Tips on How to Incorporate Journaling Into Your Daily Routine
The way to ensure that journaling works for you is to do it long term. Long-term journaling gives you more insight into all aspects of your life — past, present, and even the future — to help guide you from one great decision to the next. But first, you have to do it. And you need to do it daily to make it a habit. Let’s review a few tips on how to make journaling part of your daily routine.
How to Make Journaling a Daily Habit
- Don’t make it difficult.
Keep it easy, and you’ll be sure to get it done. For example, if you love writing, don’t try to keep an electronic journal. Use pen and paper. You can keep your journal notebook in the bag you use most often or the space you frequent the most.
- Choose a time that works with your schedule.
You’ll hear a lot of people say that it is best to journal first thing in the morning or right before you close your eyes at night. However, those times don’t work best for everyone. If it’s easier for you to write while soaking in the tub, do it. If you like to journal during lunch break at work, do it! The goal is to do what works for YOU!
- Grab a drink from the frig and your favorite snack from the pantry.
It sounds hilarious, I know. But when you start, you don’t want to be distracted. Make sure you’re not thirsty or hungry before you start (unless you are opting to write on your lunch break). Once you get up to do something else, there’s a good chance you may not come back.
- Get comfy!
It’s easier to get into your thoughts if you’re comfortable. Some people like using a desk, some a comfy chair, and others their bed. Once you find your space, make sure you fill it with elements that make you feel like you are in a safe place to write.
- Set the mood with a relaxing playlist.
Listening to a genre of music that relaxes your soul will help you gather your thoughts, stay calm, and focus on what you’re feeling. If you are someone who prefers silence, I would like to encourage you to try listening to some music that doesn’t have words and sounds relaxing to you. Adding this element just might take your journaling to a whole new level.
- Choose a particular type of journal and use prompts.
For some people, using a style of journaling like bullet journaling, prayer journaling, project journaling, and others works better since it gives a template for creating your entries. If you are unfamiliar with the different types of journals, check out my blog article, 10 Types of Journals For Creatives (And the Not-So Creative), to pick one that best fits your style.
- Reward yourself for being consistent.
When you have been diligent for a month, take some time to read what you wrote, then reward yourself for doing it. You might buy some colored pens or some scrapbooking materials so you can add some definition and interest to your journal. Or maybe you will choose to do something totally unrelated, like eat a bowl of your favorite ice cream or have dinner at that restaurant you never got around to going to. Choose something that will encourage you to keep going strong!
To truly experience the full benefits of journaling, it must be done consistently. The best way to accomplish this is to make it easy and turn it into a habit.
There is a journal for everything! Figure out which journal will benefit you most, and start today! If you need a classic journal for all your thoughts, 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