The Truants is one of those books that is really quite difficult to explain – both in terms of plot and how good it really is. Character-driven and drenched in darker undertones, I was consumed by a world that felt like hanging delicately on the edge of a cliff, never knowing what felt stable. There is no “one mystery” to solve; you are simply waiting around as many lives and stories interweave to create something much like a disastrous maze, in which no one can really get out of.
It’s not the usual kind of book I would pick up. I had no idea what it would be like going into it. But wow, I must say, I was really blown away by the writing. I loved Weinberg’s style, and I don’t often say that about a lot of authors. She had a very unique, simple yet meaningful style and I loved the parts that were written like inner reflections of the mind poured onto a page (those who have read it, you know what I mean – the ending).
Surprisingly, I realised during the book that it was also inspired by UEA, since the author studied her masters in creative writing there. This initiated an unexpected wave of nostalgia for me, since I graduated there, also having studied creative writing (but as an undergrad) earlier this year. Whether this had an effect on my connection to the book, I don’t know. But it did feel comfortingly familiar to me in some ways.
Overall, I feel quite taken aback by this book. It’s a truly original piece of work and a surprisingly good debut. There are flaws, of course – one of them obviously being the likelihood of a lecturer befriending her students – but at its core it’s a very intriguing read. I will certainly look out for more of Weinberg’s books in the future.
A beautiful adaptation of the classic children’s book, Where The Wild Things Are follows the journey of a young boy named Max who feels out of place in the world. His sister is too busy with her friends to see his igloo creation. His mother is too busy on the phone to join in on his games. He feels alone.
That is until he enters the fantasy land where the wild things are – a world inside his head where he tries to make sense of the older figures in his life. The creatures there are angry, lonely and sad with no structure to their lives, and they need a king. And so Max becomes one.
Where the Wild Things Are isn’t what you expect it to be. Whilst it’s rated PG, I wouldn’t say it’s a kids film. It’s dark, laced with complex metaphors, and touches on a lot of deeper issues within Max’s life which would be overwhelming for any young audience member. But for an adult to watch, it’s refreshing to see the kid’s perspective. Max represents the misunderstood child who is trying to make sense of the world he lives in, who is often overlooked and pushed aside when adult problems surface.
Film Analysis
There are many moments in this film that can be unravelled like tape, especially since the monsters Max meets are representative of the people and struggles in his life. I found this film so interesting and inspiring that I can’t help but type out my thoughts on moments that really resonated with me or got me thinking about the world in a different way.
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
Max’s Family Dynamics
I think one of the most important pairs of characters in the film are Max and KW. I believe KW represents Max’s mother, and their interactions in the fantasy land of the monsters represents Max’s struggles to see eye to eye with his mother’s decisions and actions in his life.
There is a scene where KW has left for a while to spend time with Bob and Terry the owls (paralleling the way Max’s Mum leaves Max to spend time with friends), but has returned with them in tow.
Max asks: How do I make everyone okay?
A heart-breaking question with an equally heart-breaking response. Bob and Terry respond in squawks, since they are merely owls, and KW laughs in recognition. But Max can’t understand. The squawks of “adult language” distance Max from the true picture. He is reduced to the role of a passive child in a world where he feels very deeply the effects of adult life – that which he sees but does not quite understand and isn’t allowed to understand.
NW tells Max that Bob and Terry can come live with us too.
Max asks: What about Carol?
It is evident from the start that Carol is Max’s inner monster – the turmoil inside of him that feels isolated from the rest of the other monsters, who doesn’t understand why they do what they do, who feels angry and hurt and better when Max is around to take care of him (to acknowledge his own mental state) but not when Max fights him.
So, when Max asks about Carol he is in fact asking about himself. NW says she can like Bob and Terry whilst still liking Max, much like Max’s mother can spend time with her friends and Max too, but in reality, this doesn’t do much to comfort Max. There is no exclusivity to love and yet Max feels like an afterthought to Bob and Terry (to his Mum’s friends), as if he has been abandoned for another pursuit.
