Journaling has been an amazing tool for self discovery. I use it to practice writing, build my creativity, have gratitude, vent, and do whatever I need to do to live a great life. My journal system really helps me so much in my life.
However, it wasn’t always this way for me. It took me a while to build my journaling habit. Here’s how I did it:
Why Start Journaling?
Before you get started, you should ask yourself why you want to start journaling. Some goals:
- Reduce stress.
- Improve self reflection.
- Track habits and goals.
- Build creativity.
Deciding why you want to journal will help you determine exactly the best way to approach it. For me, I use journaling for most of the reasons I listed, so I find that starting a general journal helps. I simply do what I need to do on any given day to build any one of these journaling goals.
Choose the Right Journal
I keep more than one type of journal. I have a digital diary app on my phone that I use a lot. I also do some journaling in my paper planner, and I keep a regular journal notebook. The goal is that I have chosen journals that inspire me! You should do the same.
Don’t forget to put some thought into your pen if you’re using a paper journal! My favorite is a pen that writes in gorgeous, purple ink. I bought a big box so I never run out.
Create a Realistic Routine
I do a lot with my journaling habit right now, but it wasn’t always this way. I had to start small, and my routine grew over time. In other words, I had to make my routine realistic in order to stick with it.
Even a simple reflection of highlighting my day, which takes five minutes, is a good place to start. That’s actually where I started!
Try Using Journaling Prompts
Stuck for something to journal about? Try writing using prompts. These days I use ChatGPT to generate prompts. Here’s what I say:
Please give me 10 journaling prompts about (insert about what).
Here’s an example:
Please give me 10 journaling prompts about having gratitude.
Now here is what it told me:
- What are three things I’m grateful for today, and why?
- Who is someone that has positively impacted my life, and how can I show them appreciation?
- What is a challenge I’ve faced that, in hindsight, turned out to be a blessing?
- Describe a simple pleasure that brings me joy (e.g., morning coffee, fresh air, laughter).
- What is one past experience I’m grateful for, and how has it shaped me?
- What are five things about my body or health that I appreciate?
- How can I express more gratitude in my daily life?
- What is something I take for granted that I want to appreciate more?
- What was the best part of my day, and how did it make me feel?
- If I could write a thank-you letter to life, what would I say?
Starting a journaling habit takes a bit of effort, but it’s worth it! This is the basic process I used to get started initially, and I still use these practices to this day.