Sometimes I overwhelm myself. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that often I overwhelm myself. This time, I am referring to my writing.
A couple months ago, I decided that it was time to take up writing again. Or more accurately, it was time to make writing a routine again. So, I signed up for Time to Write, with TeachWrite, and I started building a routine around writing. So far, so good.
Then, I was reminded in our sessions of many things that I used to do that I love doing. And then I started browsing on the Erin Condren website, probably because of a VIP email, and bought a few journals. I browsed on Amazon too, and bought a few more journals. There was a notebook that I was writing in, plus my planner and my teacher planner. I dug out my sentence-a-day journal and don’t forget the tracker for my nutrition and exercise information. I also decided that I wanted to work on handlettering, so I bought a workbook for that. And pretty soon, I landed squarely in the land of overwhelm.
I now am a little bit lost in that world. It stems from the perfectionsim in me. I think I am seeking out the perfect, most amazing way to be a daily writer.
It needs to be simpler. But I love all my different journals. So I am schlepping a tote bag around my house with me. The morning routine is to write in my planner and then to write morning pages in the notebook. At least that is established.
For everything else, there will be a time and a place for them. I just don’t know when or where yet. I love the idea of each guided journal I have. One of them may have the map out of Overwhelm, but for now I might enjoy being a little lost.
This post is a part of the 14th annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. After a few years away, I am challenging myself to write every day in March this year, along with an amazing community of other bloggers. You can find our writing linked up on the Two Writing Teachers blog.
Oh, to get lost among the pages of a notebook. ‘Tis a wonderful thing, indeed. Isn’t it amazing how much writing we do throughout the day? So many kinds and in so many places. Keep schlepping that tote around! Glad you joined the TTW family!
“…but for now I might enjoy being a little lost. ” I think I love the idea of you wandering around in the land of notebooks! I think many of us can identify.
This word here: But I love all my different journals. So I am schlepping a tote bag around my house with me. Schlepping. Love it!!!
Enjoy your journals! I understand your dilemma and you have *reasons*. That’s enough. Write where and when you can and the rest will fall into place (or stay snug in your tote bag).
Those notebooks are so intriguing! I think when you love writing, you tend to be called by notebooks of all kinds. I have so many lying around the house, and I pretty much only write on my computer now!
I liked what you said about perfectionism. I tend to get “lost” in things too, but I hadn’t attributed it to perfectionism. I think you’re right that that’s where it comes from!
(I was hoping you were going to write en español with us today! Maybe next week?)
I didn’t realize it was Friday because we had the day off today so I completely forgot about the multilingual Friday. For sure next week!
Andrea, I live most days in the land of overwhelm. Thank you for writing honestly about your journals. I just bought a few new ones, too. But, because of TeachWrite, I will soon be finishing (every page) of my first journal. I haven’t counted how many I’ve started…that might be scary.
First of all, aren’t Erin Condren journals great?! I love, love, love the paper. Anyway, I completely feel this overwhelm. When I first joined Time to Write last summer, my entire summer days – around naps – revolved around some type of writing task LOL. I secretly love it, of course, but it can become a lot to organize. Happy writing! 🙂