It is a particularly haunting reflection on the role of a child within complicated family dynamics and I loved how it was scripted and filmed with these soft moments of sensitivity that can quite easily be missed yet stop you enough to question its role in the wider picture.
The Monster Pile (And Dying Sun)
Another moment that particularly struck me was the monster pile that Max finds himself stuck within. Whilst it parallels Max getting stuck in the igloo at the start, this time he isn’t crying of fear but feeling comfort in those around him. Later on, when Carol’s anger is bubbling to the surface, Max becomes scared of Carol – of his own emotions – and attempts to create a secret room to shut out the parts of himself he doesn’t want to face. Some really beautiful yet painful words are spoken.
Carol says: I thought we were all going to sleep in a big pile but now you want a secret room and the sun is going to die.
This is arguably one of my favourite quotes from the film. It touches on the idea that has been laced throughout the film – that the sun will no longer be there someday, that the concept of hope and happiness and warmth in the distance will one day fizzle out. And this is finally tied into the role of the big pile – this family unit that keeps Max feeling whole, like he’s part of something, but that eventually is sectioned off into empty rooms and individual lives, much like Max feels is happening in his own life back at home. He feels himself drifting from his family and locking himself away in a secret room where he can only experience the wild emotions that dare to break down his walls. It is only when Carol speaks these words that we truly understand, as a viewer, that this is how Max has been feeling all along.
The Meaning of Max As A King
I think the role of the King is also particularly interesting and relevant to Max’s inner journey. Max takes on this role within the monsters’ lives from the very beginning in an attempt to formulate control. Whether this was intentional or not, this reminded me a lot of the globe in Max’s room at the start, where his Dad had written something about being the owner of the world. Like many kids, Max grows up with this quiet confidence that he can rule his own world, that he can achieve his dreams, but as he finds himself caught between the messiness of the adults in his life he realises being a King is, in many senses, meaningless. He doesn’t always have the control that he wants. And sometimes there is nothing he can do about it.
When Carol loses this desired control and his anger rises, there is a moment between Max and KW that I think is a beautiful parallelism to Max and his mother. Filmed and acted with a deep sense of care and sensitivity, the words that Max and his mother have been feeling but never said are finally spoken aloud.
Max: He doesn’t mean to be that way KW… he’s just scared.
KW: He just makes it hard. And it’s hard enough already.
Max: But he loves you. You’re his family.
KW: Yeah… it’s hard being a family.
And as the final scene of the film is shot, when Max’s mother embraces him, we have these words in the back of our minds as a viewer. There is nothing needed but their expressions and the words that are still hovering over their heads from the monster land. A subdued acceptance that things may not always be okay but they’re okay.
Where the Wild Things Are is truly a unique film in a myriad of different ways – so many opportunities to sit and reflect and analyse, if you enjoy diving as deep into the meaning as I do. It’s complex, and I think perhaps that can be off-putting for a lot of people, but it was truly amazing how the fantasy land of the monsters became such a real and raw representation of real life.
Overall, this film is entirely what you make of it. The deeper you dive into the parallels between the monsters and the people in Max’s life, the more you understand how his psyche is explained through the many interactions he has in the strange and wonderful world where the wild things are. It’s reflective, all-consuming and if you let it, makes you think. And the monsters are universal. Max finds his way back home, like we all do, when those wild things let loose inside. And he is free.
Photo Credit: Empire Online
Have you watched Where The Wild Things Are?
Let me know what you thought of it in the comments below.
Admittedly, I’ve had this book on my shelves for way too long. After hearing all the wonderful reviews, I finally sat down and gave it a read, and it was far from what I expected!
Summary
Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. Her days roll into one as she goes to work, eats the same lunch, returns home and drinks away her weekend. She’s odd, she’s an outsider, and she doesn’t quite fit in – and she doesn’t really want to either. Not until she realises quite what she’s missing…
My Thoughts
I don’t think I’ve ever had such a change of heart from the beginning to the end of a book. I started Eleanor Oliphant not quite sure what I had got myself into. The premise seemed simple. I wasn’t sure I liked the writing. In my head, I was convinced it would be a 2 star read.
