(an INFJ’s guide to) Romanticizing Life
- Abigail Handojo
- Jun 2, 2024
- 4 min read
I’m no Gilmore Girl. There is nothing aesthetic about calculating auto insurance. Sometimes the only way to mitigate burn-out is by convincing yourself you like the dark. In other words, reframe your mind.
“I have to go to school” vs “I get to go to school”
As a woman born in the 21st century, there’s much to be grateful for.
“I’m forced to read” vs “I’m able to read”
Being intentional with your wording is only half the battle. Romanticization is another beast. Social media is for posting your best. Someone else’s highlights should not be your standard for everyday living. You don’t know what goes on behind the scenes and camera screens. Here’s a 4-step guide to romanticizing your life - with or without a filter.
1. Switch it up with LifeAt
So you want to switch up your workspace… without adjusting to a new environment? You want to study outside your room without leaving it? You’re bored with the familiar but wary of the unfamiliar? What a predicament. This is precisely why my bio calls me a contradiction.
Luckily, LifeAt helps me adventure well within my comfort zone. They provide plenty of options for virtual settings. Ghibli landscapes, Hogwarts dorms, live-streamed cafes, and celebrity Zoom calls - just to name a few. And if you’re picky like me, they’ve included a slider bar to customize sounds. Some people study best with the natter of surrounding people. Others listen to delta and theta waves. My personal favorites are rain and volcano sounds.
Another feature to note is their Pomodoro timer. Pomodoro is a time management method that balances 25-minute work periods with 5-minute breaks. Because LifeAt incorporates it into their workspace, I won’t have to rely on my phone for timers (ergo, I won’t get distracted by my notifications.) They’ve got more resources available at your fingertips (eg. planners, calendars, task lists), but these work the best for me.
LifeAt is user-friendly. Free unless you upgrade. No ads, full focus. I haven’t even been paid to endorse them!
Check it out: https://lifeat.io/
2. Create a Vision Board (N)
I belong to a generation that questions everything.
“Why am I learning chemistry if I want to be a writer?”
“How relevant is this formula outside of the classroom?”
There is a rebellion inside everyone. I’ve learned to channel more than challenge.
“Passing chemistry will free up my schedule for creative writing next year.”
“Memorizing this formula will improve my grade, which is my goal.”
Make your problems seem short-term and your wants appear long-term. If you need to see it to believe it… create a vision board.
Collect pictures of the car you want to have, the house you want to own, the lifestyle you want to live. The pets you’re going to adopt, the money you’re going to make, the vacations you’re going to take. The body you’ll build, the diet you’ll have, the degree you’ll earn. Fill it with quotes that inspire you, songs that move you, and people who motivate you. Soon enough, you’ll have a collage of reasons to keep fighting - reminders of what you’re working towards.
Print it out, stick it to your mirror, make it your lock screen. View it as a frame of your future, not the final product. Do not use your vision board as a strict rubric. If these are pictures you found on Pinterest, it’s likely touched up. Reality is a lot more messy. Allow yourself a junk drawer. After all, everyone has one.
Knowing what you want is the first step to getting it.
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/
3. Playlists set the Mood (F)
My Spotify account has over 57 playlists. 4 of the 57 are named: “Academic Validation,” “Academic Weapon,” “Academic Retribution,” and “Academic Self-Destruction.”
Before curating the perfect playlist to push your limits, you must first understand your “push.” Characters have objectives and so do you. Do you want to be heard? Do you have something to prove? Someone to convince? A test to pass? A project to finish? A world to save? It counts, even if it’s your own.
Keep an ear out for songs that engage your mind without distracting you from your work. Channel your inner Lo-fi girl. Look into Ludomusicology; videogame music was specifically designed for focus. If instrumentals put you to sleep, listen to songs in foreign languages. For literature-based work, it can be challenging to hear English lyrics while writing/reading English material. Find your balance between boring and overwhelming.
Music can also set the mood for art-related activities. If you’re painting a watercolor piece, smooth jazz can help you enter that creative headspace. If you’re writing a horror story, suspenseful music can help you set the scene. And of course, if you’re a student juggling 8 classes at once, aggressive rap anthems can help you power through without caffeine dependence.
Visit my Spotify account for pre-made playlists:
4. Visualize with Notion (J)
Visualization is an essential part of planning. If a task is not on my list, I may not remember to complete it. Organization walks hand-in-hand with certainty; I cannot be one without the other.
Notion is a free productivity software available across devices. Any updates I make on my computer will show up on my phone and vice versa. You can start with a blank page or customize their templates. Beyond the basic to-do lists and tables, Notion can sync with Google Drive, Calendar, Maps, and more!
Notion keeps my work easily accessible without looking cluttered. I have pages for my seasonal breaks, school assignments, and trips abroad. Other uses include shopping lists, grade calculators, structured notes, finance trackers, and project management. They’ve got you covered on all bases: work, school, and collaborative or personal planning.
Make the most of their resources by watching tutorial videos. Even with 0 knowledge of coding, I was able to program a button to create an alternating week schedule based on my school’s block system. And that’s just scratching the surface of what Notion offers!
Again, not sponsored.
Check it out: https://www.notion.so
To review: Word your thoughts with intention. Use tools like LifeAt and Notion to organize your tasks and liven up your workspace. Create vision boards and playlists to picture your future and decorate your present. Romanticize your life by customizing it. Try what works and ditch what doesn't.
Hope this guide was helpful! (Totally wasn't an excuse to display my Ghibli merch. ;D)
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