Week 2 of doing the journaling prompts from this post from Hannah Bay’s Substack, Midnight Crumbs, with 31 journaling prompts for July. See Week 1 here.
July 8: Be honest, what’s been getting far more airtime in your head than it deserves?
Besides every little thing I’ve ever done wrong? Yesterday I didn’t recycle a plastic bag that said please recycle on it because I was at the office and there was only a trash can near me. But besides that, I think I’ve just felt overwhelmed just thinking about what I want to do vs. getting off my couch and actually doing it. I want to rollover my 401k, but I have to call the retirement plan company. I want to read the library books that I let sit on my nightstand for 3 weeks until it’s time to return them. I want to lift weights at home but haven’t put my yoga mat out. I want to learn Spanish but haven’t redownloaded Duolingo.
July 9: What’s one tiny thing that reliably makes you feel more alive?
It’s actually kind of hard to think of tiny things, but this is what I’ve come up with: watching the sunrise, seeing a cute dog, singing in the car.
July 10: Finish this sentence: I’ll properly get into _____ when _____. why do you think you’ve been waiting?
I’ll properly get into knitting when I finish all my embroidery samplers. Same goes for watercoloring.
As a Gemini (even when I lived in WA, I believed in astrology – it’s all true!!), I have no problem coming up with and adding another hobby, I just genuinely don’t have enough space for more craft supplies. My embroidery stuff already takes up a full shelf on my bookshelf, and I need to use up my fabric and Amazon pack of hoops before I start getting yarn and knitting needles. In our old house in Bellevue, we had an extra room that we called the Art Room since it housed all of our crafting supplies, and I think I will need that one day. Or at least half of an office room.
July 11: Which part of your personality has become much stronger this year?
I haven’t read it, but there’s a book called My Year of Rest and Relaxation and that’s how I would title this year (upon reading the book synopsis, my year is nothing like the protagonist’s year). I have gotten the most use out of my rent money this year, spending a lot of time on the couch. My weekends haven’t all been filled to the brim. Some Sundays I don’t leave the house until noon! And I’m trying not to drive across the county both days of the weekend (also gas has been so expensive). I’m prioritizing who I spend my time with and trying to see rest as productive even though my mind is always racing with ideas of where to go next and how to (somewhat gently) coerce people into going with me.
July 12: What’s something you keep forgetting you’re actually allowed to enjoy?
This is kind of silly, but one of the first things that came to mind was a PB&J sandwich. This is a small part of a whole other blog post that I’ve been working on for honestly a couple of years. My social media feed is full of food. I’ve done it somewhat intentionally, following restaurants, food publications, local LA food bloggers, Instagram chefs, and day-in-the-life influencers. All these folks are eating either magnificent meals or trying to shove high protein and fiber recipes down my throat. I love a multi-course dinner, but at the moment I’m craving something simpler. No more 15 ingredient meals that include cottage cheese or protein powder or chickpea pasta. You know what hits every time? Sourdough + crunchy peanut butter + strawberry Bonne Maman (ok still a little fancy, sue me).
July 13: Compared to the start of the year, what feels more possible for you now?
I think I could fix my sleeping problem. For most of my life, I thought sleep was boring, and I didn’t prioritize it, usually getting ~6 hours of sleep. In college, I’d usually go to bed at midnight or 1am. Those days, my problem was falling asleep at night since I’d just have so many thoughts, and I’d just stare at my phone until my eyes were tired and physically wouldn’t stay open. However, once I was asleep, I’d stay asleep until my alarm went off.
When I started my 9-5 job, I went to the gym before work so I had to go to bed earlier to wake up earlier and was sleeping totally fine until a couple of years ago. I’m not sure what happened, but basically ever since I ran a half marathon in Las Vegas in February 2024, I haven’t been able to sleep through the night. There were several months where I would wake up most nights at 3am and couldn’t fall back asleep. I tried reading before bed and staying off my phone. I tried coloring before bed. I take a shower every night before bed and keep my room cool. I took 5mg of melatonin every single day for 2 years. I tried CBD, THC, ashwagandha, magnesium. I woke up early and exercised regularly. I took walks in the morning to regulate my Circadian rhythm. I listened to guided sleep meditations. I even did therapy with someone who specialized in sleep problems.
The past month or so, my sleep has been so much better. I don’t know if it’s something about my hormones or maybe the new magnesium brand I’m trying or that I’m eating a little more meat or reducing the radiation from my phone by plugging it in across the room instead of next to my bed, but I am trying to not question it too much. I have hope!!
July 14: Describe one tiny moment that felt weirdly cinematic recently.
Last Friday, I had a half day at work, so in the afternoon, I went to get Swedish candy from Kandi on Montana Ave in Santa Monica for a package I was sending to my co-worker with some embroidery and had to get a bag for myself, of course. Then, I went on a walk to the beach while eating the gummies on a lovely 75-degree day with blue skies, and that felt like some main character energy.
RECOMMENDED READING
Journaling in July: Week 1
28 Lessons from 28
