My 2020 Journal & Notebook Picks

An integral part of my self care routine is journaling and brain dumping. I posted a You Tube video and blog post describing how I journaled my way back to joy. You can read and view it here. Writing is something that I do to maintain a healthy mental and emotional mind set.

Below I am sharing my journal and notebook picks for 2020. Along with journaling I also conduct daily “brain dumps’ where I write down everything that is in my head.

The new year is fast approaching and that means it is time for a new journal. Last year I used a beautiful journal gifted to me by my eldest daughter. This year I opted for this beautiful journal from Anthropologie. I love Anthropologie’s clothing and home decor, but did you know they also have a great selection of beautiful journals, notebooks and planners? I am really looking forward to writing in this journal.

This journal comes in multiple colors and is made from a beautiful suede material. You can purchase it here.

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I saw this daily journal and decided to pick it up. The title struck me - “Calm the Chaos” A daily practice for a more peaceful life. Pictured below is the inside of the journal.

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I approach journaling from the standpoint of pouring my heart out on the page, so I rarely find myself void of something to write. I much prefer a blank journal with space to write only, however, I love these prompts! I do not see myself answering the questions to these prompts each day, but I do think they are great questions to consider and ponder daily. I will be gifting this particular journal, but will use its contents for daily reflection and preparation for the coming day. You can purchase this journal here.

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The contents of my journal are private and deeply personal. For that reason I do not typically take my journal with me when I leave the house. When I am on the go I use a jotting notebook to record my thoughts. I also use a jotting notebook for brain dumps. For me, brain dumps are very different than journaling. I journal primarily about my feelings and my thoughts about the day or anything I am currently struggling or dealing with. When I brain dump, I write down everything that is on my mind as it relates to all aspects of my life. I write down business ideas, blog ideas, personal and professional goals, home projects, wardrobe additions or deletions, and the list goes on. Anything that is on my mind, I write down during a brain dumping session. This practice allow me to clear my mind. Performing brain dumps throughout the day and just before bed allows me to rest more easily.

I record these brain dumps in a notebook that I take with me on the go. This year I used a combination of a notebook that I purchased at Target and the Graphic Image notebook. Normally, the Graphic Image notebook is my goto, however, I wanted to try a notebook that is bound and not a spiral so that it would fit more easily with the planer I carry every day. I saw this 3 pack set of GORGEOUS notebooks at Anthropologie and could not resist using them as my jotting notebooks in 2020. I could not find these particular notebooks online but they are currently being sold in store if you want to pick some up.

I keep a separate notebook on my desk for my daily devotion and Bible study notes. I am still contemplating what notebook to use. I do have a journaling Bible but need additional space to write.

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Well, these are my picks for 2020. Please remember that you do not have to purchase intricate or pricey journals and notebooks to do the essential thing which is to actually write. Make purchases that fit into your budget. You can be just as effective using a $1 composition notebook. Stay tuned in the new year for more journal and brain dumping posts. These two practices have saved my life and I cannot advocate for it enough.

What journals and/or notebooks do you intend to use in 2020? I would love to hear your picks.

SELF CARE

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing mothers and to all of those who sow into the lives of young people by caring, nurturing, guiding, encouraging and lifting them up. As mothers, wives, women we typically put everyone else first and allow ourselves to be sidelined. For me, it is a blessing to take care of others, to watch them grow and flourish, however, we cannot continue to do it at the expense of our own wellness. If we are not mindful, after constantly going and doing for others, we will find ourselves utterly exhausted with no more time or energy to take care of ourselves.


I was raised to be selfless - to always think of and consider others. That somehow translated into always putting others first, and I did this for years at the cost of my own self care. I found that not actively engaging in self care led to depressed state of being. After years of self neglect, I am now being intentional about making time for what matters to me. Identifying what matters to you is very personal. It is safe to say that what matters will be different for different people. Conflict arises when others have an expectation of you to spend time doing the things that matter to them with no regard of what matters to you.


Self care is often thought of as a day at the spa or buying something nice for yourself. I believe it is a much more expansive concept than that. For me, self care is about engaging in activities and relationships that produce joy. The activities and relationships do not have to be free from struggle or conflict, but they must bring value to my life. They must build me up and not tear me down. I must feel a level of freedom as opposed to feeling as if I am in bondage. For me, that is the kind of self care that leads to a happy and fulfilling life.


Taking care of yourself does not mean that we do not still take care of others. I am a mother so my children are on the top of my priority list. Although my children are now adults, I truly wish that I had learned this self care lesson when they were much younger and I was actively raising them. I am praying that someone reading this message learns earlier than later that in order to adequately take care of others you must first take care of yourself. Self care leads to wellness, to the health of your mind, body and spirit. I raised my three girls while in a constant state of depression. I deserved much more than I allowed myself to endure. I did not take care of myself. I allowed myself to exist and not live. As a result, I was relentless in ensuring that they knew who God was and to trust Him even if I somehow fell off track. I look at them now and marvel at how in the midst of my sadness God blessed me to raise beautiful, confident women who love Him and care so deeply about others. The grace of God and His strength in the midst of my weakness will forever be my testimony.


I have done a number of things on my journey to weaving self care into the fabric of my life. First, I identified what is important to me and transitioned them into stated goals. Second, I strive to eliminate those things that hinder me from attaining those goals. Third, I strive to only engage in activities that are essential to the success of attaining my goals. Doing these things will free me to engage in the experiences that bring value, joy and peace to my life. I endeavor to spend the rest of my life spending quality time with family and friends; traveling and taking in the beauty of the world God created; significantly decreasing the number of material items I have in my possession. The tangible practices that I’ve incorporated into my life as part of my self care journey are: journaling my thoughts and experiences, gratitude journaling, daily morning devotion and prayer time, walking, purging at least 3 material things from my possession each week, and taking breaks in my day to simply breathe.


All of my life, I have consistently acquiesced to what others wanted or needed from me, oftentimes at the expense of my own happiness and peace. Sometimes I slip into old habits, but I do my level best not to do so. Taking care of yourself is not synonymous with being selfish. Self care is loving yourself and treating yourself in a manner consistent with that of someone who is important and valued.


It is my prayer that by sharing my testimony you make a commitment to take care of yourself. Don’t wait until you are broken, practicing self care in retrospect. Incorporate a self care process that works for you in your life right now. You deserve joy, peace and wellness all along your journey and I pray this is the gift you give yourself this Mother’s Day.


I love you,

Marsha Joi