2020 started off like “just another year,” but by March, it proved it was going to be a year like no other. We all found ourselves in a world of “new normals” to adapt to, while at the same time being separated physically from many of our relatives and friends — our support system — as we adjusted to the changes.
Today’s #MayBONUS challenge is one we can all benefit from — it includes 4 SKETCHES focused around a method of self-care for processing 2020/COVID AND an appearance by a renowned special guest who has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The New York Times and the Today show. Read on to learn more — you’re not going to want to miss out on the #MayBONUS!
Self-Care Method for Processing 2020/COVID
Research shows that nostalgia (defined as “a sentimental affection for the past with a period or place with happy personal associations”) helps people regulate distress and negative states such as sadness and loneliness, and increases positive mood, perceptions of meaning in life and optimism for the future. And what is one of the most powerful ways to trigger feelings of nostalgia? You guessed it — scrapbooking photos and journaling your memories!
We sat down with acclaimed nostalgia expert Dr. Clay Routledge to discuss how to use nostalgia as a method of self-care, and why scrapbooking and journaling can be so helpful.
You can watch our interview with Dr. Clay Routledge on how to use nostalgia as a method of self-care with processing 2020/COVID in the video below or in the Virtual Crop Facebook Group.
Today’s #MayBONUS challenge sketches are focused around scrapbooking your 2020 memories and journaling as a way to process your experiences during the pandemic. Each of the four sketches will give you examples of the different ways you can journal to process, and we’ve provided journal prompts below to help spark some ideas!
Journal Prompts:
- What did you find comfort in during the pandemic? Ideas: Loved ones, pets, a new/revisited hobby, time outdoors, cooking, glass of wine at the end of the day, etc.
- What did you enjoy doing during the pandemic? Ideas: Hobby, time outdoors, learned a new skill, spending more time with the kids, etc.
- What were your hopes/plans to do when quarantine started and what did you really end up doing? Idea: Thought I’d finally write my novel/learn a new language/exercise 30 minutes a day and ended up watching an entire series of X on Netflix.
- Who did you miss the most in 2020 and what did you miss doing with them? Idea: Create a layout with photos of you and this person and journal the memories of what you were doing each photo. Then journal what you missed most about them in 2020 and/or what you’re looking forward to doing with them in the future.
- What positive thing(s) did you learn about yourself or someone else in 2020? Ideas: My compassion for others — I sent cards to assisted-living facilities so those who couldn’t see their families didn’t feel lonely; how caring my friends are — an out-of-state friend delivered groceries to the doorstep of my elderly relative who was in quarantine.
- What discoveries did you learn during the pandemic? Ideas: Creative ways/things to use to set up a home office; working AND helping the kids with virtual learning was harder/easier than expected; I enjoy/don’t enjoy working from home.
- What is something that you finally had the time to do during the pandemic? Ideas: Plant a garden, read X number of books, meditate, scrapbook, etc.
So go ahead and gather your thoughts… and let’s get started!
#MayBONUS Pop-up Challenge
This pop-up challenge has FOUR sketches with example layouts and journal prompts!
How to Participate:
- You’ll want to watch the interview with Dr. Routledge above in this post or in the Virtual Crop Facebook Group.
- Review the four sketches below in this post and/or in the Virtual Crop Facebook Group.
- Create the layouts using whatever products you have on-hand. Complete as many challenges as you wish, but the more you complete, the more chances you have to win!
- Snap a picture of your finished layout(s) and post it in the Virtual Crop Facebook Group by Wednesday, May 19, at 11:59pm CT (Australia: 20 May at 2:59pm AET) with the hashtag that coordinates with the sketch you’re completing (e.g., #MayBONUS1, #MayBONUS2, #MayBONUS3, #MayBONUS4) for the chance to win a prize. We’ll have 8 lucky winners (2 winners per sketch!) for this challenge — woohoo!
- Winners will be announced in the Virtual Crop Facebook Group on Thursday, May 20, at noon CT.
And what can you win?
Sketch 1 — #MayBONUS1
Caption: “I don’t know how we’d cope with the stress of the pandemic without our pets. Everyone has benefited from the extra snuggles.”
Follow along with the step-by-step instructions in this blog post if you’d prefer to do it that way.
Sketch 2 — #MayBONUS2
Caption: “After being cooped up and isolated at home, it was a real treat to visit Glensheen for Whiskey Wednesday. They brought in food and beer trucks and guests were welcome to enjoy the grounds on a perfect fall evening…”
Follow along with the step-by-step instructions in this blog post if you’d prefer to do it that way.
Sketch 3 — #MayBONUS3
Caption: “COVID has led to quite the interesting past year. I was hoping to spend loads of time w/ college friends, travel to exciting places and get in great shape. Instead, I found new places in my hometown, spent all my time w/ my family and dove back into old hobbies (like painting). Another positive, getting to spend time with the best boy, Lou!”
Caption: “This summer we spent a lot of time enjoying our own yard… and our own cooking! I gave Dave a smoker for his birthday and he had fun using it… the ribs were delicious!!”
Follow along with the step-by-step instructions in this blog post if you’d prefer to do it that way.
Sketch 4 — #MayBONUS4
Captions: “Thought I would get back into playing the guitar but forgot how bad it HURTS to develop calluses! Only played 2 or 3 times… over one week.” “Discovered my server makes a nice standing desk!”
Captions: “For the first time, we were able to plant some flowers in Dave’s new window boxes. It was fun to watch how they transformed our yard! Little by little, we’re making this house our home.”
Follow along with the step-by-step instructions in this blog post if you’d prefer to do it that way.
We hope the #MayBONUS challenges will bring back warm memories and be helpful for you! Which layout(s) are you planning to create? And which journal prompts are you looking forward to scrapbooking most? Let us know in the comments below!
Love them all!
That is a great video of Alison & Clay and the why we do what we do. Scrap-booking is truly therapeutic.
Thankyou so much for sharing this video & challenge with us. It resonated with this quote I found this morning…
“And every day, the world will drag you by the hand,
yelling, “This is important! And this is important! & This is important! You need to worry about this! And this! And this!” And each day, it’s up to you to yank your hand back, put it on your heart & say “No, this is what’s important ”
Iain Thomas via Ariana Huffington
I am looking forward to reflection on these pages. Looking back at what feels likeba gazillion years ago but was only months to a year ago.
I am looking forward to reflection on these pages. Looking back at what feels likeba gazillion years ago but was only months to a year ago.
I love this idea but disappointed that we only have 2 weekdays days to complete to be in the draw. I feel this isn’t allowing for those of us who work fulltime/ have prior commitments to be able to work on these.
I will use these ideas for myself but perhaps extra time could be allowed for these bonus challenges in the future?