I (obviously) love notebooks, guided journals, planners and the like, but even I had trouble utilizing all the beautiful journals I've purchased over the years. The idea of putting pen to paper and actually writing down these strange ideas I have running through my anxious mind was a daunting one. Even having an old-fashioned daily life type journal or diary (you know, the kind that are historically important because they show us a slice of life from days long gone) was a strange concept to me. Who would even care about what happens in my seemingly boring life, even if it were hundreds of years in the future? Since there wasn’t really a lot going on in the town I grew up in AND i happen to love writing things down with quality pens, I finally got over it and filled my time filling my notebooks. In the pre-internet days, I had to come up with my own content to put in them, with no help from amazing sources like Pinterest or even Google, so my first foray into this pastime was really quite cringeworthy, and I just kept at it.
Now, I have crates full of filled journals that, although maybe not important to anyone but myself, allow me to look back on previous versions of myself and seethe progress I've made, even if it's just in the handwriting or style I chose to write in. They're important to me. (So much so that my BFF has strict instructions to spirit them away to a nice little bonfire if anything were to happen to me. Seriously.)
Thankfully, getting started isn't all that difficult these days, and there are loads of prompts and guided journals out there to either get you started or out of a slump when you find yourself without any fresh ideas. So, if you have paper, writing implements or even a computer a person can get started on their own journals immediately! Here are some snippets picked up through the years (and Pins) to help!
Stick with the Classics-Honestly, you don’t need anything fancy or expensive. Good ol paper and pens/pencils (what writing professionals like to call "one handed writing") are a fantastic start. They travel easily and are familiar as the air you breathe, affordable and low-pressure. Starting on your computer (two handed writing) can be even easier as some of us tend to be able to type faster than we write, so it's quicker to get a complete thought recorded.
Do It First Thing in the Morning-Wake your brain up and get it done first thing! Having your morning cuppa and writing down your thoughts before beginning your day not only is relaxing but helps get you into the right frame of mind for the day. Just take five or ten minutes and boom. Done.
Do It Before Bed-Gratitude journals are a great way to end your day. It's a crazy world we live in, and we often get so busy or bogged down in negativity we forget the simple things in life. Reflecting on all the things you're thankful for from the day can take your mind from overwrought and anxious, to calm and thankful, making sleep that much easier to slip into.
Do It Every Day-Whether you're a morning or night writer, set aside time each day for your ritual. Include your favorite tea, cocktail, snack, music....whatever makes it special for you. Giving yourself time each day, without fail, makes it far more effective than just whenever the fancy strikes you. (I’ve wasted a LOT of awesome notebooks just half filled this way.)
Do It as Simply As Possible-Style or substance be danged! Just work on getting a habit started without stressing yourself out. (Relaxation, reflection, and remembrance are the goals after all.)
DO IT NOW-Just start!! Right now!! Write about this very day whether you're inspired or not! Did anything significant or fun happen today? Did you feel great or not so great? What could you change about today that you can start fresh on tomorrow? As a wise person once said, "Just do it!" It's not like you're going to be graded....you can even toss it in the trash when you're done, just write something down about the day. Use me and write about this silly blog post you read and how cheesy it sounds!
Do It in Different Formats-After you've gotten your journaling habit started, try different types of journals. I reeeeeeeally like bullet journals and there are TONS of ideas on Pinterest and Instagram of things to write, lists to make and even doodles to try. You don’t have to be a Bronte or write the next great American novel after all!
Do It for Your Eyes Only-Remember, this is for you and you alone. No one’s business but yours is in those pages, so there's no need to feel self-conscious. Even if you're doing this at the suggestion of a counselor, therapist, or coach, you don’t have to share specifics, just what you've figured out in the pages. If you want. This is YOU time. Use it for your benefit.
Journaling can help you destress, deal with things that aren’t so pleasant from your day or goals you're setting and how to achieve them, and about a million other things. Figuring out how things went sideways helps you to do better next time and improve how you make decisions in the future. Just get started and the possibilities are endless!
I hope that you find as much joy and relief in putting journals to good use as I have. Drop me a line if you'd like some ideas or if you have a neat idea that I could try! I'd be more than happy to hear from you and share the ways I get lost in the blank pages of my notebooks!
(a few of this years work notebooks for funsies)
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