[unable to retrieve full-text content]Veteran LLC, a collaborative aimed at helping military veterans start their own businesses, has expanded to include five members in new states. The Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation in ...
sábado, 29 de dezembro de 2018
sexta-feira, 28 de dezembro de 2018
Tips To Start Journaling
"It's not in the rereading that one finds solace but in the writing itself. It's like crying—you don't know why, but you feel so much better afterward. Everything pours, streams, flows, out of you aimlessly," writes Samara O'Shea in her beautifully written book Note to Self: On Keeping A Journal And Other Dangerous Pursuits.
Here's another: Journaling is a profound — and simple — way to get to know yourself better. To figure out what makes you tick. What makes you happy. What makes you defensive. What makes you giggle or grateful or grieve. What makes you who you are.
Quite simply, it's a great tool to help you grow.
Throughout Note to Self, O'Shea shares excerpts from her journals, along with journal entries from others, including Anne Frank, Sylvia Plath and Tennessee Williams. She also shares how to get started. These are a few of her tips:
How am I feeling?
How do I want to be feeling?
What do I want to learn about myself?
What do I want to change about myself?
What would I never change about myself?
Describe the room.
Describe the people in your life.
Describe yourself.
Describe the aspects of your life that you're pleased with and those areas you're displeased with.
Stream of Consciousness JournalingStream of consciousness writing is very freeing — and perfect for journaling! It gives you permission to just start and let it all hang out. O'Shea writes:
"Stream-of-consciousness writing is mental anarchy and spring-cleaning all in one. It's like going into the basement, turning the tables over, breaking the records in half, cutting the stuffed animals open with a sharp pair of scissors (and feeling much better afterward), then putting it all out just in time for the garbage man to collect."
I love that there's no pressure to write things "right," to transcribe a certain event with precision or create some powerful poem. You just open up your mind — and heart — to write the messy stuff.
To get started, O'Shea suggests beginning with any word (which will inevitably lead you somewhere); picking an emotion that's been overwhelming you lately or one that you haven't felt in a long time; or asking yourself a question.
Need more inspiration?
Borrow from others! O'Shea suggests writing down lines from a poem that inspires you, transcribing song lyrics or copying quotes. Each of her journals includes one quote that represents the theme of that journal, along with a slew of quotes throughout.
Many people just don't have the time to devote to journaling. If that's the case, try writing a sentence most days — a great tip from Gretchen Rubin.
terça-feira, 25 de dezembro de 2018
The Power of Journaling—and How You Can Start
Laurie Blackwell has been journaling for more than 40 years. A creative journal guide and teacher, Laurie believes that journaling has kept her "sane, whole and focused through the good and not-so-good moments." She sees journaling as an essential part of self-care, spiritual peace, and personal growth.
"Your journal can be a container for your soul, a safe place to store your thoughts so you don't have to always lug them around with you," said Laurie, who believes we all have something to put on paper. Journaling also is an easy and inexpensive way to get to know ourselves, she said. "And when you know yourself better, you make better choices for your life."
Maybe you know that journaling is beneficial, but something keeps stopping you. Maybe you think you don't have time. But as Laurie said, "If you have five minutes a day, you have time." Maybe you don't know how to journal. Fortunately, there's no right way, Laurie said. "Just put down a sentence or two, or a simple drawing. That's it."
Maybe you're worried that someone will read your deepest, most private thoughts. According to Laurie, "Throw it away when you are finished writing. Paint over it. Write in a code you invent." (This is a great place to get creative—think of all sorts of ways you can mask or bury your treasure.)
Maybe you hate to write or draw—or don't think you can. Maybe you were told you're a terrible writer, and an even worse artist. Remember that "journaling is about you and what you want to do," Laurie said. No one is grading or critiquing it.
Maybe you think you need fancy supplies, a specific routine or a special space. But this, too, is totally up to you. For instance, Laurie's journaling routine is "random and messy." "I jot a note as I'm making my lunch. I write on a napkin at a restaurant. I scribble something down while waiting for a traffic light. I have no routine and no Pinterest-worthy journaling nook. I just try to journal something every day."
