How do I journal about whether “warming up” as preparation actually makes sense for me?

Try a short, curious check-in. 1) Translate: List any phrases you use (e.g., “getting into the groove”) and what they mean. 2) Body scan: Note how “cold start” feels (tight? rushed?) vs. “warmed up” (looser? focused?). 3) Examples: Pick three areas—work, exercise, social—and write one line on how a warm-up helps each. 4) Micro-warmups you already do: music, a sip of tea, opening a doc, a sentence of planning. 5) Edge of procrastination: Write a line on when preparation becomes avoidance and how you’ll keep it brief (e.g., 2–5 minutes). Use Stoic to capture these quick reflections and notice patterns over the week.

What’s a simple mental warm-up ritual I can journal through before a stressful task or conversation?

Keep it under three minutes: - Name it: “Today I’m starting…” - Tiniest first move: “My first 2-minute step is…” - Breath: Three slow breaths; on the exhale, write one word for your desired tone (steady, kind, curious). - Why it matters: One sentence linking the task to a value (learning, care, honesty). - Done when: Define a clear stopping point. Then begin immediately. In the Stoic app, create a short pre-task note so you can reuse and refine this ritual.

I stall from fear of failure. How can I use the idea of warmth to get moving without overthinking?

Reframe fear with a gentle warm-up: - Name the “cold thought”: “If I start, I’ll mess up.” - Write a “warming thought”: “I can start small and learn safely.” - Recall heat from past wins: two tiny successes that began messy. - Compassion cue: One kind sentence you’d tell a friend in the same spot. - Two-minute exposure: Start a tiny step now and stop on time. - Closing note: “Beginning counts.” Repeat daily to build readiness. Stoic can be your space to track these micro-wins and the language that warms you up.

Journaling Idea - On Warmth.

In many languages, warming up means preparing. Does this make sense to you?

Perhaps you use the phrase all the time, and don’t notice; and perhaps the idea is odd. Why warming up to get ready?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Zach Beauvais

Published on

Nov 15, 2023

Journal in Stoic

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Zach Beauvais

Writing & User Experience

Zach helps stoic design experiences for mental and emotional wellness, creating guided meditations, mindful walks, and journaling prompts rooted in Stoic philosophy. He also serves as Marketing Director at Cornell’s ILR School, where he helps leaders clarify their purpose and turn ideas into content that engages students, faculty, and collaborators. With over 15 years of experience in storytelling, community building, and content strategy, Zach brings both creativity and clarity to his work. Outside of writing and strategy, he enjoys photography, making coffee, and carving spoons, bowls, and cups from green wood.

In many languages, warming up means preparing. Does this make sense to you?

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