If you're trying to be more mindful and intentional in the things that you do day-to-day, perhaps it's time that you go and buy yourself a brand new journal and start to keep one. You don't have to wait till Monday to start a journal and you don't even have to wait for a new month or a new year.
You can start journaling anytime you like, anytime of day and any time of the year. Journaling is supposed to help you to remove the overthinking portion of your brain and start putting those thoughts down on paper. However, if you have no idea where to get started when it comes to journaling, take a look at our tips below.
- Start by buying a journal. Getting yourself equipped with everything that you need to start journaling effectively is important. This is where you really should spend a little bit of extra cash because you want to choose a journal that is robust but also offers you the type of thickened paper and line work that you want. You could also add some cheap stickers to make your journal stand out.and to help to keep reminders or give yourself a gold star for the days that you actually do achieve the things that you like to achieve. Buying a journal is the first step and it can be as cheap or as expensive as you like but we highly recommend spending extra money
- It doesn't have to be paper. The one thing you do have to remember though when it comes to journaling is if you choose not to buy a journal, you can actually start a blog and you can type it up. The speed and ease of the keyboard can sometimes work better for some people if you prefer to have a fountain pen in your hand and watch the ink drag across the page, then you're in the right place. But if you want to do it online, you can just set yourself up a blog or even just a Word document that you add to day by day.
- You can write that anytime of day. You don't have to wait until the end of the day or even the beginning of the day to add something to your journal. If you have your journal with you, you can jot down your thoughts as they happen. Perhaps your mind is overcrowded from work and you're starting to feel overwhelmed. Journaling can be done in the 10 minute break that you have with a cup of coffee just to be able to calm your mind and put your thoughts in order. That can make a very big difference to how you feel.
- Seek out others. You will not be alone when it comes to journaling, and there are plenty of groups out there, both online and in person, of people who like to get together to journal. There's something motivating about keeping accountability going when it comes to journaling and reminding yourself that writing everyday, even just a line or two, can make a difference to your mental health.