Things I’ve Been Leaning Into & Loving Lately

Things I’ve Been Leaning Into & Loving Lately

It’s been quite the fast year— yet again! I feel like I say this ever year, and I know I do, but the time just flies these days. I remember in my teens and early years feeling that time just crawwwled by. Inch by very slow inch. And now… wow. I blink and a decade has past! In the best sort of way— these have been some of the best years. But grappling with the passage of time and pausing to look back— it’s one of those things... Nostalgic yet wonderful!

This year, I’ve felt as though I’ve been wallowing a bit, trying to find my purpose in my creative work again after a full, busy, and out of the ordinary year in 2023. We sold our house, packed up and moved, lost one of our beloved pets, among regular life things… and then just getting acquainted with a new space, unpacking, handling all the headaches that come with learning about a new home and getting back into a routine... It was a lot to say the least and I definitely took my time recovering and recouping from all that change in the early part of 2024 allowing myself the grace and time to find my way again. But once I was ready to recommit, I was all in, but like with all things, especially social media, change and evolvement is ever present - and that dang algorithm! There have definitely been moments where I realized my priorities were getting out of whack and backwards focusing too heavily on just that aspect of my creative work. And it was definitely affecting my contentment and overall mood and mental health.

I’ve taken significant time off this summer, unplanned, just being and refocusing. Trying to recalibrate my priorities and find my purpose, drive, and motivation again. It’s really been amazing, being checked out and offline, reacquainting myself with other priorities and things that need my attention. Being more so in the real world again, and not just online, working, working, working at every available, free moment (and I should say, creating, creating, creating :) ). It’s hard being a solo creative entrepreneur with the kind of perfectionism and achievement complex I have! My brain is always going a mile a minute, has 1,000 tabs open and firing, with endless working lists upon lists of any and all creative ideas I have and want to get to… It’s truly endless. And then there’s always all the plain admin work or technical issues that need addressing at some point, too. And I am also the IT person LOL! It’s generally quite a lot. But, generally, I really love it.

I just found that I needed to step away and listened to that push. And I am so glad I did. Taking a small step back from that and resetting has been really amazing (as well as finding out some wonderful news at the same time)! And I’m so thankful it’s something that I have the privilege and opportunity to do.

And while I was away, and even now dipping my toe back in to the creative waters, these were all the things I was leaning into, and absolutely loving, during my time off. I hope they inspire you.

DAILY AFFIRMATIONS

These have been my best friend lately. They’ve been shifting my perspective and helping me tremendously with my mood and mental health. If you struggle with either, or just find that sometimes you’re feeling blue for no apparent reason, having daily affirmations at your fingertips will go such a long way!

The “I Am” App: I’ve been using the free version which only gives access to a limited number of affirmation categories. But! They also have very specific, niche categories if you’re struggling with something in particular— such as parenting, body positivity, fitness or navigating grief or abuse traumas. For me, I’ve just stuck with the free, general option and it’s done wonders. The simple affirmations always somehow speak to my day or current state of mind and really just dig in. Affirming the ones that really speak to me out loud has come so naturally, too.

For example, one of my affirmations from today was, “Today is going to be awesome” and my instant reaction was “Yes, it is”. And I either said it out loud or within myself, like responding to a friend. I’ve grown accustomed to responding back and that just happened quite naturally for me one day. It helps to really take in the sentiment and affirm it wholeheartedly. You can also set schedules to receive a number of daily affirmation push notifications throughout the day, which I definitely recommend. You can also just hop over into the app and scroll through 20 affirmations— that’s essentially your affirmation quota for the day! I even set up a widget on my main phone screen. Any and all the ways to get these affirmation babies in front of my eyes and into my heart!

By the way, if you’re a reader or bookish creator looking for some affirmations tailored especially for you, check out my bookish affirmations guide here!

Morning & Evening Time with The 5-Minute Journal from Intelligent Change: I started using this journal in 2022 and it couldn’t have come at a better time. I was grappling with another hard loss and this journal really helped to pull me out of it and shift my perspective. It’s a simple one pager each day with a unique quote and prompts. The morning session has 3 sections and the evening has 2. And Intelligent Change really sets you up for success with this journal. They spend a whole chapter just teaching you the meaning and purpose behind the journal and each daily section. It also includes a commitment stage to get you started. Small bites! But, trust me when I say, I’ve taken breaks from this too. When the journal that’s suppose to help your mindset starts to feel like a chore, a day or two away from it or however long you need, will certainly do the trick. In my recent endeavors with it, I’ve actually found doing the evening section the next morning really helps. Sometimes by the end of the day, my brain is so mashed with things, I can’t properly do the journal. So, I don’t. And I haven’t. I’ll revisit in the mornings when my mind is fresh and clear, and clarity can be gleaned.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

As I’m sure you probably know, devotionals are similar to daily affirmations or gratitude time, but with a more religious focus— if that’s your thing! I’ve been doing this when I feel compelled. My faith is still healing, but lately the call for it has been strong and I’ve been doing my best to listen to it when it comes. I’ve owned many daily devotionals over the years (as well as bibles) and have subscribed to the same. Being able to reach for them when I most need them, even when I don’t, is paramount to my mental wellness. These are a few I’ve had as well as subscribed to in the past!

