Personal Growth, Self-Care

Intro to Journaling

May 23, 2020 by Jenna A 40 Comments

Who here loves shopping at stores like Marshall’s and TJ Max?

Don’t you just love walking through the section with all the pretty planners and journals?

Do you often purchase a journal even though you have no intention of writing in it? Instead, it just sits with the other cute journals you bought last month only to collect dust?

It may be that you like the idea of journaling, but you don’t know where to start or are too scared to commit. 

I will straight up tell you I was the same way for many years! I would jot down a few sentences, forget about it, and then move onto another journal only to begin the same process over again. Time and time again I would try this practice, but I got bored and frustrated by having to repeat myself.

So for all of you that feel the same way when it comes to journaling, take a deep breath, there is nothing to stress about and we will get through this together!

Before you even begin writing, I want you to take a moment and ask yourself why you want to journal.

Why would it be a beneficial/meaningful practice for you?

If you develop a why, it will serve as a reminder of your purpose to begin in the first place, especially on days when you find it most difficult to sit down with your thoughts. 

I know what you’re thinking, “when are we going to write”? I’m getting there don’t worry.

Similar to how you may dress the way you want to feel, (read my previous blog post on Dressing For Success Here) you need the place you are going to journal to reflect the same.

I suggest you find a quiet space to yourself where you can reflect, be inspired, and just relax. Maybe for you, it might look like, lighting a candle and sitting in bed. If you have nice weather, maybe that means grabbing a blanket and finding serenity in your backyard or a park. Whatever that space looks like for you, I want your surroundings to be a reflection of how you want to feel.

Once you have the perfect spot, it’s time to grab your journal and pencil! Regardless if this is your first time or 100th time opening your journal, at the very front, where it would normally have a section where you can write your name, at the top of the page I want you to write that why statement we talked about.

Why would journaling be a beneficial/meaningful practice for you?

This will serve as an easy reminder of why you began, as well as something to look back on when opening your journal back up again once it is finished.

I imagine some people may find it difficult to sit alone with their thoughts or find the time to be alone, but all I’m asking you to do is find 10 minutes for yourself. That’s all. If you don’t have 10 minutes to find time for yourself, well then you are not taking the time to prioritize yourself and maybe we should take a look at that too.

For 10 minutes I want you to write about your day yesterday.

What did you do? Did anything exciting happen? Etc.

You need to start small and build up, so give yourself 10 minutes. Set a timer on your phone if you need it, and just write. I think anytime we begin something that is foreign to us it can feel a little daunting or overwhelming at first. This is why I say start small. Just 10 minutes, don’t overdo it and don’t overthink it.

It may feel strange at first but it gets easier over time and maybe just maybe after a while, you’ll feel your thoughts free-flowing from your mind onto the paper, and you won’t have to think about what you are doing anymore. The hope is that it will become more of an everyday routine and less of a once and a while thing.

This is one of the many reasons I love journaling. I am a constant overthinker and I get easily overwhelmed by the ideas I have in my head or things I have to get accomplished.

So what do I do when I feel that way? I grab a pen and paper and write it down. If I don’t take into account what’s happening in my mind and take control of it, well then its no wonder why I will continue to feel anxious and can’t focus. 

So let me repeat my simple steps to get started…

1. Find a quiet space just to yourself so that you can feel relaxed. 

2. Write down your why.

3. Whether it is morning, night, or middle of the day, find yourself just 10 minutes, and gradually make it longer as it develops into more of a routine.

You can download the graphic HERE as a reminder!

Start small. Write about your day. No pressure.

As you dig deeper and deeper into writing, you can give yourself writing prompts that will really help you to become more self-aware and take in some thoughts that maybe you have never experienced before.

This is just an introduction, so be sure to check back soon and subscribe to my email for the next post where I will give you some journaling prompts and we can begin to dive into some deeper waters. Have fun!