I love this. Because so often we wait until the conditions are right or ideal. We wait to write or to create anything until our desk is clutter-free, until we have 30 minutes to ourselves, until we've finished all our chores, until we're done for the day. But that time never comes.
Yet we can create in the mess, in the in-between moments. On the subway. While standing in line. While our coffee is brewing or our tea is steeping. We think it's weird to take out a notebook and start scribbling. But we take out our phones all the time. So instead of scrolling social media, jot down a thought, a feeling, an observation, a reaction. Because journaling is like taking a deep breath. It is a time to center yourself. It is a time to listen to yourself. Wholeheartedly.
If you'd like a starting point or some guidance, Laurie shared five of her favorite prompts:
You can find more prompts on her website. And if you need some visual inspiration, check out Instagram using hashtags such as #journaling and #artjournaling. But try not to compare your journaling to anyone else's. As Laurie said, there is no formula.
Remember, journaling is for you, and only you. You make up the rules. You're the boss.
Photo by Sticker Mule. The Power of Journaling—and How You Can StartThe Wall Street Journal: Israel to bring forward elections, potentially complicating Trump’s hopes to start peace process
Monday's decision to bring the election forward to April from November could complicate the Trump administration's hopes to begin a peace process between Israel and the Palestinians in the coming months.
Why You Should Keep a Journal (and How to Start Yours)
Some of the most influential people in history kept detailed journals of their lives. Those journals served two purposes: a permanent record for posterity, and cathartic release for the people writing them. Even if you don't think you need either, keeping a journal has great benefits you can enjoy immediately. Here's why you might want to sit down regularly to jot down your thoughts.
Even if you don't think there'll ever be a documentary that uses your journal for flavor commentary, there are plenty of reasons to keep one for yourself. Maybe you want to leave something behind for your children that tells your story and what you accomplished. Maybe you're more practical, and want a way to harness your creativity. Maybe you just want the cathartic release that comes with regular writing. Whatever it is, these are all great reasons. Let's look at each one, and why they matter so much.
Regular Writing has Mental Health BenefitsWriting can do wonders for your health. Beyond keeping your creative juices flowing—a separate topic we'll get to shortly—regular writing can give you a safe, cathartic release valve for the stresses of your daily life. We've discussed some of those mental and emotional benefits of writing before, from the angle of creative writing—but you don't have to write fiction to get them. For example, we've mentioned that keeping an awesomeness journal can do wonders for your self-esteem. Not only does regular writing make you feel good, it helps you re-live the events you experienced in a safe environment where you can process them without fear or stress.
Harness the Mental, Creative, and Emotional Benefits of Regular Writing Today is the first day of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), where thousands of people…
Read more ReadIn fact, there's so much data about the mental and emotional benefits of journaling that counselors, social workers, and therapists often encourage their patients to do it. This study from the journal Advances in Psychiatric Treatment is a great experiment, and a solid summary of current research on the topic. In the piece, the researchers noted that 15–20 minutes on 3–5 occasions was enough to help the study participants deal with traumatic, stressful, or otherwise emotional events. It's been specifically effective in people with severe illnesses, like cancer, for example. In fact, the practice is so well regarded, there's a Center for Journal Therapy dedicated to the mental health benefits of regular journaling, both in therapeutic and personal settings.
It's not just what you write about though. How you write plays a role as well. This University of Iowa study showed that journaling about stressful events helped participants deal with the events they experienced. The key, however, was to focus on what you were thinking and feeling as opposed to your emotions alone. In short, you get the best benefits of journaling when you're telling your personal story, not just writing about your feelings on their own. It's a great example of how telling your own personal story can make a huge difference in your well being.
