Journaling Tips: Breaking the Rules to Unearth Your Best Writing Habits
Writing a journal doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the right journaling tips and techniques, you can make it work for you, no matter how busy your life is or how much you struggle with depression and anxiety. Here are my top journaling tips to help you get started.
Journaling Tips: Find Your Own Way
Forget the usual advice about needing to write on paper or journal in the morning.
Experiment and find your own way – even if it goes against the typical journaling tips online.
Consider writing on paper, on a laptop, or on your smartphone and find which works best for you.
Change Up Your Surroundings & Write About Gratitude
If you’re feeling uninspired, explore new surroundings – step outside onto your balcony, take your journal to work or grab a chair in your garden to write from.
Or try writing about gratitude – focusing on three or four things you’re thankful for and really letting yourself feel the emotion of gratitude.
Use Your Journal For Stress Management
Journaling has long been known for its therapeutic effects, and it’s an absolutely free form of therapy that can help you process your feelings and gain distance from troubles.
Writing out your emotions can help you realize things aren’t as bad as they seem and find silver linings – and if you leave your entry sit for a few days and read it back, you’ll realize that daily frustrations rarely worth stressing over.
Get Accountability
When it comes to starting a habit, accountability is key.
Find like-minded friends, whether in real life or online, who share your goal and can cheer you on.
You don’t need a lot of people either – just one or two who will keep you honest and motivated can make all the difference.
Write For Your Eyes Only
Writing honestly can be difficult if your journal is not private, so make sure to keep your journal secure in a private hiding spot or password-protected laptop.
Additionally, having a list of journaling prompts ready to go can help you maintain interest in your journaling and ensure that you cover a variety of topics and moods.
Start Small & Keep Your Expectations Realistic
When starting out, set realistic goals for yourself.
Even if it’s just writing a single line, that’s progress.
As you form the habit, gradually build up the amount of time and content until it becomes routine and automatic.