Helm + Self Journal

The struggle to find a balance between working on social media and reducing screen time was real! I tried different time-limits apps but never worked for me (I'd just ignore them!). I gave this device a shot and so far... it's really working well for me, it's not letting me go into that autopilot scrolling mode anymore. Oh and I loved its precious design on my fridge!

I cannot live my life well without my Self Journal . I have used them since they were released on Kickstarter and have 2 file boxes full! Best Self Co has taken all the best organizational/goal setting/healthy mental health/self care advice and put it between two covers on beautiful paper. Just writing in it makes me feel mindful and that I have arrived at a sacred place to take small steps to reach my biggest dreams. Planning quarterly is perfect! Far enough away to make real progress but close enough to see yourself getting there and seeing the end in sight. It takes me 1-2 hours quarterly, 30 min weekly and 15 min daily to set realistic goals and see then through daily. Pair this with Helm the new focus tool and I am in a roll! Try it!(check it out so grateful even in 2017 and still!)

At first, I didn’t think this product would actually help me reduce my time on social media, but it really works. I’ve been able to stay focused on my projects and cut down my screen time. I love the statistics it provides, and I think it has a very beautiful and stylish design.

This helps me not only align my future activities, but reviewing my week and month is turning out to be a big change for me.

so elegant. very intuitive
I use it every day!

I bought the BestSelf Journal to help me finish a writing project and get better at managing my mornings. I start each day with meditation on Insight Timer. So I can note under Health & Wellness and things I’m grateful for. Later though, time often gets away from me, and tasks take longer than expected. The journal’s time-blocking section helps me see where my hours actually go and plan small, realistic steps like pomodoroing 30 minutes of focused writing, a short stretch, or reading feedback before lunch. I also like that it includes space for weekly reflection, which keeps me grounded instead of rushed. Meeting daily targets and tracking accountability helps me build consistency, focus, and a calmer rhythm to my day.

As a Senior Product Designer and IT/UX Consultant, my entire life is "context-switching"—jumping from a high-focus 'design' brain to a deep-work 'technical' brain. My biggest enemy is cognitive load and burnout.

The Self Journal is the first tool I've found that treats productivity as a system, not a "feeling."

It's the "analog failsafe" for my high-tech life.

The 'Morning/Evening Rituals' (which I use daily) are my "boot-up" and "shutdown" sequence for my brain. The 'Time-Blocking' (page 16 of the guidebook) is the only architecture I trust to manage my dual professional roles in the same 24 hours.

I'm currently on a "Redemption Arc"— This journal isn't just helping me; it is the physical blueprint for the new, disciplined, and high-performance professional I am becoming.

It's not a "self-help" book; it's a "Process Architect's" toolkit.