However, the more I read, the more intrigued I was by Eleanor. The more I read, the more I began to care about the characters as genuine people. And I don’t think I’ve felt so immersed in a book for a long while; I really would lose track of time.
(Warning: Spoilers ahead!)
I think the turning point for me in this book was when the character of Eleanor became not just a surface-level being, but the author let us, as readers, into her thought pattern, her struggles and why she is the way she is. And I felt so bad for her. She’s a character perhaps we can never really understand or relate to on every level (and Eleanor says this herself in the book), but most of us have, as humans, on some level experienced the journey she has been through – realising the value in small acts of kindness and the power of human connection.
There are so many unique qualities to this book that will remain with me for a long while, eventually leading me to give it 5 stars. From Eleanor’s naive misunderstandings in the Bobby Brown make up section, which genuinely made me laugh, to the beautiful friendship between Eleanor and Raymond that I’m so glad wasn’t ruined by an unnecessary romance. Eleanor is a strong person, even when she believes she’s far from it. Her past haunts her but, with time, she learns to truly overcome it.
I read somewhere that Honeyman was inspired to write this book after speaking to a young lady who said she never spoke to a soul between the time she left work on Fridays until she returned on Monday mornings. It’s interesting how, as a society, we think of loneliness as a struggle of the elderly, and yet it can affect young people just as strongly. This book was such a heart-warming exploration of how a lonely soul, who believes she can take care of herself, finds happiness in friendship, opening herself up to a world she never knew existed.
And I think, deep down, it’s also an exploration of what we call home. Eleanor has lived in the same place since university and she sees it as home, but it isn’t until the end that that home becomes meaningful. As people, it’s often not the place that is valuable to us; it’s the memories that live there. We find a home in other people. And Eleanor, until the end, has never really felt that before.
Have you read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine?
It hasn’t been a typical month for a lot of us, due to lockdown, but I think that’s even more reason to focus on the parts of the month that did go well. So, as usual, here’s my monthly gratitude reflection!
Books
I watched a video earlier this month that completely changed my perspective of an overflowing bookcase… it said that the positive to buying too many books is that the possessor is simply a curious person who just wants to absorb more knowledge about people, the world and everything in it.
I really like this perspective and I think it’s one of the reasons why I love reading, but it definitely made me feel less bad about having a never ending to-be-read list!
This month I’ve got through books a lot quicker than usual and I’ve really appreciated those moments of downtime. I’ve experimented a little with speaking my thoughts out loud in a podcast format, which I might not do anything with, but it was fun to try something different.
Walking to a Podcast
This is something I used to do ALL the time at university, but I seem to have got out of the habit since graduating. Admittedly, this is likely because I’m not walking as frequently during weekdays (which I want to improve!) or I’ve been walking with others and chatting instead.
However, during lockdown I’ve been going out for more independent walks which has been a lovely way to get fresh air, admire the scenery, all whilst listening to something productive that I can learn from.
Music
Music has always been a huge part of my life, whether it’s playing instruments or simply listening to a song. I always find it helps me in times that are difficult because it instantly boosts my mood and just makes me feel super happy.
This month, I’ve been doing a lot of cooking and my favourite thing to do is to combine this with music, playing it loud on my speakers and singing along (if no one’s listening!). It’s definitely helped increase my energy in those classic lockdown moments when I’ve been stuck indoors for too long.
The Build-Up To Christmas
Yes, it is only November, but the combination of seeing Christmas adverts everywhere and working on Christmas content for work has made me feel like it’s December already. Something I really love about Christmas is buying presents for family and friends, so I’ve been scouring the internet this month to find the perfect gift for everyone and (admittedly) I may have actually wrapped them already…
Meditation
Meditation is something I always seem to dip in and out of at various moments in my life when I feel like I’m craving that space and inner-reflection. I think, particularly during lockdown, it’s important to have these moments with yourself where you can tune into how you’re really feeling and work to overcome any emotional blockages you’ve unintentionally stored up.