Keeping a Journal Helps Harness Your CreativityThe creative benefits of keeping a journal are also well documented. You've likely heard that the best way to get better at writing is to just keep doing it. That's true, but the benefits go deeper than just crafting better sentences. For example, regular writing can help you learn to process and communicate complex ideas effectively. It can also help you memorize important information, and brainstorm new ideas. In other words, writing about your experiences not only helps you process them, it helps you see opportunities that may not have been apparent at first glance. It also helps you learn to break down complex experiences into relevant, useful bits of information organized coherently.
Even if you don't think anything special has happened to you, the very act of keeping a journal can help you brainstorm. How often have you caught yourself writing about something that seems dull on the surface, but led you to a spiderweb of other thoughts, ideas, and memories as you were processing it? Regular writing opens the door to those opportunities every time you sit down.
Even If You Don't Do Creative Work, Regular Writing Has Practical BenefitsRegular writing can be functional, too, and serve as a reminder of mistakes you've made, accomplishments you're proud of, and great moments you want to remember. For example, keeping a work diary can serve as a track record of mistakes and successes. That written record can come in handy later when you're feeling down, but they can also help you right your personal ship when you're feeling lost. Pick up your work diary and look back over the things you did really well with—you may be able to pick out a pattern of things you want to follow, career-wise. Similarly, those achievements and awesome moments don't just boost your self-esteem, they give you great justification for a raise or promotion when it comes time to talk to the boss about an increase. You don't have to be a creative worker to appreciate looking back over the things you did well, and the things you need to work on. Seeing your own mistakes before they're pointed out to you is a great thing, and documenting your ac hievements makes sure they're never overlooked.
Keep a Work Diary to Minimize Mistakes and Document Successes A diary or log of the day's events at the office can provide a valuable record of the things…
Read more ReadRegular writing can apply to more than just work, too. Keeping a journal is a great way to build better habits, as it forces you to be aware of your actions and behaviors. If you're looking to watch what you eat, keeping a food diary is a great way to stay paying closer attention—one that's been proven to help people eat more healthfully. Similarly, just writing down positive things that happened to you or tracking your mood can help you identify good patterns in your life that are repeatable that you should make time for—not to mention things that make you feel bad or throw you off your game that should be eliminated.
Keep a Daily Food Diary to Track Your Diet, Lose Weight, and Build Healthy Habits More than a few studies have shown that people who actually keep track of what they eat on paper,…
Read more Read Which Medium You Should Choose, and WhyOnce you've decided to keep a journal, your next decision is the medium to use for it. You have plenty of options, and what works for one person won't work for another. You have to choose the one that works best for you. Here are a few options:
Paper NotebooksIf you love the feeling of physically writing down your thoughts, a paper notebook may be the best option for you. There's really nothing like setting pen to paper, and we even have some paper notebook suggestions to get you started. Keeping a paper journal gives you total physical control over your writing, and it gives you the most privacy, since there's little chance of your journal being "hacked" or "lost" when a service shuts down or is compromised. However, paper journaling means you don't have backups in case something happens to your work—theft, fire, or just a lost backpack means your journal is gone forever.
Five Best Paper Notebooks Sometimes a glowing screen can't replace the feel and flexibility of old fashioned pen and paper.…
Read more ReadIf you don't want just a plain empty notebook, the Bullet Journal productivity method fits in nicely if you're already using your paper notebook for to-dos and notes, and the previously mentioned Sorta has unique notebooks with removable pages. If you're afraid you're too busy to journal, consider the Five-Minute Journal, a paper notebook that's sets you up with a motivational quote, then gives you daily writing prompts to fill out like "Today I'm grateful for," "What would make today great?" and "3 Great Things that happened today."
The Bullet Journal Productivity Method Empowers Your Paper Notebook If pen and paper are your favorite tools, or at least are the ones you're most comfortable using to …
Read more Read Journaling and Diary AppsIf you just can't separate yourself from your phone or laptop, there are plenty of apps that promise privacy and security as well as a great writing environment. We've featured a few before, but some of the stand-outs include Penzu, an all-online private journaling webapp with mobile apps, and Day One, a good looking iOS/OS X app that's location-aware, lets you add photos, and more. If you prefer free and open-source, try RedNotebook. It's a fantastic wiki-style journaling tool that's cross-platform.
