Nine Lives : One Notebook
Why your brain (and your inner cat) will thank you.
Cat writing in journal about her human.
My cousin’s cat is named after Nina Simone, and honestly, she carries herself like it. Nina’s bed is the desk. Not near the desk, not under the desk. The desk. And she never lets my cousin start a Zoom call without making a grand entrance, strolling across the screen for her close-up before she finally settles in.
I used to think it was about attention. Now I’m convinced it’s a message: put down the screen, human.
As it turns out, science is on the cat's side. In her Science News Explores article, "Handwriting may boost brain connections that aid memory", Claudia Lloreda reports that college students who wrote by hand showed more brain activity than those who typed. Writing by hand engages a whole network of muscles and neurons that tapping keys simply doesn't.
So in honor of our furry life coaches, here are the journaling lessons I've picked up from watching cats.
1. Keep a ritual (and be insistent about it).
A cat knows exactly when breakfast is supposed to happen and will let you know, loudly, if you're three minutes late. Journaling works the same way. Pick your time (morning coffee, last thing before bed) and show up for it like your cat shows up for the food bowl.
2. Make biscuits before you begin.
Before a cat settles in, there's kneading, circling, a little rearranging. Give yourself that same warm-up. Uncap your favorite pen, smooth the page, write the date. It tells your brain, we're getting comfortable now.
3. Find your sunbeam.
Cats always find the one warm, perfect spot in the house. Your journaling spot deserves the same care: good light, a cozy chair, maybe a cup of tea. (No notifications allowed in the sunbeam.)
4. Stare at nothing for a while.
Cats are experts at gazing into the middle distance as if contemplating the mysteries of the universe. That pause isn't wasted time. Some of the best journal entries start after a few minutes of looking out the window and letting your thoughts wander in.
5. Knock it off the table.
Nothing delights a cat more than nudging something off the counter and watching it fall. Your journal is the place to do just that with the worries, to-do lists and mental clutter you've been carrying around. Push it onto the page and let it go.
6. Groom yourself.
Cats spend a huge part of their day on self-care, and they don't apologize for it. Journaling is grooming for the mind: checking in, smoothing out the tangles, noticing how you actually feel.
7. Nap without guilt.
Some days, the entry is one line. Some days, it's a doodle. A cat never feels bad about a short nap, and you shouldn't feel bad about a short entry. Consistency beats perfection every time.
8. Count your blessings (even the small ones).
Gratitude journaling doesn’t have to be profound. Here’s what I imagine Nina would write:
Today I am grateful for the sunbeam that arrived right on schedule, my desk (which the humans keep calling theirs), the pen I knocked off the table, and my second nap.
If a cat can find that much to be thankful for, so can we.
9. Land on your feet.
Cats are famous for landing on their feet, and on hard days your journal is the soft place to land. Write it out, sort it through, and get back up a little steadier.
So, what are you waiting for?
Take a page from the cat (literally). Close the laptop, grab a pen, and give your brain the workout it's been purring for.
Want company while you write? Join me every morning at 7am for Ink & Morning Light, my live journaling session on YouTube. Bring your coffee, your notebook and, yes, your cat.
Workshop attendees who learned dip-pen calligraphy in just two hours. So proud of them!
Ready to make your handwriting purr-fectly beautiful? Mod Girl with Vintage Love offers calligraphy workshops, team-building events and private parties. Transform your chicken scratch into something lovely and impress your friends and family (and maybe even the cat). Book your calligraphy adventure at modgirlwithvintagelove.com.
