During this one-week vacation break, I felt constantly on edge.

Not dramatically unhappy. Just… irritated. Tired. Dissatisfied in small, quiet ways I couldn’t fully explain.

As a working mother with a 9–5 corporate schedule, a house to run, responsibilities to manage, and a little girl who looks at me as if I am her entire universe, one-week vacation means to me another exam to pass by giving her enough meaningful experiences in order to proof that I am a good mother. I often feel overwhelmed knowing that I do not have anyone who can back up me in case I need one minute break.

And that’s when I started using the Self Care Coloring Book with Daily Journal — not as a trend, not as a cute aesthetic hobby, but, literally, as a survival tool.

This is not just a coloring book. It is a structured, gentle, deeply reflective space where you can reset your nervous system, clarify your desires, and reconnect with who you are beneath the roles you play.

In this article, I want to share how I personally use it — and why it may become one of the most powerful tools in your self-care journey.

What Makes the Self Care Coloring Book with Daily Journal Different?

I know there are many journals out there, as there are many coloring books and many planners as well.

But very few combine:

• Creative relaxation (coloring pages)

• Guided daily reflection

• Structured self-inquiry

• Emotional regulation prompts

• Financial and life clarity questions

• Long-term goal exploration

When I Felt Stuck in Irritation and Dissatisfaction

Honestly, the first time I opened the journal, not as its creator but as a writer, I wasn’t inspired. I was frustrated.

I had one of those days:

• Emails that never ended

• A meeting that drained my energy

• Household tasks piling up

• A planned vacation alongside my daughter and my parents that I didn’t know if it would have met their expectations or not at all (and, honestly, my mother has always the biggest expectations, impossible to met no matter what).

Instead of scrolling on my phone (my usual coping mechanism), I opened the journal and landed on a page titled:

“List 10 Small Things That Make You Smile”

The Power of Listing 10 Small Things That Make You Smile

At first, my mind resisted. I couldn’t think of anything big. Then, I've realized that that was the point. It wasn’t asking for big things. It was asking for small things.

So I wrote:

1. The smell of coffee in the morning before my daughter wakes up.

2. A lipstick shade that fits me perfectly and makes me feel put together.

3. A long voice message conversation with a close friend.

4. The sound of my daughter’s laugh when she’s genuinely amused.

5. Warm sunlight through the window on a quiet afternoon.

6. Crossing off tasks from my to-do list.

7. A clean kitchen at night.

8. Wearing a dress that makes me feel feminine and confident.

9. A sincere compliment.

10. A peaceful 10-minute walk alone.

And something shifted. I moved from irritation to awareness. From dissatisfaction to gratitude.

Why This Exercise Works (Psychologically and Emotionally)

When we are stuck in a negative emotional loop, our brain scans for threats and deficiencies. It highlights:

• What’s missing

• What’s wrong

• What’s unfair

By intentionally listing small positive triggers, you retrain your attention.

You are not denying problems. You are rebalancing your perception!!!

That day, I didn’t magically solve my career concerns or household stress.

But I cooled down. And that changed how I spoke to my daughter that evening.

It changed how I ended my day. It reminded me that my life, even imperfect, contains beauty in ordinary details.

And that realization alone is POWERFUL, I can tell you!

Coloring as Nervous System Regulation

Before writing, I spent about 15 minutes coloring one of the mandala-style pages.

No phone. No multitasking. Just color. It could seem childish at first but I have noticed that this quiet exercise made my shoulders feel relaxed and my mind shouted down.

Coloring isn’t just a hobby — it’s a meditative practice. It anchors you in the present moment.

For mothers, especially, whose minds are constantly planning, anticipating, solving, and managing, this kind of stillness is rare.

The Self Care Coloring Book with Daily Journal intentionally pairs reflection with creativity. The coloring prepares your nervous system. The journaling opens your awareness.

Together, they create emotional space.

Wealth & Finances: The Section That Changed My Direction

If the “10 small things” exercise softened my emotions, the Wealth & Finances section sharpened my clarity.

The journal asks:

1. How much money do I want to earn per month/year?

2. What kind of financial freedom do I desire?

3. Do I want to invest, own property, or build generational wealth?

At first glance, these seem like practical questions.

But when answered honestly, they become transformational.

1. How Much Money Do I Want to Earn Per Month/Year?

For years, I had vague financial goals:

• “More income.”

• “Stability.”

• “Security.”