It’s never an easy process. A lot of the time I sit there with my thoughts placing way too much emphasis on my pounding heart and it’s like suddenly all that restlessness arises to the surface. But I think that’s also the point – to be aware of what’s going on. It may not always feel great, but it’s about learning to accept and lean into the feeling.
Earlier this year, I graduated from university and, what with lockdown and no proper graduation, it’s been an odd end to 3 years, but an end nonetheless. Looking back, it’s hard to put 3 years worth of memories into a singular blog post, so instead I’ve decided to write about 6 key things I’ve learnt during my time at university – perhaps some of you can relate!
1. How To Be Responsible
This is an obvious one to start with, but it is what university teaches us all to do – how to become independent and live apart from our family. For some this is more difficult than others, but for all of us it’s new territory. I remember the first night staying at university and it felt like I was in a hotel, yet all of my stuff was there. It’s a scary moment for us all, but then the food shopping, utility bills and renting rooms becomes normality, and quicker than we know it, we become adults.
2. Who I Am As A Person
I think most people have some sort of idea about who they are as a person before university, but during university is when you truly experiment with hobbies, societies, meeting new people, and you learn how you react to all these fluctuating circumstances. I think we all try out at least one different version of ourselves at university, just to see what it’s like, whether that’s pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone or befriending someone we wouldn’t usually talk to. Eventually, you figure out how you actually want to spend your time, and I felt like I left knowing a lot more about who I am and who I want to be.
3. Self-Discipline
It’s no surprise that university teaches you how to take control of your life. Because no one’s going to do that for you. The teachers no longer spoon-feed you exam content, and no one is there to tell you to study. It really is down to yourself to manage your time effectively to get work done. I think this is something I was already fairly good at, but it did help me set up a schedule and be more proactive in seeking help and guidance when I needed it.
4. Who Your Genuine Friends Are
As cliché as it sounds, university makes you realise the kind of people you want to surround yourself with. It’s crazy the amount of people you meet when you first get there, and it’s so different to anything I had ever experienced, but it was so interesting seeing the similarities and differences between everyone. I often found myself in those stages of “friend acquaintances” and not knowing who was a proper friend and who wasn’t. But ultimately, it’s those that still make the effort to contact you and who are there when you need support. I’ve always preferred having a few really close friendships than lots of surface-level acquaintances, and I found that by the end of university, even after experimenting with both, I was back to my roots.
5. Confidence
This one plays a massive role in my time at university. I used to be a really shy person (and still can be, in some ways), but exposing myself to so many new people and new situations, which were way out of my comfort zone, really helped me become more confident. One of the things I learnt during university – mostly towards the end – is that it’s good to do things that scare you. That’s how you overcome those mental limitations you put on yourself. So now I am actively trying to do things that scare me, and letting myself lean into them with confidence.
6. The Importance of Self-Development
The university fresher in me would look at this one with utter confusion, but I think that’s a statement as to how far I’ve grown since beginning university to now. Particularly in my third year, I realised how important it was to work on my self-development. After struggles throughout university with my mental health, alongside falling ill in the middle of second year, I learnt that overcoming these difficult moments in life require self-care, self-acceptance and a desire to take action and make positive change. Self-development is called self-development for a reason – only us, the self, can do it. And when we put our mind to it, we can achieve a lot more than we think.
We take steps, not knowing where we’ll go or where we’ll end up, but knowing one day it’ll mean something.
Have you also been to (or currently go to) university? What have you learnt during your time there?
I’m afraid I have been led astray by high rated reviews again… because this was another popular book that just fell completely flat for me! A wonderful premise, not so great execution, and I may have loved the cover more than the book itself…
Summary
The Man I Think I Know follows two male protagonists who once were acquaintances at school. Brought together by a string of unlikely circumstances, they meet again. With James’ slow recovery from a brain injury and Danny’s lack of a job, they develop a friendship and help one another fight the struggles in their life.
My Thoughts
As you can see from my (not so great) attempt at summarising this book, I really don’t know how to describe my experience with this book. I’m always tentative starting something with high expectations, and yet I always find myself wondering how my opinion of a book can be so overwhelmingly different to the majority of the people who have read it. It just proves the power of perspective.
