I am so excited to write about this today!
Two more post days left in September and this one I saved for the end of the month after a slew of other topics to write about in your journal!
I have 4 tips on how to start a journal, and will link a couple of you tubers who I’ve watched on how to start my own journals.
Let’s start with something simple.
Why Journal?
There are many reasons to start a journal. The main ones include;
- work through trauma
- set goals for the future
- learn about yourself
- keep track of what your habits are
- reflect on your time
- gratitude
- set intentions for the day
- bring yourself into mindfulness
And many more!
If you can write about it, you can put it in a journal!
A journal is just a private place for your thoughts.
1. Freewrite
My first tip for journaling is to free write. There is no pressure to write about a specific thing in a journal, but a good starting place is to write what is in your mind right now, and just brain dump everything for 5-10 minutes.
This is an exercise that writers use to overcome writer’s block and it really does help!
Free writing can also translate into creativity and writing fiction through experience is highly therapeutic.
If you don’t think you can free write, try writing about how much you hate writing or suck at writing and see how long you can go for.
It works best when you time yourself and don’t let your pen come off the page, or stop typing for more than 30 seconds!
Write, write, write!
Write right now!
2. Talk to yourself
When there is something bothering me, and I need to work through it, journaling offers a method of conversation with myself.
I will often write down what is making me anxious, and then tell myself that its not really as bad as I think.
Another method is to cross out the negative thoughts that I wrote out and write in a positive one.
No one wants to be my friend.
No oneI wantsto be my friend.
When I journal, I prefer pen and paper.
There is something about the physical act of crossing out no one and replacing it with I that is reflective, therapeutic, and healing for me.
3. Use a prompt
If you’re not interested in journaling through free writing, then there is a prompt out there on the internet that will get your creativity flowing and your writing started.
Some prompts are;
- What would you say to yourself two years ago that you needed to hear?
- Are you a dog person or a cat person? Neither? Why?
- Aliens are now on Earth and ask you for the most amazing Earthling invention that will help them understand Humans, what do you show them? Why?
- Describe your perfect man/woman. How do they make you feel, what do they smell like, and what is unique about them.
- There’s no capitalism, or need for work in daily life, what would you study if you had unlimited time, freedom and money. Where would you study and why?
- A psychic comes to you and says I can bring one person back from the dead without consequences, for no money, who would it be and why would you choose that person? Can be anyone, friends, family, inspiring people, etc.
- Your future self finds a way to time travel and warn you about a decision you’re about to make as one that can change your life for the better, they’re pushing you to make a difficult choice that you’re not ready to make just yet. Would you take the advice of your future self or see through the falsity of time travel? Why?
These are prompts that I made up off the top of my head.
They’re not necessary to use in a journal, but show how journalling can be anything you’d like it to be.
4. Do what feels good for you!
If you prefer to take photos, everyday, or every couple days and write a poem about the photo, as a form of journaling, then amazing!!!
Do what feels good to you!
No one can tell you how to express yourself, that’s what makes us all unique.
Personally, writing has helped me since I can remember because my brain thinks so many thoughts that it’s hard to keep track of them.
Combine that with feeling emotions strongly, and feeling all emotions 10x more than a regular person, writing is a therapy for me.
Youtubers to watch
Overall Adventures is my favourite.
She has many videos.
Remember…
Journalling is a personal endeavour.
Everyone has a different take on what journaling is and what it means to them.
I hope you are inspired to start your own journal from my experiences and prompts for journalling.
With love and light,
Blessings,
Stay true stay weird.
~~ Kristina