What is a Brag Folder and Why Everyone Should Have One!

Some people say that people don’t read blogs anymore. They say they are outdated! That couldn’t be further from the truth. Wanna know why? YOU. ARE. READING. A. BLOG. RIGHT. NOW!

My blog saved my LIFE! I hope you have had a productive second day to the beginning of a new week! A little late but I showed up for YOU nonetheless! I have made it my business to spread as much positivity and motivation to you guys since late last year.  Motivational Monday is the name of the game. Sometimes, I show up late but you can ALWAYS count on me to show up for you. Mental Health Awareness Month is still rolling on. I consider myself a mental health advocate! I have so much to say about it. I actually created this blog during a very difficult time in my life! Now, I consider it one of my greatest accomplishments! You see, going through hard times allows us to discover our most intimate feelings that allow us to be vulnerable enough to struggle, grow and triumph. During Mental Health Awareness Month, I take time out to educate myself on fun things I can do for self care and excellent mental health! For example, have you ever heard of a 'brag folder?' I first heard of this term last year while working on better money management. You are supposed to keep a file of all of your receipts, money saved on a monthly basis along with paid bills. A brag folder is also a folder where one can keep all of your accomplishments in your career. Keeping track of your accomplishments in a brag folder is good for everyone!

I have decided to use it as a tool to gage my mental health! Here is what I plan to do with my Brag Folder in order to improve my mental health. 

1. I’m a 5th grade Writing Teacher and my students are given writing prompts daily. Topics vary from Opinion writing to Sequence of Events. I keep all of their work in individual binders and at the end of the week, they submit their work to me for a grade. I found it so effective that I decided to create a brag folder for myself. 

2. I will create writing prompts for myself that act as a journal filled with my thoughts about how I’m feeling that particular day. 

3. I will fill my brag folder with my hopes, fears and dreams. In no particular order, I write them down. 

4. I will fill my brag folder with some of my favorite scriptures.

5. I’m trying to build a better body and have been working on it for a while now. I will fill my brag folder with healthy recipes and also keep track of steps I’ve walked day to day, calories burned and my weight on a monthly basis.

Although I don’t go out and literally ‘Brag’ about my accomplishments, it’s more for a private confidence booster for me! I love this idea and want to know if you create one of your own!