Ready. Set. Journal!
Journaling isn’t something you need to think about too hard before getting started. Yes, there are numerous types and styles of journals that may or may not be more effective depending on your goals, but you can simply get some paper (or your computer) and get started. Try one (or all) of these 7 tactics to help you on what I hope will be a newfound journey.
- Dust off your pen and paper.
You don’t need anything special to keep a journal. In fact, purists believe that using pen and paper is the best way to journal because you can carry it with you anywhere and don’t need technology to do it. That is one way to get rid of all the excuses!
2. Do it first thing in the morning.
Don’t procrastinate about keeping your journal. If you are an early riser, it may be best to do it in the morning before you begin your day to affirm yourself and focus on the tasks at hand. You won’t need a huge block of time. Five to ten minutes can easily get the job done.
3. Make it the last thing you do every night.
If you are a night owl like me, you may find it easiest to focus at night. Many people tend to use gratitude journals before bed. It is a great technique to help you think about the things you are grateful for as opposed to all the things you are worried about. Learn more about this type of journal and nine others in my blog article, 10 Types of Journals For Creatives (And the Not-So Creative).
4.Write every single day.
Whenever you choose to do it, try to get in the practice of doing it until it becomes a ritual and a habit. Being consistent will be much more effective than just doing it when you feel like it.
5. Just start.
Don’t worry about style and substance right now. Just work on creating the daily habit with pen and paper (or, if it’s easier for you, a computer or smartphone). Don’t make it hard. Just get going.
6. Begin with today.
Start right now and write about your day today. That’s the easiest thing to do. What of significance happened today? How did you feel about it? What would you do differently? How will you improve tomorrow? These are just a few questions to get you started.
7. Keep it private
The main thing to remember about your journal is that it should be kept private. The only exception is if you want to share thoughts with a therapist, counselor, or coach, or if you want to turn it into a book or course to help someone else overcome whatever you overcame.
If you need a journal to get started, please check out The Writer’s Haven at https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheWritersHaven for a great selection.
Adrienne Michelle Horn is the owner of I A.M. Editing, Ink. Although she has a full-time professional career in healthcare, she is also a South Florida-based editor, poet, author, entrepreneur, and mother of her beautiful daughter, Paris.
For more information about Adrienne and her company, follow I A.M. Editing, Ink on social media or visit https://linktr.ee/iamediting