Beginners Guide to Journaling

With our busy lives moving at warp speed, it can be challenging to find a time and space to slow down, process our thoughts and reflect. If there's one daily habit that could benefit us all, it's journaling. Journaling creates self-awareness and intentionality in your life — it gives you a moment to pause and practice self-care in any setting. It might seem daunting to approach that blank page at first, so we've compiled some ways to build a daily journaling habit from the ground up. 

Guided Journal

For beginners, a guided journal is a great way to get your foot in the door to a full-blown journaling routine. With selected prompts and questions, you can work the muscle of self-reflection without feeling overwhelmed with where to start. You can try out the Five Minute Journal or Today I Affirm, which fosters self-care and gratitude in your daily life. 

Pick a Prompt

If you're more of a free spirit, but still unsure of how to build your journaling habit, there's a plethora of online resources and prompts to kickstart your writing. These four questions are a great place to start: 

1. How do you feel right now?
2. Why do you feel that way?
3. How do you want to feel?
4. What can you do to feel that way? 

In case you get tired of those prompts, here's 119 more that can make your journaling game even stronger. 

What to Write On

There are no limits to what you can write about in your journal, it's a space that's free of judgment and that can always evolve over time. Here are a few ways you can use your journal:

• Process your thoughts and feelings
• Explore gratitude and positivity
• Jot down inspirational notes
• Set and track your goals
• Plan your day 
• Reflect and answer questions/prompts

Build a Habit 

To make journaling a sustainable and long-term practice, adding it to your daily routine is essential. Whether you like to write over your morning cup of coffee or at night time right before bed, setting aside a time to write can ensure that you don't slack off or miss weeks at a time. Start small — even five minutes each day can benefit you and prevent burnout. 

Keep It On-Hand

Whether you're waiting for a delayed subway, on your lunch break at work, or suddenly struck with inspiration for your next project — carrying your journal with you is a sure-fire way to make sure you never miss out on impromptu writing. You can also keep track of your to-do lists and long-term goals with a journal and have the satisfaction of crossing things off as you complete them! 

Photo by Noémi Macavei-Katócz on Unsplash