is whatever works for you. i used to feel daunted by journaling, until i listened to a "psychology of your 20s" podcast episode about it.
here are some notes i took (with my personal takeaways mixed in)
⢠journaling doesnât need to be "good." it doesnât need to look nice. itâs strictly for you. no mistakes, no bad entriesâexcept for ones that werenât writtenâno wrong thoughts, no assignment grade. itâs a self-care, self-love practice. one of the only times that everything gets to be about you, and you get to do it in the way that works best, as long as youâre doing it.
⢠write about something going on in your brain. journaling is organizing, cleaning things up, making sense of things you canât work out just by thinking about them over and over again. try to think about them in a way you normally wouldnât, by writing about them. not looking for a solution or answer, but just to process what youâve been through.
⢠write 1-2 pages, even less than 500 words. small investment, can take as little as 5 minutes.
⢠only journal when you really feel the need. making it a goal to journal everyday takes the fun out of it. journaling should be something relieving, joyous. it can be one line, something you thought about, something you heard. what is really important to you?
⢠journaling = life course correction, not an intense commitment/practice. like a painkiller. you take it when you need it. when you feel the urge to write, just do it. drop everything. put the thoughts begging to come out down somewhere. donât ignore inspiration when it randomly strikes. that desire isnât something you can consciously call on. take advantage of the moments, even if just a second, even in the notes app. get in the habit of letting it be expressed.
⢠find a way to journal in a manner that suits you. find your reason. snapshot for future self?
⢠let someone else do the initial thinking for you. journal prompts, structured journal, online inspiration, write one prompt a week in the afternoon
⢠write quickly and without judgment. not worried about exactly how you wanted to say it, word it, doesnât matter. there's no audience or grade. journal "badly" = more in-tune with self. journaling helps you remember who you are from the inside out at the time of writing.
⢠if you feel like you donât know yourself, keep one notebook you put everything in: thoughts, quotes you like, postcards, to-do lists, diary entries, favorite songs, letters, dried flowers, brain dumps, gratitude lists, sticky notes, pictures
hope this helps some people get started !
Nov 8, 2024
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By this I mean that I only journal when I feel like it. Iâve kept diaries/journals for 16 years now and itâs only in the recent years that I noticed everyoneâs been marketing it as a daily habit. I have always found joy in writing and carving out time for introspection but I think if I felt obligated to do it daily I would actually end up writing less.
Here are some other things I do/did:
1. Tried a 5-year journal which had a daily prompt that was the same for 5 years so that you could see how you and your answers changed. You just needed a clause or a few sentences so it was very low maintenance. The prompts might inspire you to write more.
2. I keep my journal and a pen on my bedside so that I can easily write at night since Iâm more reflective then. You could do the same and place it at a time and place where you would be more prone to wanting to write something down.
3. I keep a small pocket journal! For grocery lists and random thoughts/entries throughout the day. I usually end up writing a short paragraph or two when I feel the inspiration.
I hope youâre able to find your own style of journaling and that you find this process healing đ¤
Apr 12, 2025
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I've been journaling lately, and it's been such a game-changer! It's super simple â just grab a notebook or even an app on your phone. The best part is, there's no right or wrong way to do it. You can write (draw) about anything that's on your mind, from daily happenings to random thoughts and feelings.
It's a great way to clear your head and get in touch with yourself. Plus, it can be really therapeutic to see your thoughts on paper (or screen). You might find it helps you process stuff and even spark some new ideas. Give it a try
Jun 11, 2024
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Why are u writing? To know urself, to sort through ur thoughts, ideas and feelings? To be a better writer? I think knowing the âwhyâ can point u in a direction for the âhowâ and âwhatâ to write about.Â
I handwrite in a journal, black fine liner so I commit to my words and canât erase. Iâm not afraid to rip pages, sometimes I colour and draw in it cuz thatâs expression too. I do not censor myself but try to get at what Iâm really feeling. As true as true statements as I can make them, trying to be as clear as possible. I do not edit and wont let anybody ever see it - this keeps it sacred and honest. Youâll know when u write out something true and important cuz youâll feel it. The suggestion to write out the surface happenings to get at the insightful ones is a good one.Â
Routine is key like building any habitâŚthough I journal whenever I want to cuz I love it, not as something to check off a list. Thatâs the real reason Iâve been doing it as long as I have and as consistently.Â
Best of luck to u â¤ď¸
Apr 27, 2024
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we're all going to die one day. better to die with used notebooks than empty ones.
they don't need to look pretty. as long as you're writing, you're doing something right.
Dec 15, 2024
if they don't ask about your life, then they don't deserve to know about it. don't give away the lore for free. keep 'em guessing.
Nov 22, 2024
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the older i become, the greater my desire to be more direct and less inhibited. i don't want to be consumed by fear anymore. life is too precious.
Dec 6, 2024