Care for Social People
On the other hand, you might be the complete opposite, and actually get more energy when you are around other people. If you tend to be more of an extroverted, social type
of person, then the opposite self-care activities will be best for you.
Spend time with friends – The first way you can practice self-care is by setting up a time to be with friends. Maybe this will be a new weekly hangout, or you call up
someone you haven’t seen in a while.
Go on a weekend trip – Another option is to get out of the house and see the sights. You can go on a quick weekend trip either with your family or friends, see a new place
in your area you haven’t been to in a while, or just take the opportunity for a quick
l hike to go on. Look for a new trail and explore it alone or with some
friends. Make a day vacation.
Plan a creative activity with family or friends – If you don’t want to go anywhere, but still be social, you can instead find a creativity to participate in with friends or at home
with your loved ones. This might be a new craft or taking a painting class.
Artistic and Creative Types need Self Care, too
Naturally, if you are an artistic person or you like creative activities, your self-care activities will follow suit. But this is also a great time to explore new things. Here are
some ideas:
Try a new hobby – If you already do something artistic every day, it might not feel like a new self-care activity. Instead, find a new hobby or think about something you wanted
to try doing, but never really had time for.
Do something you haven’t done in a while – Think about creative activities you enjoyed in your youth that you haven’t explored in a while. Was there a phase in high
school or college where you really liked watercolor? Now is a great time to pick up the paintbrush again.
Bring your art outside – A great option for self-care is to combine a creative activity you enjoy with nature. Both of these together offer amazing benefits to your mind and
soul.
Working Parents
For busy parents, your self-care activities might look a little more like getting a break or just finding a way to recharge. While other activities are actually with your kids.
Extra time in the shower – This might seem like such a small thing, but as a busy parent, you probably don’t get much time to yourself. You are so used to rushing with everything you do not related to your kids, that you are really neglecting your own needs. Something as simple as giving yourself 5 extra minutes in the shower can make a huge difference in how you feel.
Self-care with kids – It’s not always possible to have self-care time alone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do something fun with the kids and still make it part of your self-care routine. Maybe you love being outdoors, so you bring your kids to the local park or the lake. Or you decide to have a fun family game night at home.
Coffee with friends – If it’s possible to have someone watch the kids for an hour a week, try to schedule time out of the house with friends or just by yourself.
People Who Love the Outdoors also need Self Care
If you are someone who loves to be outside and be a little more adventurous, these self-care activities are for you:
Take a walk in the park – The great thing about this is that it is free to do and doesn’t require much. Just put on some comfy clothes, walk or drive to your nearest park, and
enjoy a nice little stroll. Just a few minutes in nature can make you feel refreshed.
Find a new hiking trail – For a bit more fitness in your self-care routine, you might want to find a local trail nearby so you don’t feel rushed.
Go for a scenic drive – You can also just jump in your car and go for a drive. Don’t have a destination in mind, and instead just drive the scenic routes where you live.
Workaholics definitely need Self Care
Being a workaholic is not really something to brag about, since it can be really hard on both your physical and mental health. But if you use this just to describe having to work
a lot of hours, the following self-care activities will definitely benefit you:
Take mini breaks during the day – With a busy schedule, it might not be possible for long breaks, but you can take little 5-minute breaks a few times during the day. Make
sure you put your phone away and don’t look at your computer during this time!
Get out of the office – Whether you are taking a break or choosing to work somewhere else, get out of your office for your self-care activities. It is really important to physically step away from your work.
Avoid working during your lunch break – The best thing you can do for yourself might be to simply not work during your breaks. If you eat lunch in your office,
sit away from your computer, or try to find somewhere else to eat so you aren’t as tempted.
Take a power nap in the afternoon – Give yourself a few minutes every afternoon to shut your eyes and take a quick nap to recharge.
People Who Get Bored Easily should try these out
If you are someone who tends to get bored very easily and can never really stay entertained when you have free time, here are some ways to incorporate fun activities
into your self-care.
Take your creative activities outside – You might already be good at scheduling time for art and other creative endeavors, but you may be bored of your surroundings. Now
is a great time to had outside! You can get new inspiration and explore the differences in creating outdoors. Plein art painting is done outside and is a wonderful change.
Read a new style of book – If you are an avid reader, try switching up from your usual genre. If you typically read self-help and non-fiction books, grab a new fiction thriller or
series and see how you like it.
