Whether you want to keep a dream journal or document the things you are grateful for, journal writing is a great habit to establish. It provides a range of benefits including helping to manage stress, organise our thoughts and improve mental wellbeing in general. If you’re new to journal writing or looking for ways to improve your practice, here are 5 tips for journal writing.
Keep your journal on you at all times
You never know when inspiration will hit. Keeping your journal on you at all times will ensure that you have a place to record your thoughts and feelings. It’s not necessary to write in it every single day, but you want to have it nearby in case you get the urge to write.
You don’t have to write pages everyday
Some people have this idea that they need to commit to writing pages every single day. The truth is that journal writing needs to suit your lifestyle and if that means writing a couple of sentences whenever you get the chance, then that’s what you should do. Try not to set quotas for the amount of writing or even commit to writing every single day. If every few days works for you, go with that.
Make journaling a nice thing
If you struggle to commit to journal writing, implement a routine that will inspire you to write. This might begin with purchasing a notebook and pens that you like to encourage you to write. If you are a morning person, you might decide to wake up an extra 15 minutes early so you can sit with your journal as you have your morning cup of tea. If you hate mornings, maybe you’ll decide to sit down in the park every evening when you walk the dog. Nature and fresh air can do wonders for inspiration. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as you find a routine that works for you and makes journal writing enjoyable.
Add journal writing to your to-do list
If you are struggling to write in your journal because you don’t have time, add it to your to-do list or daily routine. That way, you’ll feel more committed to actually doing it.
Don’t feel restricted by formats
If you hate writing lengthy passages, try bullet points. If you love words and feel inspired by extensive prose, try journaling in that style. It doesn’t matter how you write, as long as you are writing.