How Can I Keep a Personal, Private Journal Online? Dear Lifehacker, You've talked about keeping a work diary and an awesomeness journal, and…
Read more ReadOf course, you don't have to use apps at all. You could just keep an encrypted text file in Dropbox, use Evernote or Google Keep, or any other note-taking app you prefer. You can even roll your own custom journaling system with whatever tools you prefer, but keep in mind that the more you automate the process, the less you're actually journaling, so you don't get quite the same benefits.
Roll an Automatic Journal with IFTTT, Drafts, Instagram, and Dropbox Journaling is hard to keep up with, but if you want to keep a personal diary of places you've…
Read more Read BloggingBlogging is another great way to get the benefits of journaling, regardless of whether you get started to make a name for yourself, or to just get your thoughts and feelings out in the open. Keeping a blog opens the door to the widest possible audience, but it comes with the sacrifice of privacy. If that's your preferred route, you have a wide array of tools and hosts to choose from, both free and paid. We've walked you through some of the most popular blogging platforms, and even introduces some of the new contenders you may have heard of. All of them offer different looks, cater to different audiences, and are designed for different kinds of people. Whatever you choose, keeping a personal blog may not come with writing prompts or fancy mobile apps (although some do), but they can come with community, and option to share your story with the world.
Which Blogging Platform Should I Use? Dear Lifehacker, I want to start a new blog, but I'm not sure which platform is best for me.…
Read more ReadHowever you choose to keep your journal, there are clear benefits to doing it. You don't have to be Kurt Cobain, Isaac Newton, Abraham Lincoln, Andy Warhol, Leonardo Da Vinci, or any other famous artist, creative, politician, scientist, or famous figure for your thoughts and experiences to be worthwhile. In every case, they can be a huge benefit to you, personally, and enlightening for anyone you choose to share them with.
Title photo made using Oliver Hoffman (Shutterstock). Other photos by Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Joel Montes de Oca, loppear, JimileeK, Day One, and Chris Booth.
Celtics Journal: Robert Williams' work ethic off to a good start
BOSTON — Some young players come into the NBA thinking they know everything.
Robert Williams looks around the Celtics locker room and knows enough to know a lot better than that.
During any given timeout since the rookie has joined the rotation with Al Horford out with knee pain, multiple players and assistant coaches have been there to intercept Williams on his way to the bench for a word on this or that. But instead of bristling at the constant counsel, Williams has embraced it and sought out the advice himself.
"They are the No. 1 resource," he said of his veteran teammates prior to Friday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden. "They have been through it all. You have a number of guys who have been on playoff teams, or championships teams. So it's always good and always the right thing to do, to ask them what they prefer, what they need out there.
"It's mandatory learning. There isn't time for mistakes. That's why I go to those guys and go ask them what they're looking for."
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Williams was at it again during the day off from practice on Thursday.
"He really wants to be good," Stevens said. "Things that he didn't do as well Wednesday night he's in working on before our film session. He's talking with some of the older players about how to handle certain situations after the film session. That's really good.
"He's worked hard. If that continues, I don't see how he's not successful."
With Horford expected to miss at least the next couple of games with patellofemoral pain syndrome, and Aron Baynes on a minutes restriction coming back from an ankle sprain, Williams figures to remain an important part of the frontcourt mix, at least in the short term.
He made the most of the chance in his first two opportunities with seven points, 11 rebounds and three blocks — including two on Most Valuable Player candidate Anthony Davis — in 25 minutes against New Orleans on Monday. He then had six points, six rebounds and two blocks in 14 minutes of Wednesday night's overtime win in Washington.
"Just keeping a next-man-up mentality," he said of the sudden minutes surge. "Focusing on getting in there, doing what they're asking me to do, what needs to be done by me."
