Happy August, Reader!

We're in that strange transition time of year when peaches are still in season yet fall decor is lurking just around the corner? (Because nothing says "back to school" like pumpkin spice everything?? 🎃 )

With summer quickly coming to a close, you might have mixed feelings. Maybe you're excited about the opportunities ahead, nervous about busyness of the semester, dreading repeating some poor decisions...

...or maybe, like most people, you're not sure what you're feeling.

That's where the magic of the pen comes in. ✨ 🖊️ ✨

Writing by hand has powerful and helpful connections to our emotional and mental state—a big reason I shout from my soapbox of Write, Don't Tap™.

One simple way you can connect with your emotions is by picking up a pen (pencil, quill, whatever your writing tool of choice is) and a blank page and spending sometime journaling.

Not only will journaling help you process your feelings, it can also give you a roadmap to your semester goals.

Looking at a blank piece of paper can feel daunting, so I've given you three journal prompts to help get the ball a-rollin'.

Try to not overthink it, just write whatever comes to mind, gently noticing your own thoughts and feelings without judgement.

Prompt #1:

Take a moment to tune into your emotional state during this seasonal transition. How do you feel about leaving the summer days behind and stepping into fall? Are you excited, nostalgic, or maybe a bit anxious about what lies ahead?

Prompt #2:

Who do you want to be at the end of this next semester? What would you like to have accomplished? How would you like to feel emotionally? What skills or character traits would you like to see developed?

(Note: if your vision feels unattainable to achieve in four months, ask what 10% of that version of you would look like.)

Prompt #3:

What habits, practices, or tools have benefited you in the past for academic success? How can you repeat those systems this semester? Where have you found peace, calm, and joy? How can you make space for those things in this semester?

Now that you have your prompts, grab a notebook and a pen, and find somewhere peaceful to write. If you want, set a timer for five minutes for each prompt and then move onto the next!

This is a space to notice and reflect—it's okay if ideas feel fuzzy! You can give these thoughts time to marinate and then return to these prompts after a few days or weeks.

Were these prompts helpful for you? I'd love to hear about it! Hit reply to share your experience with me!