Book Review: 52 Lists for Calm by Moorea Seal

I don’t often write book reviews, but when I do, I like it to be something that I really feel matters.

I originally intended to have this post up last Monday, but—surprise! I started a semi-long term job that has kept me pretty busy the last week. My freelance work has also picked up a lot. Needless to say, I’m busy, but I’m trying not to let that toxic busy-ness make me insufferable.

I use a lot of Moorea Seal’s 52 Lists products. Her original 52 Lists book is one of my favorite journals ever; I did it the first time through in the year after I had Forrest and let me tell you, some of those lists really take me back to those harder days. If you’re new to journaling, or just need some inspiration, I cannot recommend it enough.

I use her 52 Lists planner every single day; it’s one of my favorite planner layouts and I’m already planning to purchase it again for next year.

So when I bought 52 Lists for Calm in late December, I knew I was going to enjoy it. I like journaling and I find it very easy—but I often struggle to really write down what is making me anxious, as I always worry it will make me more anxious to write about it. However, I knew I needed a way to work through everything that has been swirling around me since I was laid off back in July. I wanted this book to be that for me.

And thankfully, it does a good job of it!

I’ve written before about how beneficial I find journaling. No matter how you choose to journal, I think it’s beneficial to let yourself have some time to unwind. The primary way I use 52 Lists for Calm has been as a book to keep on my desk to grab whenever I need a few minutes to just write without thinking. Plus, even once you fill in all the pages (and I’ve probably filled in 75%), you can reuse the prompts: in a Google Doc or another journal or even on the Notes app on your phone.

52 Lists for Calm is separated into 4 sections: Being Present; Look Back; Move Forward; and Release. All of the sections have lists that walk you through finding ways to release your worries, really tap into what is bothering you, and release it. List 7, as an example, has you write out everything that is stressing you out—then destroy it, either through burning it, crossing it out, whatever works for you.

It is surprisingly cathartic!

My favorite section is probably the Look Back section. What can I say? I’m a Type 4 Enneagram, I love being introspective and nostalgia is my drug of choice. I loved List 14, which was all about writing out things that brought me comfort in childhood, as well as List 21, which prompted me to list things about myself that I feel scared expressing.

Basically, 52 Lists for Calm walks you through a bunch of different fun, interesting lists that let you peer directly into what calms you down. I think it’s easy to start a guided journal like this with the idea that it might fix your stress—but to me, it was actually more about finding things that I already knew work to help me calm down, see the bigger picture, and stop worrying.

I’m going to keep this review short and sweet: if you’ve been wanting to get into journaling, but find it overwhelming, I think 52 Lists for Calm will be a great place to start. Even if you’re an experienced journaler, I think it’s a great way to find some new prompts and get to writing. No matter what you use it for, I have enjoyed working my way through it. Moorea Seal designs beautiful books (let’s be honest: how it looks is 100% part of the package for me!) and that’s probably why I love them so much.

If you want to test 52 Lists for Calm for yourself, click here to buy a copy!

My Favorite Weekly Bullet Journal Layout

I've been bullet journaling for about two years now. I primarily use it for work, but at home, I use a bullet journal to do my daily journals. I find it's a lot less intimidating to simply write notes in a little box, as opposed to looking at an entire blank page. I use the space to also write my focus for the week (like reducing my anxiety or forgiving myself for making mistakes), as well as goals and track my work outs. 

Above, you can see my absolute favorite weekly layout. I don't like a ton of decoration, but I do use my embarrassingly large washi tape collection to make things a little pretty. It's neat and orderly and I have just enough space in each box to write important tasks and appointments, as well as to write my evening notes. On Sundays, I write a longer journal entry where I reflect on my week, what went wrong, what went right, and what I can do different next week. Then I make my next weeks layout with a specific focus on an eye on the past week. 

I wanted to share what my weekly layout looks like in my bullet journal for a few reasons: 

1. Bullet journaling can seem really intimidating when you see the amazing art pieces some people do in theirs! But realistically, I don't think you have to go crazy in a bullet journal. 
    
2. It's nice to see how someone realistically uses a bullet journal. I'm never going to get track of all my habits, my savings, my budget in a notebook. That's just not how my brain works! But I do try to keep a journal so that I can remember when things happen and my son can have a record of what life was like with him as a toddler. 

I keep my Pinterest journals board updated with interesting bujo layouts. You can check it out here. I'm always making little tweaks to my weekly layout--like changing up fonts, color schemes, and more--but I think picking one you like and sticking with it is the best way to figure out what works, so you can better use your bullet journal. 

A Day In My Life

"What's it like to be a mom now?" 

That's the question I get asked most now. It used to be about Danny or my job or any number of other things. But now, people just want to know what motherhood is like--especially if they are expecting or not yet mothers themselves. It's something I love talking about because I think it's important to be open about what motherhood is really like. Unlike the (very funny) memes that float around on Facebook or the lifestyle bloggers that gloat in your Instagram feed, motherhood isn't 100% messy or 100% perfect. It's somewhere perfectly in between. 

This is a day in my life when I'm not working. My work days are infinitely more boring than any day at home with Forrest. 

Morning

I wake up, usually, around 5:30am. Both because I have an alarm set and because usually Forrest is awake by then. I get up, let my dog outside, make a bottle, feed the dog, start the coffee, and then run upstairs to grab Forrest. We usually lie in bed while he drinks his bottle (and I change his diaper). At 6am, we migrate downstairs where he plays in the living room while I make my morning coffee and our breakfasts. We eat at 6:30am usually and then play for a while. 

Forrest usually takes his first nap by 9am; I strap him in the Ergo baby carrier, turn on some river sounds on my phone, and walk up and down our driveway until he is asleep. Then, I get some work done at my desk. I write, answer emails, blog, and design for about an hour. Once he starts waking up, we go back downstairs. 

He usually has his mid-morning bottle at 10:30am. I clean up the kitchen while he plays. If I have time, I'll clean the downstairs bathroom and the entryway. At 11am, I put him in his high chair and give him something to snack on (banana, peach, or Cheerios), and make lunch. 

After we eat, we head in to the park to play and walk. I usually try to walk 2-3 miles, while listening to podcasts. 

Afternoon

When we get home from walking, Forrest usually has his afternoon bottle around 1pm. Sometimes, he takes a second nap during this time; sometimes, he just refuses. We play, sing songs, and read books until about 3pm, when I put him back in the high chair and start making dinner. As I make dinner, I narrate, sing songs, dance, whatever, to keep him occupied. 

We eat around 4pm (I know, we're old people). My husband gets home around 4:30pm and joins us. 

Then, we sit in the living room and play together, usually letting Forrest play with the bookshelves. After 5:30pm, it's time to get ready for bed. If it's been a while, Forrest has a bath. If not, he gets his last bottle as we put him in his pajamas and sing songs. Then, we rock in the rocking chair with river sounds for about 20 minutes. He's asleep by 6pm at the latest every night. 

Once Forrest is in bed, the party starts. I clean the kitchen and the living room, wipe down the tables, and clean Forrest's high chair. Then I go upstairs and get any additional blogging or work done that I need to. 

By 7pm, I'm usually done for the day; I'll read or watch TV, but most likely, I'll be planning meals for the next day or meal prepping or working out in front of the TV. 

My "me" hour is usually 8pm-9pm: I'll take a bath, clean the bathroom, or lie in bed playing Sims 3. I'm usually asleep by 10pm, thanks to reading in bed with my heating pad. 

Tell me: what's a day in your life like?