From left to right: My main devotionals and bibles from over the years // The current devotional I’m using, though I’ve had it for several years now with an interior shot of the daily focuses and just look at all those dog eared pages lol! // Streams in the Desert was one I had in my teen years (look I even dated when I got it!) and I spent a lot of time underlining and annotating that baby. And more dog ears!

They’re both still in print, too! Check them out here: Streams in the Desert // Streams in the Desert (Updated Version) // Jesus Calling (Teen Cover) - shown below // Jesus Calling

When I was working full time in an office, I also subscribed to an online daily devotional powered by Proverbs 31 Ministries. Check that out here. You can get them right in your inbox!

FEELING THE URGE TO JOURNAL AGAIN

Something I haven’t done in many years. In the past, I’d just write from my soul about things happening in my life and how I felt about them. Now I feel more compelled to do prompted journaling this time, so I’ve been researching prompt ideas to get me started. Here’s a blog I found with some great prompted journaling resources: 47 Journal Prompts for Self Love and 57 Deep Journal Prompts for Personal Growth & Self-Improvement by Sage and Bloom.

GETTING ORGANIZED

Being and feeling organized makes me SO happy, calm, and content. I can’t tell you how hard it is for me to focus when my house is a disaster - even the space I’m working in which typically is because it doubles as my library and reading room, so there are always books everywhere! Here’s a current view:

 

So sometimes blinders are truly important, as well, so I can get my work done, but I digress!

It’s truly the little things like:

  • Rinsing and placing a dish or silverware directly into the dishwasher when finished with it > so the dishes don’t start to pile up.

  • Cleaning an area in our home when I notice it needs it > rather than continually saying to myself, I need to do a full house deep clean… and never doing it

  • Generally, not procrastinating. If I see something that needs attention > I pay attention to it then and there. If there’s something I want to do: baking a new treat or making jam with my mom > I make time in the immediate future to just do it.

  • Staying up to date on the never-ending to-do list > checking 1 or 2 things off per day.

Feeling and staying organized can feel like such a monumental task, I know. I employ the brain dumping system most of the time. I get all the tasks and “I need to-do’s” that are circulating within my head onto paper and then just start ticking them off. There’s usually way more than can be accomplished in one day, but hey, at least there’s a list that I can refer back to and check off when I do get to one item or another. I also love the Productivity Planner from Intelligent Change for focus time on my creative work as well as online task tools like Trello or Notion to organize and prioritize all of those creative tasks. They can totally double as household organization tools, as well!

STAYING CREATIVE

Why, yes, even as I’m taking a creative break. I’m still creative my nature :)

I’ve always been one to snap photos, rearrange a space because I see the potential of “this” going “over there”, and having random sparks of graphic design inspiration that I’ve got to get out of my head.

So, from dreaming up and window shopping for planned house projects to crafting a creative post about a book I’m excited for and carving out some time to write > there’s been no shortage of tiny creative outlets I’ve embrace throughout the days during my time off.

But, I will say, it’s been more so for just me in this case rather than also sharing with the world… and that’s really just as nice and wholly fulfilling, at least in my book. Sometimes better :)

QUALITY TIME with FAMILY

From last minute baking plans to running a quick errand together or visiting the bookstore and going on planned trips, I’ve been cherishing the many family moments and gatherings I’ve had so far this year. We’ve ventured to Charleston and Hilton Head Island in South Carolina as well as Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire and will be heading to Folly Beach, South Carolina in a couple of months!

 
 

GILMORE GIRLS REWATCH and finally entering THE WALKING DEAD universe

This mashup basically represents my two personalities :)

It was such a joy to rewatch Gilmore Girls from start to finish and finally catch up on the reunion show (still processing that ending)! Diving head first into The Walking Dead Universe has also been a highlight. Though I’ve needed to take breaks from it because I’ll jump scare myself thinking about zombies rounding the corner of my backyard while I’m taking the pup out lol. The show also, of course, leans horror and there’s only so much of that I can typically take. What I’ve really loved is the stories of all the people and becoming invested in all of their storylines. The initial outbreak and backstory I find fascinating as well and wish we’d gotten a little more of that! But holy jaw-dropping moments. I haven’t audibly gasped or held hand to mouth, eyes bugged more than I have with this show!

I always need an emotional support tv show to accompany my daily routine whether I’m full force in my creative work, enjoying the weekend, or taking a creativity break. Comfort shows for the win!

 

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I’m Leah. Book blogger and content creator, I love guzzling coffee and endlessly reading fantasy books while thinking up and designing bookish content. I'm just a bookdragon and homebody at heart with a knack for content creation and cozy shots. This is my creative space.

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