Now, more than ever, mental health is getting the attention it deserves. Growing up is a tough period for most adolescents, as they begin to explore and discover more about themselves and their world and they grow and change in the process.

Growing up for me was an exhausting, emotional roller coaster. From family conflict to broken friendships and school struggles, it was hard navigating through it all, even though I always had the support and care from the people who love me. It felt like there were some personal things I just couldn’t share with anyone. The idea of a “diary” seemed odd to me, too. I thought, “my life isn’t that interesting to write about.” However, when my lovely friend Salma gave me a beautiful notebook for my birthday, my perspective on writing changed.

At the time, I had been looking at these pretty journals on Pinterest, and how people personalize them, adding drawings, quotes, dried flowers, and other cool things. So, I thought it would be cute to have an “aesthetic journal” that I can show off on my Instagram story. I got several stationery, from gel pens to watercolor paints, and began writing. Except, I didn’t have anything to write. “Okay, let’s see what people write about on Pinterest”, I thought. Goals, dreams, to-do lists, mood trackers, everything you can think of. So, I wrote about them. And soon, I began adding my own “art,” decorating pages with cherry borders, bees, stickers, polaroids, you name it. And I loved it. Then I started to write about things that interest me, like anime shows I’ve watched, songs I liked, great memories I made with some friends. It became my personal space where I would write whatever I wanted, especially when I’m feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Every now and then, when I felt down because of a bad school grade or it was just not my day, I’d make myself some tea, clear up my desk and write all about it. Writing out my feelings helped me understand myself better, as I would ask myself “why am I feeling this? What could have caused these feelings to happen? How can I work on it and feel better?”

Writing for me, and a lot of other adolescents is really an escape. It’s your own corner, where you can write whatever you want, with no boundaries or limits. And when you can’t find the words to describe how you feel, art can be a wonderful way to express that.

Art was something I was always passionate about but felt like I wasn’t good enough. But I soon learned that you don’t have to be good at something for you to do it! My art journey has taught me patience. As a perfectionist, I would become so discouraged when my drawing doesn’t turn out the same as someone who has been drawing their whole life, which is absolutely silly! Your art doesn’t need to be “perfect”, and neither does your writing! You are meant to enjoy these hobbies, unlock your potential, and understand yourself better.

Now, how can you start your writing/art journey? Well, the obvious answer is to just start. Write about the last book you read and what it taught you, write about how you take care of your cat, draw what you think trees would look like if they had arms, you could really go crazy with this. There are many journal/arts prompts you can find on Pinterest, too. There is so right or wrong here.

Explore what you like and don’t like, it’s all in your hands. As long as it becomes your daily 10 minutes away from the world, you should be on the right track. If you’re like me, perhaps a cute notebook and pen may motivate you, and if you want to go the extra mile you can totally make your own personalized notebook! It’s totally up to you.

I would also like to mention My Restful Mind here, an online wellness service provider that is personalized for student needs, They have made their way into the health sector by introducing mental healthcare services and self-care resources for teens and young adults. In the past two years, they have partnered with multiple universities such as the University of Waterloo and the University of British Columbia in Canada, as well as many private schools across the globe. I am so excited to announce soon in Feb 2022 they will be launching their services in UAE and our schools.

Lastly, I would like to thank Lunar Inn Magazine for collaborating with My Restful Mind and for giving me the opportunity to talk about my experience with mental health. Make sure you check it out!