writing || instagram ask me anything
I’m sure you’ve heard of Instagram’s new feature. Why am I so sure? Oh, maybe because everyone’s been using it to do a Q&A sesh…
And because I am admittedly a happy member of that “everyone” category, here were some of the questions you guys asked on my story yesterday and my more detailed, written-up answers to them:
what are your favourite collections to add in your bujo?
I love all my lists equally! But if I have to pick, I find my new title and dividers spread the most useful at the moment because I’m doing a lot of artistic things lately. Plus, it helps me make more lists and make them pretty too so…
how can you stay productive all the time?
Haha, I don’t! Here’s a story example.
Last week, I was super free (with nothing to do), so I made a lot of videos and worked (I’m a math tutor – I’ve posted some of the printables I make here before) and read and got things done that had been on my to-do list for a while.
This weekend, I traveled a lot for a couple of events and to meet up with some people, so while I had a lot of fun and in my books this sort of thing gets filed under “productive”, it wasn’t exactly the “traditionally” productive weekend.
Yesterday, I was so tired both physically and mentally, so I took a break-day. I watched YouTube videos (learned about bees, how to be an actor, how street lights work to direct traffic, etc) and went out for a couple errands at lunch. Literally did nothing else. I went to bed at 9pm because I was so tired. Day wasted? I wouldn’t consider it as that.
Today, I’m back to being productive. I feel good and balanced because I listened to what I needed to do and didn’t let my mind take over and force my body to do anything.
what inspires you right now?
growth.
I think I’m in that young adult phase (or maybe I’ll get older and find out it’s actually a part of who I am, who knows) where I’m after new experiences and going out of my comfort zone. Doing new things for the thrill and for the excitement inspires me, as well as the knowledge that I can grow from them.
what app do u use to make your videos and what camera do u use
FILMING: iPhone 6S
EDITING: Adobe Premiere Pro
LAPTOP: an old-ish HP Pavilion i5 core (which, you can imagine, is a horror when it comes to editing videos)
PHOTO EDITING: Aviary on my phone
DIGITAL GRAPHICS: Canva.com
I’ve long been contemplating upgrading SOMETHING on that list, but my indecisiveness has rendered me frozen. I could use a new microphone, a new laptop, a new camera, a new circle light… but then I could also just NOT.
how to fill your notebooks
I only really regularly use one notebook – my bullet journal. But for more ideas on how to fill a new notebook, check out my video and blog post on 16 ways to use a notebook!
do you think of yourself as an intelligent person?
Yes I do!
I trust myself to make choices that are reflective of what I value and what I’ve learned through my experiences. However, that isn’t to say I know everything or am amazing at everything. If I was, I’d be pretty bored. I have so much to learn and to try, and I genuinely think that there’s something I can learn from each person I meet, too.
There’s also different ways to be intelligent. Book smart? Wise? Charismatic? I’m working on all of them.
what’s a book that’s changed your life?
I’ve found that the books that had the most impact on me are the ones that challenged me in some way or presented me with a perspective on the world that I’d never seen and would never have seen had it not been for that book.
The two I can think of off the top of my mind (that’s a lot of “of” haha!) are:
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
My Bloody Life: the Making of a Latin King
And of course, being the influential books they are, I wrote blog posts about them. You can click on the links to read what I wrote about them (and what I learned from them).
what is your favourite thing about Earth
Interesting question! It would probably be an endless list. But then again, I don’t really have any other planet to compare it to.
I’d say my ABSOLUTE favourite thing is that it’s so big. Big things put my own littleness into perspective, which is a neat feeling.
Hey girl! I’m thinking about starting a YouTube channel. Do you have any advice?
Do it for fun! You’ll never be fully satisfied if you’re doing it to please others.
Also, you don’t need fancy equipment. Just start and you’ll figure it out as you go.
I definitely have more to say about this question though, so I’ll maybe make a video about it soon! 😉
what’s your favourite place you’ve ever been!
Everywhere!
Really loved Edinburgh, Chicago and Montreal though.
The most important elements of the “perfect city” in my opinion are:
- Old architecture
- Decorated restaurants and cafes
- Near a body of water and with lots of nature parks/botanic gardens/public spaces
- Lots of city-organized events
- Nightlife (there’s people out and about all the time)
favourite book quote?
Bahh I have so many that I could never keep a list of them. But now I’m wishing I had!
My most recent favourite quote would probably be:
“In the time of your life — live! That time is short and it doesn’t return again. It is slipping away while I write this and while you read it, and the monosyllables of the clock is Loss, Loss, Loss, unless you devote your heart to it’s opposition.”
It’s from the introduction of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.
hey, what pens do you use?
Hey! My favourite black pens are:
– Muji Hexagonal Polycarbonate Gel Ink Ballpoint pen 0.38 Retractable (the pens I use)
– Staples AvantNext black pen (thicker pen I use for writing essays – available in store only)
– Pitt Faber-Castell fineliner markers (what I use in my sketchbooks) *
– Pitt Faber-Castell fineliners assorted set *
(* affiliate links)
You can also check out all the products I like over on my (relatively) new LINKS page.
congrats!! so happy to hear you’re at 20k, love your channel
Thank you! So happy you’re here!
did the Mistral method change much since last year? Can you do an updated video about that?
Not very much, maybe just a couple tweaks here and there. However, since last year I have been typing most of my notes – so that’s a video that I’m definitely planning to make ASAP.
will you have a “What’s in my pencil case” video?
For sure! I have so many video ideas ready, it’s just a matter of putting them together, which takes a long time. But yes, this one’s definitely on my list!
can you make videos on your notes and maybe try travel journaling
I have both!
How I take my notes: the Mistral Method
Flip-through of my travel sketchbook
Thanks so much for all your questions! I was not expecting very many, so it was a pleasant surprise to get more than 10! (“HEY MOM LOOK, I GOT 16!”)
A bientot, Mistral Spirit! 😉
