Choose Easy
Journaling for presence over productivity
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Dear Friend
How are you on this rather mild yet grey Friday. In the car on the way back from my beach walk with the hounds, I was listening to a podcast interview with a favourite journalist of mine, Oliver Burkeman. He was promoting his latest book Meditations for Mortals, which is on my TBR pile, I was gripped by everything he was talking about, he said, “by accepting our human limitations, it can lead us to more presence, ease and meaning in daily life.” High five to that! Go Oliver!!
Which got me thinking about when I started to adopt a consistent journaling practice it helped me deal with certain aspects of my daily life with ease. I’m hosting a Digital Detox weekend in a few days and I’m definitely going to be sharing some of his digestible daily rituals and meditations. If you enjoyed reading his previous publication Four Thousand Weeks I think his latest book will be of interest.
Inspired by Oliver, yesterday I hosted a “Journal with Ease” workshop called "Choose Easy" which focused on how to use journaling for presence over productivity. It was so well received, I wanted to share the main elements of what we discussed, including some of the prompts.
I don’t know about you but I constantly feel like I should be striving for more - host more retreats, write more regularly on Substack, attend events I’ve been invited to, keep the house clean and tidy and make sure I’m available for my family and friends when they need me. Arrrggghhh. While the need to feel productive and useful can be a positive force, the relentless pursuit of “doing more” often pulls us away from where life truly happens - in the present moment.
For many of us living in a constant state of overwhelm has sadly become the norm. We rush from task to task, juggling responsibilities, and worrying about what’s next, without ever fully arriving in the now. This is where the concept of “choosing ease” becomes transformative. Instead of focusing on what we can achieve, we shift our attention to how we can “simplify” and hopefully find peace in the moment.
Many times I whisper to myself “It’s about recognising that life doesn’t have to be a constant HUSTLE!” Because I do love to hustle, I guess it a survival technique I’ve adopted over the years from navigating divorce, bankruptcy and homelessness.
The power of journalling for those feeling stuck in the endless cycle of doing and striving offers a simple yet profound solution. As I keep banging on about, how essential it is to “pause for thought” for a minute before starting to journal, it will enable you to slow down, reflect and reconnect with yourself. Journalling provides a safe space where we can pour out our thoughts, emotions and anxieties - without judgement or expectation.
Over the past few years of teaching therapeutic journalling I have witnessed how people can shift from “overwhelm to clarity”, and from “disconnection to presence.”
To journal is one way of helping us to put down the weight of trying to be more, and instead invites us to “just be”. Journalling becomes a practical tool for embracing the here and now. Are you willing to give it a go?
Here are the prompts from yesterday’s “Journal with Ease” session, please help yourself…
1. For the next 2 minutes, write whatever comes to mind when you think of the phrase “choose easy.” What does choosing ease mean to you, and how would it feel to live with more ease in your daily life?
2. Describe how you feel about the concept of ‘ease.’ What barriers do you face in letting go of productivity or purpose driven tasks?
3. Write two lists, one titled “More” and one titled “Less.” Under “More”, list things you want to welcome into your life that brings ease (eg. more time to rest, more laughter, more mindfulness). Under “Less”, list the things you want to reduce or let go of (eg. Less rushing, less multitasking, less worry). After you’ve completed both lists, choose one item from each list to focus on over the weekend.
4. Describe a moment form this week where you were fully present, even if only for a few seconds. What did it feel like? If you didn’t feel present, what got in the way of that presence, and how might you allow yourself to experience more mindful moments?
5. Write a single sentence that will serve your intention to remind yourself to choose ease over pressure and presence over productivity in the coming weeks.
Try and dedicate 5-10 minutes or so with the above prompts and read back what you’ve written. I guarantee you there will be some interesting insights that you’ll discover from this journalling session. If you’d like to continue journalling for another 5 minutes, here are a few quick to answer prompts…
6. What are the pressures you feel to be productive?
7. Write about a time when you chose to simplify a decision or task, how did it feel to make that choice?
8. How would you describe the difference between living for purpose and living for presence?
9. What is one small, easy thing you can do for yourself this weekend that will help you feel more grounded?
10. If you could let go of one thing (an obligation, a worry, a task) today, what would it be?
If all you do for the next 7 days is take a minute to pause for thought, write a few sentences in your journal, you’ll be on your way to fostering an element of ease into your day. I promise!
If it’s of interest, here is a link to the podcast interview between Oliver Burkeman and Jonathan Fields, host of the Good Life Project podcast - How To Use Your Time Well
Until the next time
Take care and stay safe xx
About me… I’m Tanya Lynch, a mother, a ridgeback owner and the founder of Ease Retreats. I love what I do, collaborating with authors and creatives, hosting retreats in beautiful venues across the UK. I’m also a therapeutic journaling coach and through my program Rage on a Page, I help midlife women channel their emotions into something more positive and creative in less than 60 days. Each Thursday I host an online journaling club called Journal with Ease and it’s free for paid subscribers to attend. If you have any questions about the benefits of therapeutic journaling, please reach out and connect. I’m usually on a beach walking the dogs, hosting retreats or hanging out here on Substack.
Ooh Four Thousand Weeks was a game-changer for me, looking forward to reading this book!