Life is busy. Each day brings a thousand tasks to do and commitments to meet. It can be easy to get so caught up in the hecticness of each new day that we forget to take time for ourselves. Sometimes though, the smallest changes make the biggest difference. Journaling is a perfect example of this for many people. We may all have different ways of journaling and different topics that we write about, but the simple act of putting our thoughts on paper daily has countless benefits. You can write out goals, thoughts, recount the day, share a funny story you heard, what’s stressing you out, or literally anything else in the world - just write! If you want a more guided experience, there are thousands of journaling books that provide prompts with each new day. Finding the methods and settings that work best for you is important in making journaling a consistent benefit in your life. Here are a few considerations that can help.
Manage Expectations
When starting the journaling journey, it can be easy to have lofty visions of what our daily scribbles will look like. Some days may look like pages full of revelations and motivation - but it’s more than okay if that’s not how everyday looks. Some days may be a couple of sentences. It could even be a word. Even if you miss a day, don’t beat yourself up. Setting high expectations is a well-intentioned action, but setting them too can actually discourage us from continuing our writing when we feel we’ve messed up. We are doing this to better our lives, not beat ourselves up! Set realistic expectations and slowly elevate your standards for writing as you progress.
Embrace Your Feelings
Journaling offers a chance to truly process the thoughts and feelings that we are experiencing with each new day. It only makes sense that for this to have the most impact, we must be honest with what is on our mind and heart. Don’t shy away from feelings - embrace them and let them lead you to previously clouded insights to the things that are on your mind.
Make Time
If 15 minutes is all the time it takes for you to save money on your car insurance, imagine how much you could do for yourself by setting aside 15 minutes each day to journal. It could be one of the first things you do in the morning, a nice afternoon writing break, or a way to gather your thoughts at the end of the day. All that matters is that you have some time that you know you can get a little writing in.
Write For You
One of the best parts of a journal is that it’s for an audience of one. Spelling mistakes don’t matter. You don’t have to worry if it’s an “interesting” story or not either - you simply have to write. You are putting what’s on your brain to paper to get it out and further reflect on it. It doesn’t have to be any deeper than that.
As a writer, I can tell you writing every day is pretty fun. But writing every day for yourself can be a truly powerful experience. We hope these tips have helped inspire you.
Cover image by Alina Valchenko