And, perhaps most importantly to him, what he can be doing for his teammates.
"Trying to learn how to make things easier for our scorers as far as screens I'm setting," he said. "How to get out of them quicker. What angles they need. I feel like me helping them out is opening the floor.
"It's great energy. Even if it's a bad criticism, or just a little tip, it's energy. It's good to hear them in my ear. It's a positive thing."
And the best piece of advice he's received from a veteran teammate this season?
"Sleep," he said. "Get sleep, man. It's a long, long season — long season. That has definitely been the best advice."
'Time Lord' stays
One thing Williams is not quite so positive about is his "Time Lord" nickname that has made the transition from Celtics social media circles to the mainstream with his added playing time.
"It's catching on," he said with a shrug. "That's all I can say. I can go with [Celtics president of basketball operation Danny Ainge's suggestion] — 'Lob Williams' over 'Time Lord.' "
Yet, it appears "Time Lord" may be here to stay, and even got a reach out on Twitter from Timex.
"Hey, man, that's a different story," he relented when it came to a potential endorsement. "It's definitely sticking."
Horford still out
Stevens said Horford will remain out through at least this weekend with knee soreness but declined to discuss a timetable for the five-time All-Star's return.
"There is a target time frame but we're not going to really talk about it," Stevens aid. "Because we don't necessarily want to be quick in this. We've got to be right in this. A few games, then he'll be reassessed to make sure he feels 110 percent."
Stevens said before the game Baynes remains restricted to between 12 and 15 minutes as he recovers from a sprained ankle. He played 16 minutes on Wednesday with Daniel Theis in foul trouble before Stevens went small to end regulation and through overtime.
How to Start Walking for Weight Loss (Even When You Have 50+ Pounds to Lose)
Have a hefty weight loss goal? You don't need to spend hours upon hours in the gym to drop pounds—in fact, you probably don't need a gym membership at all. One of the most powerful ways to lose weight is simple: Walk! Walking for weight loss may even be more effective than running, according to a recent British study. Researchers found that people who regularly took brisk walks weighed less than those devoted to other types of physical activity, including running, swimming, and cycling.
Why walking is so good for youWalking is astonishingly powerful and scientifically proven by study after study—walking transforms your body and mind. In fact, research shows it can add almost two years to your life. Of course, there's the major perk that sneaking in those steps helps you shed unwanted weight; one Canadian study found that an hour-long brisk walk every day reduced belly fat in women by 20% over 14 weeks. But going for a trek can benefit your body in other significant ways too. Here's how:
Though she's tried everything from kettlebells to gyrokinesis, personal trainer and fitness video guru Jessica Smith says walking remains her workout of choice for fitness and weight control. "I truly believe it's the best way to get and stay in shape," she says. "Not only is it free, anyone can do it and you don't need any equipment to begin. It's easy on the joints, and I believe it helps with appetite control"—unlike with running, she feels less hungry after walking, not more.
6 things to do before you start walking for weight lossDepending on where you begin, you can expect to shed a half-pound to 2 pounds per week with a new walking program, says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, author of Walking the Weight Off for Dummies. (Good news: The heavier you start, the faster you'll shrink.) To get your new program up and walking—and have a good time along the way—follow these tips from Palinski-Wade, Smith, and orthopedic surgeon Scott Mullen, MD, of the University of Kansas Hospital Sports Medicine and Performance Center.
1) Check in with your doctorWalking does work for just about everybody—but bumping up your activity level does put strain on your muscles, joints, and heart. "If you haven't been exercising, running it by your primary care doctor is a good idea, just to make sure they don't have any concerns or think you need any testing ahead of time," says Mullen.
Once you've begun, stay alert for signs you're overdoing it. "Always listen to your body and pay attention to its signals," Smith says. "Pain, lightheadeness, or nausea can all be signals that you are exerting yourself too much." Other red flags include chest pain, pain that shoots down your arm or up your neck, or severe headaches, Mullen says—if you develop them, stop your workout and check with your health care team.