The main reason this book did not resonate with me was that I felt like there was very poor character development. With a book on such a sensitive topic, speaking about brain injury, alcoholism and depression, I would expect to have some emotional attachment to the situations at hand, but I found myself completely detached. Although the perspective was switching between the two main characters, I often lost myself on who was speaking because there were no differentiating characteristics. It was like they just moulded into the same person, with the only difference being one calling the other “mate”.
However, the dialogue was the most frustrating part for me. It was unbelievably unrealistic and it felt stilted and forced. Normal conversations were turned into arguments in a matter of seconds with no build up, and there were too many clichés in this book to count, including the typical argument conclusion “it’s not fair!” from a grown woman, and the classic “my heart feels like it has just broken into a million tiny pieces.” I have no comment.
I so wanted to like this book, and I think that’s why I kept going until the end. There had to be a redeeming quality, right? It had such great reviews, after all. And I don’t think it was a pointless book – it got me reflecting on what it would be like to have to start life over again, for things to not go the way you had planned, and the importance of family and friends in supporting you. However, the switch never flicked. I got to the end – to the cringey, predictable and unsatisfying end – and I felt nothing.
I wish I could see this book through the eyes of all the four and five star reviews, but it just wasn’t for me. Instead, you get to read another of my ranting reviews!
Pick this book up if you like – maybe you’ll enjoy it more than I did – but for now, I’ll happily move onto the next book in my to-be-read pile, and hope it goes better than this did!
Don’t you just love that feeling when you dive straight into the world of a book, becoming almost like a secondary character to the story that unfolds, feeling the character’s emotions as if they’re your own?
It’s only when we think more about the process of reading a novel that we realise the emotions that arise are for non-beings. We are feeling a story that doesn’t exist in the real, physical world and yet it feels as real as anything. Why is this? How is this? How is the brain capable of translating a fictional text into a real world inside our own minds? And why do we believe in it?
I don’t think there is an answer to any of these questions – not definitively – but I do think it’s interesting to reflect upon. I find that when I’m reading a book, I often lose track of time. It really is like entering a new world. But I also know that I become the world. Not just in my mind, but my emotions are intertwined with that of the characters.
I think perhaps this is down to humans being, at heart, social beings. Whether a character is real or not, we relate to them in some way. After all, the characters are written by real humans and often those real human authors slide parts of themselves into their characters. It is almost like a lens in which we see the author through the character, yet in our minds it is still the character, but it allows us to relate to another life wholly different to our own.
Perhaps we feel the emotions of a character as our own because we read to feel something – I know, on some level, I do. We read to find something to latch onto – something relatable, something meaningful, something real. We read to understand the human condition better – whether we realise it or not – or we read to see a different perspective. Essentially, we must read for the same reason we read a film or watch a TV show – they are almost one and the same.
The Theory of Mind says that reading improves empathy and I agree; reading a book is like meeting a lot of different people at a party except they are in their natural habitat and their thoughts are sometimes expressed and they’re unique and not real but could easily be real, if they were fathomed into existence.
Ultimately, our mind is capable of wild imagination. Reading a book is, at its core, simply reading words on a page, and yet we create this whole world in our minds – the way it looks, the way it feels – from these words. It is our capability to imagine that makes it so real. Without our mind transferring these words into a little film inside our head, perhaps we wouldn’t be so emotionally attached to the journey. Perhaps we wouldn’t really absorb any of it at all.
The truth is that reading is a truly unique experience. One book has millions of different versions inside the heads of every single person who reads it. And no one can enter that other experience. No one knows what it’s like to see those words through the lens of those eyes, because they only know their own. Reading becomes a personal experience. It has to be. We connect with it in the way that we want to connect with it, even if the link isn’t even really there. And I think we do that with a lot of things; we find ourselves in art because that’s how something becomes meaningful – when we can relate to it. It’s both self-indulgent and curious and sad and enlightening. It’s many things that can’t really be put into words.
