Thursday November 7th

For anyone looking to expand their Japanese vocabulary a little bit, here’s a complete list of the kanji and vocabulary I need for my kanji midterm! It’s got 167 words on it, divided into 2 levels – one that tests English to kana, and another that tests kana to kanji. Feel free to use this to branch your vocabulary out a bit! It’s full of words like 手術 and 針金 and 職業 and 刺す and 美術館 and 御馳走. Have fun!

I’ll add 2 more levels at the end of the semester when I need to review for my final exam ^^

Credits: l.luvhee on ig ; rai on we heart it

Hey phoebe, I have no choice but to keep up with my coursework and I'm having a hard time. Since the Covid lockdown began I've lost motivation, along with my appetite and the will to get out of bed before noon. My brain's in a fog of worry and sadness but I'm not sure how to push past it or stop beating myself up for not being productive.

wow that sounds so tough, my love. I would so recommend reaching out to mental health resources for online counselling such as beyondblue to help with your struggles. It’s not easy being in that place and the best thing you could do for yourself is seek professional guidance. 

Other things that help with low moods are setting a routine that involves:

- messaging friends and family (social fulfilment) - exercise (even 10 mins, try and get your heart rate up!) - journaling (get those unhelpful thoughts out of your head and onto paper) - to-do lists of a max of 3 things per day (It can be even as small as making your bed or having a shower) -self comfort (do things for you PURELY because you like it and you find joy in it, eg. watch a show you like, take a bath, these things don't have to be treated as rewards, you deserve to feel good)

You do NOT have to be productive every moment of every day. Start small and build back up. Set an alarm for 11am, make your bed and grab some water. That can be where you start, you are only human, my love. Be gentle with yourself, get one thing done at a time because that is all you can do. Focus on one task at a time till completion and thank yourself for taking time to do that for yourself. Everything you do is in appreciation of you and the opportunity you have been given to do the things you choose. I know what it’s like to be where you are, to have lost all sense of happiness and self. Build yourself up and start small, the first step is talking with loved ones about it. It’s easier to care for yourself once you realise that other people do as well, to remember you are valued, because I promise you, you are. <3 I love you. Please stay safe.

Art journal details (Flatsound - We’re Fighting Again)

cherry blossoms in daikanyama.

代官山の桜。

march page

notes to myself

- write down a list of goals and habits you want to implement in your life. 

- meditate. lay down, alone with your thoughts, left to truly think and have time with your conscious mind unoccupied by distraction. take the time to actually listen to yourself with undivided attention

- engage in yoga. stretch.

- write down what you're grateful for

- take a shower. put on freshly-scented lotion. refresh and restart.

- do laundry. clean out and organize your clothes, donate some

- refresh and restart your phone, laptop, desktop, etc. clean out and organize your files, applications, layout, etc. filter out your social media from youtube to instagram to twitter to contain content towards your betterment

- call your family and friends. have a discussion, talk to them, laugh with them

- hang out with your friends. have a study session or just be together as you all sketch, paint, journal, eat

- listen to podcasts for personal growth and development. humor, health, productivity, any kind of podcast.

- clean and reorganize your home. clean out the kitchen, living room, bedrooms, etc. rearrange and design them. let your home reflect you. give it a breath of fresh air with change, whether small or big

- plan out your week // bullet journal

- learn. learn a new language, take out a notebook, write notes, listen to audios, practice. learn another programming language. learn about the history of islam. learn cryptography and encryption. learn anything that excites you, that betters you

- get a blanket and go out and lie in nature

- read. read a book on personal development, read a book in a foreign language, read a book about history, read articles about the most random things or articles catered to your interests, to self growth, to the present world today. read to learn.

- go out and volunteer. contribute to and for good. help out at a homeless shelter, help with a sustainability project or beach clean up, aid and provide comfort and ease to the elderly, sick, and young

- sit down. read the quran. reflect and understand.

- go on a bike ride. take in the air that hits you, the side conversations that leave your hearing just as quickly as they enter, take in the moment.

one could see this just as a list of stuff to do, and it basically is. but for me, it's a multitude of opportunities to grow, to better, to breath, to live. I'd like to spend my time actually living, doing good, growing, being conscious and present, so here are some notes to myself, and hopefully you.

12/09/19 Today turned out much more productive than I had planned :)