2) Invest in a good pair of walking shoesGot the all-clear? Good. Your next stop—a sporting goods or specialty shoe store, where you should pick up a pair of high-quality sneakers. Look for a shop that does gait analyses to help you select the right pair for your specific foot type, Mullen says. Go a half-size up from your regular work shoes, Smith advises, since feet tend to swell when you exercise.
Check out Prevention's full list of the best walking shoes for women in 2019.
3) Buy clothes designed for exerciseWalking doesn't require a closetful of expensive athletic wear, but investing in a few key pieces can make you much more comfortable on the sidewalk or path. Look for tops and bottoms in moisture-wicking fabrics, which sop up sweat to keep you comfortable, dry, and chafe-free. Choose styles with a bit of stretch, so they don't pinch if you take a bigger step or stride uphill, says Palinski-Wade. In cold weather, layer up—you'll want to start protected from the elements but have clothing to shed as you warm up during the workout.
Here are a few workout essentials to consider, all available at Target.com for under $30 each.
4) Set realistic goals, and ease in to your new workout routineStart where you are—if you haven't worked out in a while, that could mean fitting in 10 minutes of motion each day, Palinski-Wade says. Each week, boost that daily total by 5 minutes. This slow, steady ramp-up gives your body a chance to adapt, reducing your risk of injury as you get fitter.
"One of the great things about exercise in general but especially with walking is that it really can be cumulative during the day," Palinski-Wade says. If you feel overwhelmed by a 30- or 60-minute total, break it up into three 10-minute segments. You'll burn just as many calories and net the same health benefits with less stress on your schedule.
At first, keep your pace comfortably challenging—you should be able to speak a few sentences, but not carry on a lengthy conversation without effort, Palinski-Wade says. Maintain a steady program and you'll build endurance—you'll notice that you can naturally walk faster with less effort.
After a few weeks of steady striding, add in some speedier intervals—brief bursts of faster walking—to amp up your results. (Try one of these new walking workouts that blast fat.) Ohio State University researchers recently found people who varied their walking pace burn up to 20% more calories than those who stride at a steady pace.
5) Prepare for aches and painsWith any new routine, a small amount of soreness comes with the territory—for instance, your calves might feel tight the day after you walk uphill, Palinski-Wade says. For minor muscle aches—the kinds of things that hurt a bit but feel better once you start moving—apply ice.
Take a day off if soreness alters your gait or limits your movements, or if your aches occur around your joints rather than just in your muscles, Mullen advises. Pain directly behind your kneecap, around your Achilles tendon, or in your ankles or hips could mean you're pushing harder than you should. If a few days of rest and icing don't resolve these issues, see a sports doc or physical therapist for advice.
6) Start a weight loss journalStay motivated by tracking your progress in a training journal, Palinski-Wade suggests. You don't need to get crazy-detailed—just note how far you walked and how long it took you, plus your incline if you're on the treadmill. Over time you'll start to see signs of improvement—"not just on the scale but in your fitness. That can be really motivating," she says. (Here's how one woman used a bullet journal to lose weight—10 pounds in a month, to be exact.)
A 6-week walking plan to lose weightWhen it comes to walking, you want a simple, effective routine that fits into your life, and that's exactly what this plan is designed for. Exercise scientists have discovered that shorter workouts can rev your metabolism higher and burn more fat than longer ones. Your secret weapon? Walking intervals. In a study from the University of New South Wales in Australia, women who exercised three days a week for 20 minutes, alternating between fast- and moderate-paced intervals, lost five times as much weight (up to 20 pounds in 15 weeks!) as those who exercised three days a week for 40 minutes at a steady, brisk speed. Similarly, this plan provides ultrafast results thanks to a variety of interval routines that challenge your muscles differently every day. "The race walkers I work with, who do lots of interval training, are slimmer now than when they were running," says trainer Leigh Crews, who developed this interval program. Start today and drop a dress size i n just six weeks—without cutting calories!
