Recommendations
Here you will find previous 'picks of the month', literature, and products that I have found useful on my journey of self-discovery. Some are just fun little reprieves from daily life that provide a laugh or even the occasional healthy cry. Others are useful products that enhance day to day tasks. They all resonate with me on some level and I hope they'll do the same for you. Please feel free to send me your recommendations, I'm always looking to discover more!
Brown Paper Notebook
From the Etsy shop MoshiMoshiUK, these kraft brown paper notebooks are excellent for journaling. They are entirely blank and leave room for drawing, writing, really any form of creativity you can think of. I personally use mine for venting all of my frustrations and mental struggles. I like that it doesn't confine me to one way of writing out my thoughts, I can choose whatever format I wish. This shop also has some really cool stationary and storage options to choose from. They have amazing customer service and I've only had good experiences when ordering. Check them out, the link is above!
Leather-Bound Notebook
I found this notebook at my local Homesense last week and I absolutely love it. It's lined and completely blank, perfect for journaling and making lists, and it has a cool textured design on the leather cover. It's a mixture of brown and green and it bound together with some twine. Journals like this are great because they have loads of room and you can really use them for whatever you want. I'll be sad when the day comes that I completely fill this. I'll definitely be keeping it to live on my bookshelf. Homesense tends to change out their stock very often so you likely wouldn't be able to find this exact notebook. I'll leave a link here for an Etsy shop that has similar ones. They are a bit expensive, but would be well worth the investment.
The Power of Letting Go by John Purkiss
This book is all about releasing your focus on the past and ideas of the future. He employs helpful methods to stay in the present moment and focus on the things that make you happy. One of the most important things I've learned from him is that you truly need to focus on yourself in order to be a better person and show up in your life %100. You can't just push down trauma and expect to heal from it, you have to allow yourself to relive it fully in order to process it's damages and recurring pain patterns they create in your life. While he can be straight to the point, I have definitely opened my mind to another way of thinking and try to meditate more often. It helps me stay in touch with my emotions and not let overthinking get the best of me. Learn to let go and live fully. You can purchase this book from any local book shop, I got my copy from Words Worth Books in downtown Waterloo. It will surely be a great addition to your collection.
Mahalia
These albums have been on repeat for the past few weeks in my home. Mahalia is an amazing artist that speaks to my soul. Her voice has such power and purpose, I feel so connected when I listen to her. Love and Compromise and IRL are two of my favourites from her. They're perfect for setting a chill vibe. Give her a listen when you're looking to unwind from the day or when you're doing a creative project. Whatever your mood, I'm sure she'll help uplift it. :)
Blinkist
This is an app that allows you to listen to or read the most crucial points of a book. They have a wide variety of options, from self-help to love & relationships to psychological insight. There's truly something on here for everyone. Each book is an average of 15 minutes with the key take-aways being highlighted in sections called blinks. They help you get right to the author's point in an easy to digest manner. I really can't say enough good things about it. I personally like to take notes while I listen, but you can also throw them on while you're driving, working out, or even at your job. While it is a paid subscription, you get a 7-day free trial to see if you like it. After that it's $8.34/month which is $99.99 yearly. I used the extension Honey to cut that cost down to about $6/month so I definitely recommend using that to save some money. It's adding knowledge and enrichment to my life, so I 100% think it's worth it.
Mindlist
Mindlist is a reminder app with lots of different icons and colours to schedule your day. If you have an Iphone, then it's like an amped up version of Reminders. I find it useful to make lists, plan out my daily schedule, and set intentions. While I've fallen off track using it consistently, when I do, it helps me stay on top of my tasks and chores. I like that you have the ability to make lists specific for your daily inbox, it's a great option to keep rotating the basics that you always have to complete. If you struggle with upkeep for your personal health and well-being, this is a great space to give you gentle prompts for things you need to complete. I just like that it's more designed and functional than the basic Apple one. I feel like it inspires me more and motivates me to check things off my lists and look for other things that need to be done around the house. One last thing, you can choose to turn off the notifications so that you can go onto it when you feel ready to face your day. I quite like that about this app. It takes away the pressure and stress of looming tasks.