Learn something new – You can also expand your mind and knowledge by learning something new.
Meditation
People with Stress should remember Self Care activities for stress
Everyone has stress at least some of the time, but if you tend to get chronic stress, you need a little more pampering, self-love, and calming. These activities will do wonders for your high stress levels.
Meditation and mindfulness – Adda daily practice of meditation or mindfulness, or combine them together. This gets you into a calmer headspace and allows you to reduce stress by acknowledging the present moment without being overly critical of it.
Yoga or tai chi – For a little physical activity, try adding yoga or tai chi to your daily routine. This can calm your mind and reduce both stress and anxiety.
Write in a journal –For you might look like spending 5 or 10 minutes every morning writing in a journal. You can explore your own thoughts, come up with new ideas, and spend this time learning more about yourself.
And if this isn’t enough, here is a link to an article that goes more in-depth on this subject.
There are so many AI, or artificial intelligence tools available for your use today. Of course, the most know is ChatGPT which is all over the internet. You can’t go anywhere it seems without someone talking about ChatGPT, so we are not delving into that tool today. That said, there are many tools to choose from so below, I have listed some of the most useful artificial intelligence bots for you to check out and see if any of them will be useful to you.
Artificial Bots now available to you
Jasper and Writesonic are both AI tools that focus on helping people with speech and language. Jasper is designed to be an AI personal assistant that can help with tasks like scheduling appointments and setting reminders. Writesonic, on the other hand, helps people improve their writing by providing suggestions for grammar and vocabulary.
Runway is an AI tool that allows people to create their own AI models and experiment with machine learning. With Runway, people can upload their own data and try out different algorithms to see what works best for their specific needs.
Quillbot and Genei are both AI tools that focus on helping people write and generate creative content. Quillbot provides suggestions for writing and helps people rephrase sentences, while Genei uses AI to generate ideas and content for writers.
Wordtune and BlazeToday are both AI tools that help improve people’s writing. Wordtune focuses on helping people with grammar and vocabulary, while BlazeToday helps with writing in general, giving suggestions for sentence structure and flow.
Introspexion and CrowdStrike are both AI tools that focus on security. Introspexion uses AI to monitor a company’s network for potential threats, while CrowdStrike uses AI to protect against cyber attacks.
Descript is an AI tool that helps with audio and video editing. With Descript, people can transcribe audio and video recordings, edit the transcripts, and then use the AI to automatically sync the edited text with the original audio or video.
Otter.ai is an AI-powered voice-to-text tool that transcribes audio and video files into written text. It helps people save time and transcribe interviews, meetings, and other audio files easily.
Fireflies is an AI tool that helps people create custom videos with minimal effort. It uses AI to suggest video templates, animations, and even music that match the user’s brand and style.
Fathom is an AI tool that analyzes data and presents it in a clear and concise manner. It helps businesses and organizations make data-driven decisions by creating graphs, charts, and other visual representations of data.
Flexclip is a video creation tool that uses AI to help users create professional-looking videos in minutes. It has a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for anyone to create videos for their business or personal projects.
Synthesia is an AI tool that helps people learn how to play musical instruments. It provides personalized feedback, such as timing and accuracy, to help users improve their skills.
Ai.writer is an AI-powered writing tool that helps people create written content quickly and easily. It uses AI algorithms to suggest sentence structure, vocabulary, and other elements of writing, making it a great tool for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills.
Article Forge is an AI-powered content creation tool that creates unique and high-quality articles on a variety of topics. It uses AI algorithms to generate articles, allowing users to save time and produce a large amount of content quickly.
If you still aren’t clear on just what AI is or what it can do for you, check out the article here to read more about the benefits of using it.
In summary, these AI tools all use artificial intelligence to help people in different ways, but they all have the common goal of making tasks easier and more efficient. Whether it’s helping with speech and language, creating AI models, or generating ideas and content and are designed to enhance the way people work. AI tools are improving writing, increasing security, and helping with audio, transcribe audio files, create videos, analyze data, play musical instruments, improve your writing skills, or create content, there’s an AI tool that can help you. These tools are designed to make tasks easier and more efficient.
If you missed it, there is another post about AI here.
hout someone talking about ChatGPT, so we are not delving into that tool today. That said, there are many tools to choose from so below, I have listed some of the most useful artificial intelligence bots for you to check out and see if any of them will be useful to you.
