No matter what kind of journal you keep, you'll never get the full benefit of journaling unless you make it a daily habit. The problem is that forming new habits is sometimes easier said than done. If you're having trouble creating a daily journal practice, read on for several tips that should get you started without too much difficulty.
No matter what kind of journal you keep, you'll never get the full benefit of journaling unless you make it a daily habit. The problem is that forming new habits is sometimes easier said than done. If you're having trouble creating a daily journal practice, read on for several tips that should get you started without too much difficulty.
Start with the Real Deal
When you journal using an app or on your computer, you won't always think to write. A physical journal kept where you can see it is a visual reminder you need to be writing. Also...there is something physiological that occurs when you have a physical representation of your journal. It becomes more real in your mind.
When you journal using an app or on your computer, you won't always think to write. A physical journal kept where you can see it is a visual reminder you need to be writing. Also...there is something physiological that occurs when you have a physical representation of your journal. It becomes more real in your mind.
Write in Something You Respect
How you emotionally view your journal will affect how you approach journaling. When you respect something, you tend to treat it with seriousness. When you choose your physical journal, then choose something you will respect. Every individual is different and respect things differently. It must be something you would choose.
How you emotionally view your journal will affect how you approach journaling. When you respect something, you tend to treat it with seriousness. When you choose your physical journal, then choose something you will respect. Every individual is different and respect things differently. It must be something you would choose.
The Best Time
You know your schedule better than anyone else. If you find that you get more done in the morning, then do it then. Are you a night owl? Then set a time in your evening routine. Find the best time for you and do it!! Just find a time that you will not be rushed or pressured.
You know your schedule better than anyone else. If you find that you get more done in the morning, then do it then. Are you a night owl? Then set a time in your evening routine. Find the best time for you and do it!! Just find a time that you will not be rushed or pressured.
Try Using Writing Prompts
Struggling to know what to write? Create a collection of ideas you can refer back to over and over again. Creating a collection of writing prompts you can easily grab whenever you need solves this problem. Questions that spark a thought. Goals or dreams that you want to achieve, or are in the process of achieving.
Struggling to know what to write? Create a collection of ideas you can refer back to over and over again. Creating a collection of writing prompts you can easily grab whenever you need solves this problem. Questions that spark a thought. Goals or dreams that you want to achieve, or are in the process of achieving.
Use Phone Reminders
If you are like me and forget things easily, then putting a reminder on your phone is a quick and easy solution to honoring your commitment. Set it for the time of day you choose to journal and then honor that time block and write in your journal.
If you are like me and forget things easily, then putting a reminder on your phone is a quick and easy solution to honoring your commitment. Set it for the time of day you choose to journal and then honor that time block and write in your journal.
Use a Timer
I talked about using writing prompts to help you know what to write, but what if you are struggling to know "what" to write with your writing prompt. Sometimes we allow perfectionism to creep into our journaling. How do we resolve this? Simple...put pressure upon yourself to get this done. You do this by using a timer. Give yourself a set time limit and then do a free-write for that limited time around your journal prompt or desired topic.
I talked about using writing prompts to help you know what to write, but what if you are struggling to know "what" to write with your writing prompt. Sometimes we allow perfectionism to creep into our journaling. How do we resolve this? Simple...put pressure upon yourself to get this done. You do this by using a timer. Give yourself a set time limit and then do a free-write for that limited time around your journal prompt or desired topic.
Know Your Reasons
Creating a habit can be quite stressful and we struggle in the implementation because of that stress. When you are unclear about the benefit of the new habit, then you will most certainly not put forth the effort. If this sounds like your problem, take a few minutes to figure out why YOU want to journal. What are you hoping to get out of the experience? What change are you looking for? When you get clear about the reason, then you will gladly put in the effort.
Creating a habit can be quite stressful and we struggle in the implementation because of that stress. When you are unclear about the benefit of the new habit, then you will most certainly not put forth the effort. If this sounds like your problem, take a few minutes to figure out why YOU want to journal. What are you hoping to get out of the experience? What change are you looking for? When you get clear about the reason, then you will gladly put in the effort.
Make it Fun
Just like needing to know "Why" you are doing something. "How" you go about doing it will affect the amount of effort you put into journaling. Found ways to make journaling enjoyable. If you enjoy listening to music, then play music in the background while you write. Maybe make a game out of it. For every so much time you write, you get points and then when you accumulate so many points, you get a prize? These are just a couple of ideas but the point is to make it fun to do.
Just like needing to know "Why" you are doing something. "How" you go about doing it will affect the amount of effort you put into journaling. Found ways to make journaling enjoyable. If you enjoy listening to music, then play music in the background while you write. Maybe make a game out of it. For every so much time you write, you get points and then when you accumulate so many points, you get a prize? These are just a couple of ideas but the point is to make it fun to do.
Conclusion
Journaling has a lot of different benefits. Creating the habit at first is difficult but after writing every day for a few weeks, then the habit will become unconscious and you will naturally have no trouble doing it. Happy Journaling!!!
Journaling has a lot of different benefits. Creating the habit at first is difficult but after writing every day for a few weeks, then the habit will become unconscious and you will naturally have no trouble doing it. Happy Journaling!!!