5 Tips For Journaling
Photo by Jini Phm
Many women, like me, were encouraged to keep a diary when we were young girls. Writing became a part of my life when I started spilling scattered thoughts into a pink polka-dot notebook at the sweet age of ten.
Recently I was in a small group of women and the prospect of journaling came up. Even though I expected a lot of the women to talk about not having enough time to journal or not really loving it, I was bitterly surprised by how many said they actively disliked journaling.
Most of them mentioned how they had a diary at a young age but never saw the point. What they described made me realize why they did not and still don’t like the idea of keeping a journal. Just writing down what you had for breakfast each day does sound boring and being forced to do so would create negative ties. They were never encouraged to really put their heart, ideas, and thoughts down in a meaningful way.
This was a sad revelation as I left the group that night. Over the years I’ve learned that many people don’t like writing as much as I do. That’s fine. However, journaling seems like something that should be more accessible and more widely beloved. What could be done to help more women enjoy journaling or at least help them give it a chance now that they are grown?
In this article, I hope to explore the potential of journaling and encourage more adult women to do it. Here are five things to remember as you consider picking up your pen.
01 | There are a lot of reasons to journal.
A lot of the time it’s not really about exactly what you’re writing but rather why. Something about the physical act of writing can really help a lot of people process their feelings and life. It’s a great way to keep track of memories and ways that your life has changed or how you’ve grown. It can even be a fun practice to get better at other types of writing, stretch that muscle.
02 | There are also a lot of different ways to journal.
Instead of sitting down with a blank notebook, you can find any kind of journal these days to get you where you want to go. There are journals with daily prompts, 5 year journals, prayer journals, and gratitude journals. It can be so much more and also easier if you peruse the possibilities. I have almost every kind of journal going for various purposes. I love them all, and I think there really can be something for everyone depending on what you’re looking for.
03 | Don’t feel like you have to do it every day.
A personal journal, written in typical “diary” fashion, is something that I keep up with seasonally. In some sense, I use it when necessary, when I have lots and lots of feelings to process. There are times in life when I write in it every day and other times when I can go weeks or months. There's grace there. It’s something that is meant to serve you, not the other way around. Find a groove that works for you, but don’t feel pressure to do it always, absolutely.
04 | Through my own writing, I’ve discovered a few hacks.
I have a strong desire to keep up my journals, yet sometimes my brain isn’t there for it or time is limited. One great way to capture how you’re feeling or what is happening in life is to do your top 5 highs and lows.
Think about what you are loving in this season, what favorite things have happened or you’re just enjoying (could be as simple as ice cream or the sunrise).
Flip the exercise and think about the top 5 things that are hard for you right now, what are the things that hurt or are stressful. That’s it. Just list them and you’re done.
05 | Discover why you want to journal and what value it brings to your life.
Journaling, in its purest form, is a personal journey. Not everyone will keep a journal. That’s okay. Still, I think that there is value in this practice, even just as a way to create quiet time in this busy life. Ponder how you might benefit from journaling and find a way to add that practice into your life. Make it your own, and I think you’ll find you might just like it.