And I think this post is mostly me typing out a load of my thoughts with no coherence to them whatsoever but, like reading, it’s just one single personal experience and to you it’s a whole other personal experience, but they all join to one point: the love of reading. And I think that’s pretty remarkable.
Why do you think we feel emotions for fictional characters?
For those of us in the UK, we are now in a national lockdown. We’ve been there before, we made it and we can do it again, but that doesn’t always make it easy. I thought I would put together some tips to help any of you struggling with your wellbeing, and to remind myself of the ways I can stay in a positive mindset too!
Find a Purpose
When we think of finding a purpose in our lives, it can seem super daunting. We think of it as this giant thing looming in front of us, trying to work out what it is that is actually driving us forward. However, finding a purpose doesn’t have to be some “big goal” – it can be as little as playing your favourite song each morning.
I found that, during the previous lockdown, finding a purpose was what helped me each day. It took me outside of the situation and helped me focus on a project, rather than think about the uncertainties of the future. For me, this was finally writing the first draft of a book. For others, it may be an exercise regime. For some, it could be starting up a new hobby, like cooking, or art, or starting a blog! Find that little something that makes you excited.
Embrace the Quiet
Lockdown gives us a lot of time to sit with empty space. I think this is one of the reasons why it can seem terrifying; when we’re busy with our lives, we often don’t give ourselves time to think, and it’s only when we think that we face emotions and circumstances that perhaps we were trying to avoid.
As a result, this time is necessary. For some it may be uncomfortable. Emotions may rise we didn’t know we felt. It teaches you how to breathe when there is only the present moment, and I think that is really powerful.
Get Moving
This is undoubtedly an obvious tip, but I find that it’s so easy to let the days pass and forget to go on that walk that I’ve been planning to do all week! And during lockdown, it can sometimes feel like the world is on a go-slow.
Getting moving doesn’t have to be about doing a 10 mile run. It doesn’t even have to be about leaving the house if you don’t want to (although fresh air helps). It can be finding a YouTube workout, or dancing to your favourite music, or walking up and down the stairs before lunch. Just a little something to get your heart rate up and release positive endorphins.
Stay Connected
In an age as technologically advanced as this one, it should be easy to stay connected, but sometimes it can be a little challenging. Keeping up with text messages, wanting to reduce screen time, not feeling like it’s quite the same as in person – however, it is so important for our wellbeing.
Staying connected doesn’t have to mean being glued to your phone 24/7; staying connected means dialling in when it really matters. Schedule in video calls with people you want to see, or reach out and message when you have a free moment. No one is expecting you to be there all the time, even during lockdown, so make sure to give yourself some space amidst it all.
What is your number 1 wellbeing tip for lockdown?
Share your advice in the comments and let’s help each other out!
Here’s my monthly gratitude reflection – a little late, but here nonetheless!
Autumn Leaves
One thing I really love about Autumn: the beautiful colours of the Autumn leaves. I’ve done a fair amount of walking this month (mostly on the weekends) and it’s super nice walking through crunchy leaves, which sounds almost childlike, but it’s nature coming alive in its own sort of way.
I’ve been wanting to stop and collect Autumn leaves for some book photography too, but haven’t had a chance yet! Will hopefully take this task into November.
Resilience
This is something I’ve really been working at lately and I think this October, more than any month, I’ve surprised myself in the way I’ve dealt with things that haven’t gone to plan. It makes me grateful for opportunities of self-development where I’ve really pushed myself to be more and do more than I ever could have thought. This is something I hope to take into the following month of lockdown, despite any difficulties.
Celebrations
This month I turned 22 and I was super lucky to be able to take a day off to go to The Ritz for the first time with my Mum! I feel like it’s been so long since we’ve had a chance to dress up for something nice, and I don’t often go to fancy places so it was amazing just admiring the building! The afternoon tea was delicious, and there was unexpectedly a live pianist too, which was very atmospheric. I feel like this will be an experience I’ll be grateful for for a while!
