Two Lists, One Clearer Mind
A small daily habit that makes stress feel manageable and joy easier to notice.
Lately, I’ve been trying a really simple journaling habit that’s made my days feel a lot less overwhelming. It’s nothing complicated, I just split a page in half and make two lists. One for everything that’s stressing me out, and one for the small things that made me happy. It sounds almost too simple, but it’s been one of the easiest ways I’ve found to clear my head and reset, especially on busy or stressful days.
Getting It Out of My Head
On one side of the page, I write a “worry list”. It’s exactly what it sounds like: anything that’s been sitting in my mind, big or small. It could be studying for an exam, feeling behind, worrying about the future, or even something as small as my space being messy. I don’t try to organize it or make it make sense, I just get it all out.
Then under each worry, I write one small thing I can do about it. Nothing huge, just something quick and realistic. If I’m stressed about my desk, I’ll write “clean it for five minutes”. If it’s something bigger, like finding a job after college, I’ll remind myself what I am doing: working on my resume, going to networking events, taking steps where I can. And if it’s something I can’t control, I just acknowledge that and move on.
It helps take everything out of my head and put it somewhere more manageable, instead of letting it build up all day.
Letting the Small Things Count
On the other side is my “joy list”, and it’s probably my favorite part. There’s no pressure for anything big, it’s usually just small moments I would’ve otherwise forgotten. Things like seeing a cute bird, enjoying a good cup of coffee, or feeling a nice breeze while out on my walk.
Writing them down makes me actually notice them. It reminds me that even on days when I feel stressed or overwhelmed, there are still small moments that are good. And when I can see them all in one place, it shifts my mindset a little without forcing anything.
I think that’s why this habit has stuck with me. It doesn’t try to fix everything or pretend things aren’t stressful, it just creates space for both sides of the day. And somehow, that balance makes everything feel a little lighter.
I really like this, I have been doing a worry list where I write down my worries and cross off all the stuff I have no control over. It helps me narrow down what I should really focus on and what I should just stop worrying about because I can’t do anything about it.
If I am writing down something that is bothering me or worrying me, I quickly realize that I am wasting my precious time with something that will probably not even happen or something I have no control over - but now it is out of my head, which is fantastic!