Using journalling to reflect, and reset

❄️ Winter, hibernation, and quiet heaviness

Winter is often associated with hibernation; being curled up on the couch, reading a book, sipping hot chocolate ☕. But for many, it can also be a time of seasonal low moods or depression. It could be the grey skies, less outdoor time, more hours spent alone with your thoughts, and year-end grief.

It can feel heavy to realise you haven't accomplished everything you set out to do. Maybe you're looking back and struggling to process how the year flew by, along with the events that took a toll on you. For many students, this year may have meant moving continents and adjusting to a new place, new weather, and a new culture. Term 1 has ended, and perhaps it didn't go as you'd hoped and you were (are) adjusting. Now Term 2 is approaching, bringing dissertations, job applications, and an overwhelming anxiety about the future 🎓💭.

Once the Christmas celebrations settle down and the festive lights go off across London, what do you do then?

✍🏽 Journalling through the winter

I'd suggest picking up a notebook and a pen and simply starting to write about how you feel. Yes, it's meant to be incoherent. Write whatever pops into your mind. One moment you might be describing how much you loved the Regent Street angels ✨; the next, you're panicking about not having finalised your dissertation topic. Let it flow. 

It might feel strange at first and that's normal. But journalling gives you the space to sit with your thoughts, unload them onto paper, and then read through them to understand what's actually going on in your head.

It brings clarity about what's bothering you, what you're most fixated on, and what needs your attention. It's almost like having a second brain 🧠!!

📖 Documenting the days

Journalling is also a beautiful way to document your life day by day. At the end of each day, write down how it went, and you'll have your own personal highlight reel of your break (non – performative). You can also journal at the start of the day to set intentions and spend your time more consciously ⏳.

🌱 Reflection and closure

Write about how the past year went and identify the moments that changed you. Write about how you survived the hardest days and celebrated your biggest wins. Reflect on the people who brought shared joy into your life, and how you learned to let go of what no longer served you 🤍 Recognise what you achieved, and reflect on where things didn't go as planned.

Write it all down. Take the load off your mind. And don't worry about spending a few extra pounds on that aesthetic notebook if it motivates you, the ROI is worth it 😉

📝 Before you close your notebook tonight

Before you close your notebook tonight, try answering one of these:

What am I proud of myself for this year?

What am I ready to let go of as this year ends?

What did I learn about myself through the hard moments?

How do I want the next year to feel?

What is one gentle promise I can make to myself?

Happy journalling 💫