Do you ever feel like life is slipping by, and you have no way of remembering the little moments? Such as when you read your favourite book of 2020, or discovered Sheepadoodles for the first time?

In 2018 I started documenting my life in a new way that has been extremely rewarding and thought-provoking. I journal often, but usually, it is not to document my activities, but as a place to process thoughts, emotions and events. I found I was missing out on the little things that are happening in my life such as what song I’m rocking out to, what I’m looking forward to and what I’m enjoying learning. I came up with a list of things I could fill out quickly and easily. This is not an exhaustive list, but things I find applicable to me. Sometimes I am devouring books and have a long list, while other times the same book appears multiple weeks in a row.

I fill this in every few weeks and it’s such an intriguing way to look back at the year. Without this I would forget about my love for blueberries in July or the week I discovered “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran and played it on repeat all the way to work and back. I have included two of my entries below to see how it has evolved and changed over the year. Reading them over so many memories come flooding back.

My First Post: My First Post July 12, 2018

READING
Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
LISTENING
” Wait” by Maroon 5 on repeat
MAKING
Chicken greek wraps
FEELING
Nervous and excited about potential change
PLANNING
To move to Vancouver
To quit Fraser Health
To work in Bangladesh
LOVING
Summer fruit
Bike rides
Days in the mountains
Late sunsets
Coffees on third break
WEARING
Plaid shirt
Floral shirt tucked into shorts with black strappy sandals
BUYING
Padded bike shorts
Muffins (best when 50% off)
NEEDING
To relax and let life unfold

January 15th 2020

READING
Bookworm : A Memoir of Childhood Reading by Lucy Mangan
WATCHING
The Ellen Show during my work break
LISTENING
“Don’t be shy” by cat Stevens
MAKING
Cross stitch
ENJOYING
Snowy days
Bath bombs
My TEDx reaching 1 million
EXERCISE
Swimming at UBC
Yoga with Adrienne
Kayla leg workout
EATING
Glory bowl!
Raspberries $1.88 at no frills
Grapefruit bubbly
WEARING
My new ski shirt
Gloves and scarf and winter jacket
Blundstones through the snow

What would you include in your list? How do you document life’s little details? If you like this method, just copy and paste:

READING
WATCHING
LISTENING
LEARNING
DECLUTTERING
MAKING
ENJOYING
FEELING
PLANNING
LOVING
PRAYING
DOING
EXERCISING
EATING
WEARING
BUYING