“Spa Day”
Earlier this month, my Mum and I re-created a spa day in our home to have a day full of relaxation! We did yoga, meditation, listened to a podcast with tea, cake and a candle, and even did back massages with hot stones and aromatherapy oils! It was such a peaceful day, and it was a really lovely way to unwind after a busy week. I’m very grateful for these simple yet happy moments.
Music
This month I’ve been flicking back to old music on my iPod and re-visiting all these songs I used to listen to all the time! I forgot how much I love them and it’s so nice to reignite that feeling you get when you hear a song for the first time. It’s a weird sort of way to travel back in time.
I’m hoping to do more of this over the next month, as I’ve missed my daily walks at university when I would listen to music all the time. It’s nice to turn on the speaker and blast something whilst doing the cooking, or even putting the washing up. Makes anything that bit more exciting!
Surely it can’t only be me who is wondering where this year has gone? We’re somehow only 3 months away from 2021!
Looking back on this year, it’s been an unusual one for us all, but this post is not going to be focusing on all of that – instead, I’ll be sharing 5 new habits I started doing this year that have genuinely had a huge positive impact on my life. (Feel free to share yours in the comments below too!)
Gratitude Journalling
When I was younger, I used to write lots of diaries. Sometimes I find them in the depths of my cupboard and cringe at all the things I used to say, but journalling is always something that has been cathartic for me. It’s a release.
However, this year I started journalling with a different approach in mind. Instead of writing down everything I was feeling (positives, negatives, the lot), I only wrote down what went well. Every night I do this same routine, writing down 3 things that went well, and reframing one negative situation into a positive. As much as writing a diary is cathartic, journalling with positive words helps reinforce that positivity, rather than dwell on bad events. I am convinced it has helped me stay positive and strong, even through difficult moments, and I’m excited to look back on it in December and see all the amazing things that happened this year!
Phone on Airplane ModeBefore Bed
This is a very specific habit I’ve started this year but one that has helped my sleep hugely. I’ve always been a classic overthinker, especially at night, but I never really realised until this year how much blue light, from phone and TV screens, was exacerbating this.
My routine is to now put my phone on airplane mode at least an hour before bed, giving me time to really think about my day, how I’m feeling, and read a good book. I think in a world full of so much noise, we often drown ourselves out. This is my moment to try and reclaim that back.
Reframing Negative Thoughts
I feel like this is one topic I’ve covered in a lot of my blog posts this year, and there’s a reason for that! It’s because it’s the most effective way to get out of a negative slump.
None of us have positive brains 24/7 – that is just unrealistic. However, we can try to change those negative thoughts when they start creeping in. We can do this by rationalising any unnecessary thoughts or changing our focus onto something else. It’s not easy, and I still have moments where I struggle with it, but once you know it’s achievable, it really can help with the most difficult of situations.
Writing a To-Do List
Not only is writing lists super productive (and fun – if you’re like me), but it is genuinely the best way to stay on top of everything that needs to be done. Since the beginning of this year, even on the days when I was in lockdown and had nothing scheduled, I would write a list of what I was going to do that day. And it helped me stay sane. It gave me a purpose.
Lists don’t have to be boring. Write with a colourful pen. Buy yourself a beautiful notebook. Jot down fun things you want to do that day, like watching your favourite show or seeing a friend. A list can be full of anything you want it to be. It’s a nice reminder that you have autonomy in the world.
Reading Before Bed
I’ve always been an avid reader – ever since I was a child. Entering new worlds and understanding new perspectives has always been interesting to me. However, on the road of education, it’s unsurprising that I lost my passion for reading a bit.
It was only at the start of this year that I started reading regularly again. Books for fun weren’t just for the holidays, but something I could read everyday. And the way I managed to do this was by reading before bed.
It’s funny looking back, because in hindsight it’s so obvious, but at the time, I didn’t realise that all this TV I was watching was eating up my reading time. Now, I do both, and I love having the variety. I’m finally making my way through my overflowing bookcase!
Have you taken up a new habit that has genuinely changed your life?
I’d love to know – please share in the comments below!
My Mind Speaks Aloud 