Your fat-blasting strategyDuring this plan, you'll walk six days every week, alternating between endurance walks and intervals.
Here's your guide for each type of walk:
Warm up by walking at an easy pace for the first 4 minutes of each workout and do the same to cool down at the end.
WEEK 1How To Start Your Own Literary Journal (And Why You Want To!)
Literary journals always have been and always will be a staple of the writing community. While there are currently hundreds of journals, both online and in print, we're reminded of what Toni Morrison famously said: "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." Well, the same applies to literary journals. If there's a journal you wish existed that doesn't— perhaps you should start it!
If you're thinking about starting a literary journal, here are a few things to consider:
Decisions To Make Before Starting Your Literary Journal
The journal's name: This may seem obvious, but coming up with a good name can be hard! Established literary journal names range from classic (The Alabama Literary Review) to eccentric (Monkey Bicycle), so feel free to flex your creative muscles!
Your mission statement: This can be as simple as "We want to publish creative writing," or something much more specific: publishing only a particular form of poetry; or prose of a specified length; or only a certain genre. Hash out this detail early on so you can use it to guide you in everything from designing your website to knowing how to advertise your journal so you can start receiving submissions! (About that — you'll need to decide on submission guidelines too.)
Your budget: Starting a literary journal doesn't have to be expensive, but there will be some costs: hosting a website; printing and distributing (if you decide to offer your journal in print — which is another big decision!); advertising (placing sponsored ads on social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, listing your journal with sites like NewPages or Duotrope); offering an honorarium to contributors and/or staff members (if you can!); and possibly using a submission service. Speaking of which…
The submission service you will use (if any): The simplest way to receive submissions for your new journal is to create an email address (mynewjournal@gmail.com). Using a server like Gmail is basic and completely free. These days, though, even the smallest literary journals are choosing to use Submittable software to receive, sort, accept/reject submissions, and more.
The number of staff members: Many literary journals are DIY operations run by one person wearing many hats — whether it's a start-up or a journal that has been around for years.
However, if you're short on time or unsure about judging poetry, designing a website, or managing social media, you may want to bring on board other friends, colleagues, or even mentors who share your vision.
Once You've Started Your Literary Journal
Once your fledgling literary journal's website is live — advertise, advertise, advertise! Spread the word about your journal by placing ads, starting social media platforms, and asking your writer-friends to share the news.
Remember, while there are many journals, there are even more writers who want to get published. Finding publishable submissions is just a matter of making sure you reach the right writers!
A Final Consideration Before You Take The Plunge
Remember that running a literary journal is a lot of work — and a big commitment. Many journals go defunct after a few years (or even a few months) when the editors simply can't keep up with the demands. If you're not sure you want to take on so much responsibility, consider smaller steps, such as volunteering with an already established journal or putting out a onetime anthology. Both can give you a taste of the work required to run your own journal.
For more writing tips and advice visit WritersRelief.com.
This Is How I Bullet Journal My Fitness and Nutrition Goals Every Day to Stay on Track
You have probably heard of a hundred different ways to track your fitness goals and progress electronically — OK, maybe not a hundred, but you know there are a lot of fitness apps, tracking bracelets, and even rings (like Prince Harry's Oura) that record your steps, weight, and sleep. I've tried a bunch of different tools myself, but sometimes you're just a pen-and-paper person, and a good bullet journal is what you need to stay consistent.
Bullet journaling has been a great asset to my fitness and nutrition goals. Not only does it allow me to be creative and offers a fun activity at the beginning and end of every day, it also gives me a wide visual representation of how I'm doing overall, in life, on my way to my target. It doesn't just include number metrics like weight or how many workouts I did in a week. It includes whatever else I want to focus on in my journey to better health, whether that's more self-awareness, more time meditating, or calories or water consumption.
A bullet journal can be overwhelming to start and requires some preparation, but I promise that after you draw out a plan (quite literally), you'll be happy you did it. This is how to get started.