College is a very overwhelming place. Balancing classes, homework, extracurriculars, physical fitness and a social life is a challenge equal to a circus act. Speaking from experience, it is easy to lose motivation and fall short of your commitments. Sitting in a rut today, I utilized a tool that helps me keep my head straight and my schedule efficient. The weekly plan.
My weekly plans are split into two sections: Reflection and Priority.
In the reflection section, I look over the previous week. I split it up into homie, song, skill and memory of the week. Picking someone that was a good friend, a relevant song, a skill that I improved, and a memory from the past week. This helps me find gratitude for the last week and brings a vibe of joy into the next one. I also try a method called "rose-thorn-bud." Where I recall a "rose," or a particularly good memory from the past week. Then I recall a "thorn," or a particularly bad memory from the past week. Finally, I think of a "bud," or something that I am excited about for the upcoming week. This helps keep me aware of what's happening and keeps me in the present moment.
In the priority section, I like to make a mind map. I make circles marked "education/career," "self-development," "health" and "social life." The education/career circle branches off into assignments, job applications and responsibilities. The self-development circle branches into hobbies, habits and goals. The health circle branches into nutrition and exercise. The social life circle branches into friends and family. These all give me a chance to write about what I want to prioritize and bring into this next week.
The entire journaling process isn't about what I write down. I won't really reference it later in the week, as if I'm looking back at my notes. It's more about being present and starting the week off right. It's a practice I encourage you to give a try next Sunday.
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