It’s amazing how the little things in life can bring us so much joy and happiness. The way the sun shines through a leaf, the patterns that water makes as it reflects the light, the way shadows create different moods, and the way nature can heal and inspire us. These are just a few examples of the small moments that can make such a big impact on our lives.
Before I became a designer, I was an artist and loved to capture these quiet, calm moments of nature through my art and photography. I’ve always been a romantic about nature, which is why I struggled so much being a designer living
and working in London. I realised that I couldn’t be around screens, buildings, and people all the time, or I would start to fade. I need the wilderness. I need nature to heal and inspire me.
That's why shortly before lockdown, I started the habit of taking pictures and short videos of these tiny moments that make me happy. It really helped me get through lockdown with my sanity intact, helped me get through the winter, which I loathe with every ounce of my soul, and helped me through a tough year of being bed-bound due to some injuries that still prevent me from living my best life.
I realised that our camera rolls are a different way of journaling that we haven't tapped into consciously. So, I started uploading my photos to the boxes for the days in my planner's month page and using it as a photo journal. This way, I could quickly and easily remember what I was doing and when; and instead of these tiny moments being buried in my camera roll, they're front and centre reminding me of the things that light me up.
The more I did this, the more I noticed, and the more I sought out things that lit me up. Recording a photo journal is part of my mindfulness practice now. Most of the tiny moments that fill me up are from nature, and that's why natural elements feature so strongly in my work. Of course, I jump on trends because as a graphic designer, it's interesting to try out new things and keep up with an ever-changing industry and learn new techniques. But, the projects I actually enjoy working on include a lot of natural elements - photography, textures, hand-drawn elements, and nature-inspired colour palettes.
That's why I created a monthly photo calendar that you can use to quickly and easily remember the moments that matter and create your own photo journal. Instead of burying these moments in your camera roll, you can add them to your photo journal and have them front and centre as a daily reminder of the the things that light you up. The best part? I've created a freebie photo journal to get you started (that works in GoodNotes which is free on the app store!).
Download it now and start recording the little things that make you smile!
If you love it and want a complete journal that includes pages like this and also focusses on building a mindfulness practise into your day, check out my Etsy shop and have a squizz at my planners! I have dated and undated versions of each one so you can start your journey when you decide to, not just when January rolls around.
Remember, that any of us are here at all is such a random chance, and we’re only here for such a short space of time. Let's make the most of every tiny moment we get, and take the time to truly appreciate the things around us that bring us joy.
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