Notice your thoughts

What can we use instead of a journal, pen, or a clock/timer if we don't have them?

Use any notebook, loose paper, or a sketchpad with a pencil, crayon, or marker instead of a journal and pen, and use a phone timer, kitchen timer, or watch in place of a clock for the 3-minute timer.

I'm getting distracted and can't notice new thoughts during the 3 minutes—what should I try?

Follow the step to take three slow deep breaths and close your eyes or soften your gaze to settle attention, and if you still get distracted try shortening the timer to 1–2 minutes and focus on naming or drawing the first thought that appears.

How can we adapt this activity for younger children or older kids?

For younger children, make it 1–2 minutes and have them draw the thought with crayons instead of writing a word, while older kids can extend to 5–10 minutes, write the date, and add a short sentence about the chosen surprising word or drawing.

How can we personalize or extend the activity after finishing the page?

After choosing the word or drawing that surprised you, decorate or color that page, write a sentence about why it surprised you, keep the dated pages to compare over time, or photograph and share your finished pages on DIY.org as suggested.