A few days ago, I attended a meditation workshop on campus.
After I struggled to concentrate throughout the entire session, I asked the instructor for some tips on how to ease into the process and she recommended journaling as the best alternative. Keeping a journal, the instructor said, would allow me to practice meaningful introspection while channeling the excess energy into a physical activity that complemented the exercise instead of distracting me from it.
Even though I suck at both keeping my thoughts quiet for extended periods of time and committing to daily tasks (such as keeping a journal), I decided to give it a chance. So, I thought back to middle school days and opted for making my own journal :)
Now, I know that not everyone can/would like to keep a daily journal but, with how easy these are, I figured that anyone can make them and just use them to keep their grocery lists, doodle, use as a journal, scrapbook, or simply to make use of some extra paper they have lying around.
They also would make a great personalized gift for someone's birthday if you decorate them with things they like.
Here's how to make them:
You need:
-1 sheet of 9x12 construction paper or thin posterboard for the cover
-Regular 8.5x11 paper for the interior pages (I used 6 sheets)
-Ruler
-Needle and thread
-Gel pens/markers to decorate
Mark the middle of your cover sheet (hamburger style) and fold it making sure the corners are aligned. Then, draw 2 lines 1/2 an inch from the center line, one on each side.
Fold along the 2 lines you just drew. Make sure to fold them in the opposite direction than the middle fold. This will give you a small M shape. This will be the spine of the journal. Set the cover aside.
Fold your inside pages in half, making sure the corners line up as best as possible. NOTE: You can use a blunt object (spoon, in my case) to help fold the pages neatly. Simply line up the corners, hold them in place, and trace a line down to the middle with the spoon to mark the fold. Then, smooth the edges.
Place half of your inside pages on each side of the spine of the cover, each folded page inside another.
In place, open each stack of inside pages and "sandwich" the M fold between them. Make sure the pages are aligned inside the cover.
Thread your needle with x2 the height of the journal + a little extra, just in case. Then, poke it through the middle of the pages you are holding up. Make sure you pierce all spreads and the spine of the cover. Don't pull all the way through, leaving a 2" tail behind.
Make another hole above or below the center, staying 1" away from the edge. Repeat on the opposite side.
Finally, poke the needle through the center again and double knot the two tails around the middle thread to secure off. Cut the excess.
VOILA! Your journal is ready! -- GET WRITING!
