Growing up, everyone either had or wished they had a “Wreck This Journal”. You know, the journal that you could just totally destroy— basically any kid’s dream.
“Wreck This Journal: was published by Keri Smith in 2007 with the intention of being a self-help and humor book. The book is an interactive journal with a plethora of prompts to destroy the book and express yourself. Smith’s intentions when publishing the book were to create a space where readers would feel comfortable coloring outside the lines and taking risks.
Now, while it may not be common to whip out your Wreck This Journal nowadays, it is still essential for students to “color outside the lines” and not take everything so seriously. Without realizing it, many college students take the same steps Smith tried to encourage throughout her journal. So, how are we coloring outside the lines? Or, how do we start?
Do Spontaneous Things
Text the guy. Book the trip. Go skydiving. Doing spontaneous things gets the blood flowing and brings out such a thrill. Spontaneous things can be as extreme as jumping into a freezing lake or as simple as going for a walk in a new area. The idea is doing something that you are unfamiliar with—something that scares you at least a little bit. Break out of your routine and skip your habits for the day.
Break Rules
“Wreck This Journal” quite literally requires you to break the rules. Scribble all over the page. Throw the book off the highest floor of your house. Now, apply these same ideas to your current life and break a couple rules. Skip your 9 a.m. class. Play music extra loud in your dorm. While it may not seem frisky at the moment, breaking the rules a bit keeps us all sane.
Say “Yes”
One of the best pieces of advice is to simply say yes. When a friend asks you to do something that seems completely stupid, just try it. We only have one life to be spontaneous and have fun. Allowing yourself to let loose and go with the flow is so freeing and rewarding to one’s inner child.
Pick Up a Passion Project
Another great way to get creative is to start a passion project. This can be anything that has ever interested you. Even if you are unfamiliar with the topic, now is the perfect time to learn. Learn how to knit. Start a blog. Make a cooking channel. Anything you want.
How are you going to get creative? Let us know @VALLEYmag on Instagram!
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