But vague goals create vague results and the journal forced me to write actual numbers. Writing the number that I truly desire, not just what feels "realistic", felt uncomfortable.

It exposed my limiting beliefs:

• Is that too ambitious?

• Do I even deserve that?

• What would people think?

But once written, it hit me. A number can transform a dream into a target.

Suddenly, I wasn’t just a corporate employee surviving month to month. I was a woman designing her income vision.

2. What Kind of Financial Freedom Do I Desire?

This question took me deeper because it is not just about income.

It’s about:

• Time flexibility

• The ability to take spontaneous days off with my daughter

• Freedom to travel

• The option to reduce corporate hours if needed

• Security without constant anxiety

I realized I don’t want luxury for the sake of status. I want freedom.

Freedom to choose how I spend my time.
Freedom to invest in my daughter’s experiences.
Freedom to build something meaningful beyond a paycheck.

Writing this down made my priorities clearer.

3. Do I Want to Invest, Own Property, or Build Generational Wealth?

This question confronted me with long-term thinking. As a mother, this hit differently.

It’s not just about my comfort.

It’s about:

• What example am I setting?

• What financial literacy am I modeling?

• What legacy am I building?

I realized that I do want to invest. I do want to own property strategically.

I do want to build generational wealth — not out of greed, but out of responsibility.

Answering these questions helped me define:

• My financial goal for this year

• A 5-year income target

• A plan to diversify income streams

• A commitment to learn more about investing

Without this structured journaling prompt, these thoughts would have remained abstract.

From Reflection to Action: Setting 1-Year and 5-Year Goals

After completing the Wealth & Finances section, I wrote two clear plans:

This Year:

• Increase income by a specific percentage.

• Develop an additional revenue stream.

• Build an emergency fund covering 6 months.

• Start learning about investment basics.

In 5 Years:

• Reach a defined annual income target.

• Own at least one investment property or asset.

• Have diversified income sources.

• Teach my daughter foundational money skills.

Clarity reduces anxiety. When your goals are undefined, your stress feels undefined too.

When your goals are written down, your mind shifts from fear to strategy.

Why This Journal Is Especially Powerful for Mothers

As mothers, we often prioritize:

• Children’s needs

• Work responsibilities

• Household tasks

We rarely prioritize:

• Our emotional regulation

• Our financial vision

• Our personal desires

The Self Care Coloring Book with Daily Journal creates a structured excuse to prioritize yourself — without guilt.

When I softened my irritation, my daughter felt it.

When I clarified my financial vision, my anxiety reduced.

When I slowed down through coloring, my patience increased.

Self-care is not selfish. It is so damn strategic!

The Compound Effect of Daily Reflection

Of course, the magic is not in one page but it is in repetition.

Small daily practices:

• 10 minutes of coloring

• 5–15 minutes of journaling

• Honest answers to guided prompts

Over time, they create:

• Emotional resilience

• Clearer decision-making

• Stronger self-awareness

• Greater intentionality

The journal becomes a mirror and, I know, sometimes, we avoid mirrors. They reflect what we do not want to see. But growth begins when we dare to look.

Who Is This Book For?

This book is perfect for:

• Working mothers who feel overwhelmed

• Women rebuilding after burnout

• Anyone feeling emotionally stuck

• Women seeking financial clarity

• Creatives who want structured reflection

• Mothers who want to model emotional intelligence

If you feel like you’re functioning but not flourishing — this book may be your reset button.

A Gentle but Powerful Invitation

I didn’t start this journal because I was deeply broken, instead I started it because I was mildly dissatisfied. Through simple exercises like the ones I've described above, I rediscovered the gratitude even for the ordinary moments and the clarity to set up my financial direction for the next 5 years. But, perhaps, even most importantly, I have remembered myself that I am not just a mother, nor just a responsible adult. I am a WOMAN with dreams. With desires. With agency.

Final Thoughts: Your Life Deserves Intention

We often wait for big milestones to reset our lives:

• A new year

• A birthday

• A crisis

• A burnout

But you don’t need a breakdown to begin again. Sometimes, all you need is:

• A quiet page

• A pen

• A set of colors

• And the courage to answer honestly

And if you are a mother like me, remember this:

When you regulate yourself, you regulate your home.
When you clarify your goals, you build stability for your child.
When you nurture your dreams, you teach your daughter to nurture hers.

Start small.

List 10 things that make you smile.

And watch what changes.