Skip to main content

Why Journal?

 

Great leaders, geniuses, and generations of teenagers have kept journals to record their experiences and sort through their thoughts and feelings. A journal can have many purposes. It may help you to lose weight, heal emotionally, or manage your career.


Maybe you’ve wanted to start a journal of your own, but something keeps holding you back. You might find it difficult to squeeze another task into your busy days or you may have doubts about your writing abilities.

 

The truth is that there’s no single formula for journaling success. Use these tips to help you develop your own individual style so you can start a journal and stick with it.

 

Finding Your Time to Journal:

 

  1. Designate a time. Blocking out the same time each day for journaling may help you to create a steady habit. It could be first thing in the morning or the last thing you do before bed.

  2. Carry it around. On the other hand, maybe you prefer to write when inspiration strikes you and events are fresh in your mind. Keeping your journal handy will let you jot down your comments on the spot.

  3. Be brief. Do you skip days unless you have the time and energy to compose a long essay? An entry can be a single word or multiple pages depending on what you want to express.

 

Finding Your Method for Journaling:

 

  1. Put pen to paper. Studies show that writing things by hand makes a deeper mental impression than digital communications. If you like the feel of tangible objects, buy a fancy blank book or use any scraps of paper available.

  2. Get an app. Maybe you’re more comfortable on your phone or tablet. Browse online for the many apps dedicated to journaling. You can also create your own templates.

  3. Collect prompts. If getting started is a stumbling block for you, gather prompts that will give you something to write about. Search for them online or make your own list.

  4. Pick a format. Speaking of lists, a journal can be organized however you like. Write in full sentences or bullet points. Invent dialogue or pretend you’re writing a letter.

  5. Draw pictures. What if you’re more effective expressing yourself through images rather than words? Make sketches with or without captions. You can also add photos and clippings.

  6. Limit editing. Writer’s block can often be overcome by resisting the urge to censor yourself. Let your thoughts flow freely instead of worrying about how they sound.

 

Other Strategies:

 

  1. Slow down. Develop calming rituals to make your journaling more enjoyable and productive. Set aside a quiet and comfortable space in your home. Brew a cup of tea or play soft instrumental music.

  2. Note the date. Recording the date on your entries has many advantages. It can make you feel more accountable about skipping days. It also makes it easier to find past entries that you may want to refer back to.

  3. Protect your privacy. Technology has come a long way since old fashioned diaries with a flimsy lock on the cover. Passwords and encryption provide greater security if you want to keep your musings to yourself.

  4. Share with others. Then again, you might be eager to build a bigger audience for your journal. It could be a tool for working with your therapist or something to leave for your children and grandchildren.

  5. Review and reflect. Whatever form your journal takes, looking back can be illuminating. Revisiting past entries will show you where you’re making progress and where you might want to grow.

 

Pursue your goals and work through difficult experiences by journaling consistently. Writing is a proven way to connect with your feelings, gain insights, and build your accomplishments.


Like my posts? Please follow me on Facebook or Instagram under Recovery Enthusiast. I also have a podcast on Anchor and Spotify under Motivations 4U. I'm also on YouTube; you can follow my journey. And to learn more about my guides to recovery, go to recoveryenthusiast.com

 

As always, stay blessed and live your life Enthusiastically!! ✌

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Baby Shark Can Teach You About Success

 What makes Baby Shark so catchy? It’s a children’s song and a top 40 hit that appeals to kids and adults around the world. It has spawned dozens of variations and its own line of toys. It’s been viewed more than one and a half billion times on YouTube.   By now, you’ve probably seen the video regardless of whether you have any small children at home. Maybe you’ve even danced along as the family of sharks goes hunting and cheered for the happy ending where everyone winds up safe.   There’s plenty of unpredictable magic behind any internet sensation. However, you can tap into some of the ingredients that make these little sharks such a success and apply them to your recovery, starting with these 3 basic principles.   The Value of Simplicity The song is only 1 or 2 minutes long, and most of the lyrics consist of repeating the sound DO . Free up your time, save money, and reduce stress by getting down to basics. There is a lot of meaning to the old saying,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Celebrate Summer Mindfully

  6 Mindful Ways to Celebrate Summer If you are looking to create or experience rituals for summer solstice, there are several ways you can start celebrating this time of year. Consider the following six practices you can make a daily/weekly routine this summer. 1. Meditate with the Rising Sun Begin your day early, seated in the direction of the rising sun. Close your eyes and feel the expanding light against your skin and closed eyes. Cultivate gratitude for the sun and close your practice by reflecting on the gifts it brings. 2. Intention Setting Another practice is to set intentions – either for the day or for the year ahead. Many see the summer as a time ripe for new beginnings, so this could be a prime time to get clear on what you’d like to focus on in the year ahead. Write down your intentions in a journal. 3. Gratitude Journaling Another written practice to consider is gratitude journaling. Reflect on what this time of year means to you. What gifts does it bri...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Streamline Your Daily Schedule and Increase Efficiency

 Do you usually feel like there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to do? Sometimes it seems like the laundry or the dishes will just have to wait until later. I know for me, when I let things accumulate, I get overwhelmed, and then I either don't do anything at all, or I look for a distraction, usually food or shopping. The thing still doesn't get done, and it's a perpetual cycle.    That's why   as hard as it is, we must do things when we need to. Otherwise, they don't get done at all. Or we find ourselves having to do them when we truly don’t have the time for them. Then, inevitably, something else has to be put off.   This scenario also applies to work. When a project has a deadline, it’s important to devote all of your undivided attention to it, or it won't get completed. Time management is a critical aspect of every job – from planning to executing.   Your schedule needs to be structured to support efficienc...
Post a Comment
Read more