My social media and blog are filled with stories of my journal accompanying me everywhere I go. More than once, people have pointed out my backpack and asked, “What do you carry in there?” My answer is always the same—everything. From cosmetics and snacks to first aid and creative entertainment, it holds all my essentials. Among them, my journal, sketchbook, and writing accessories are non-negotiable.
I used to catch myself mindlessly scrolling on my phone while waiting—whether at my kids’ practice, a doctor’s office, or even stuck in standstill traffic. It left me feeling unproductive, guilty even. That’s when I started keeping my notebooks within reach. Now, whenever I have to wait, I have something meaningful to do. Sometimes, I listen to a podcast and jot down reflections in my journal. Other times, I reach for my Micron pens and doodle a little.
But when I’m in a full creative flow, the one thing that throws me off is background noise—the kind of senseless chatter that disrupts my thoughts. My secret weapon? AirPods. Plugging in some instrumental music instantly blocks out distractions and brings me back to my creative zone.
How do you keep distractions from creeping into your magical world?
