9 Tips for Making Journaling Part of Your Daily Routine

Journaling

Mar 20

Journaling can be a great way to reflect on your thoughts and feelings, track your progress, and improve your overall well-being.

The best way to make sure that journaling is working for you is to do it long-term. Long-term journaling gives you more insight into your life because you’ll be able to look to the past, present, and even the future (sort of) to get answers in your life.

But first, you have to do it. And you need to do it daily to make it a habit. Let’s review a few tips for making journaling part of your daily routine:

Choose a time and place: Pick a time of day and a place where you can consistently sit down and write in your journal. This could be in the morning before you start your day, in the evening before you go to bed, or during your lunch break.
Start small: Begin by setting a goal of writing for just five to ten minutes a day. This will help you build the habit of journaling without feeling overwhelmed.
Keep your journal handy: Make it as easy as possible and keep your journal and a pen or pencil nearby so that you can easily write down your thoughts whenever they come to you. For example, keep it in your bag, on your bedside table, or where you plan to write in it.
Write freely: Don't worry about spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Just let your thoughts flow onto the paper. You can always go back and edit later.
Use prompts: If you're not sure what to write about, use prompts to help you get started. Some prompts could be "What are you grateful for today?" or "What was a highlight of your day?"
Make it enjoyable: Use a journal that you enjoy writing in, whether it's a fancy leather-bound journal or a simple notebook. You can also experiment with different writing tools, such as colored pens or markers.
You can also try adding some relaxing music to set the mood. A soft instrumental can help you gather your thoughts and stay focused and calm.
Celebrate your progress: Celebrate small wins along the way, such as writing consistently for a week or filling up a whole journal. Reward yourself with some colored pens or pretty stickers you can add to your journal. This will help you stay motivated and continue to make journaling a part of your daily routine.
Set reminders: Set reminders on your phone or computer to prompt you to write in your journal. This can be especially helpful in the beginning when you're trying to establish the habit.
Make it a ritual: Treat journaling as a special ritual that you look forward to each day. For example, you could light a candle or play calming music while you write. This can help you create a sense of calm and focus that will make journaling a more enjoyable experience.

Journaling can be a powerful tool for self-reflection, self-improvement, and stress reduction. By incorporating it into your daily routine, you can reap the benefits of this simple yet effective practice. Remember to start small, keep your journal handy, use prompts if you need to, and make it an enjoyable experience.

Celebrate your progress along the way and don't be too hard on yourself if you miss a day or two. With patience and persistence, journaling can become a valuable habit that helps you live a more mindful, fulfilling life.

So why not start today and see how journaling can make a positive impact on your daily life?

JOURNALING SUPPLIES I RECOMMEND

Even though you only need a pen and paper, here are some of my favorite journaling supplies if you want to check them out:

I like to use a few different notebooks for journaling but my favorite is this Leuchtturm1917 Softcover. I prefer the squared pages but you can also get the dot grid, lined, or blank formats.
If you would rather use a spiral binding, these notebooks are the best! I love that they come in a three-pack so I always have an extra one on hand. These are also a squared format but I think they are available in lined and dot-grid too.
To be honest, my go-to pen is a simple, classic black Bic but when I want something a little fancier I use either use these Muji Gel Pens or these Micron Sakura Pigma.
Get creative with your journaling and add some Washi Tape, Stickers, or if you’re artistic you can draw your own doodles.
Sometimes I like to add photos to my journaling and over the years I’ve tried a bunch of different printers. I started out using this Fujifilm Instax Mini but it wasn’t very practical to carry around all the time. Since the quality was so much better when I use my phone for pictures I decided to splurge on the Canon Ivy Mini Printer. It connects directly to my phone through the app and easily prints on 2x3 sticker photo paper that I can add right to my journal page instantly.

I hope today’s post inspires you to pick up your journal and start writing! Here are a few Everyday Journaling Prompts to get you started.

Before You Go:

Here are a few more posts you might like:

THE ULTIMATE LIST OF PRODUCTS, APPS, TOOLS, AND RESOURCES I USE ON A DAILY BASIS

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