The moment I sit down to journal is typically the most peaceful time of my day. I'll light a candle, put on some instrumental music and write about whatever is taking up space in head. Daily journaling is a habit I started my sophomore year of college, and surprisingly, I haven't stopped since. It began it as a way to make sense of all the thoughts going on in my head as well as a way to record my life in a manner that felt natural to me. Now I'm not saying daily journaling is for everyone, but I am a firm believer that it is one of the best ways to learn about yourself, capture memories and clear your head.
Today, for those of you who are either aspiring to pick up the habit or looking to get more out of your time with a pen and paper, I'm sharing the three ways I journal on a daily basis. Yes, I may be a little overzealous, but even if you implement just one of these methods, I'm sure you'll see yourself reaping the benefits in no time!
1. One Line a Day
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to record your memories, this is the way to go! Two years ago, I purchased a small, One Line a Day journal to kickstart my desire to write more frequently. Essentially, the journal has 365 pages, and it has a designated place for you to write in over the course of five years. I love this journal because it's tiny, so it's easy to take with you everywhere. Plus, since there's only room to write a sentence or two each day, it's a quick and easy way to record the highlight or most memorable moment of your day. I've also found it especially enjoyable to read what I wrote on the same day years prior. It never fails to make me smile!
P.S. this could make a great gift for someone during the holiday season, too!
2. Develop Prompts with a Devotional
A lot of times I like to journal as a way of prayer, and this is how I started to write in a longer and more self-reflective way. Each day, I will pull out my daily devotional (currently, I'm reading this one!), and read about whatever topic is presented that day. A thought or truth is usually sparked by whatever I read, but there is typically questions at the end of every devotional that you can use as prompts for reflection, too. It is through this method of journaling that I really started to learn more about myself and my values. And, devotionals are fairly brief, so you don't have to worry about it taking up too much time out of your day!
3. Brain Dump
This is a phrase I picked up from one of my favorite bloggers, Brighton, but it's such an accurate description of how I journal sometimes. Now, this isn't something I do on a daily basis, but it's extremely helpful if I'm feeling overwhelmed or like I have too many things going on in my head that I want to remember. In these cases, I'll simply turn to a new page in my journal and just write about anything and everything running through my mind. It's honestly the biggest relief and allows me to think more clearly throughout the rest of the day. Sometimes, it'll even help me make sense of all the random thoughts I had cooped up!
I hope y'all found my three ways of journaling helpful. I truly do all of these on a regular basis and can't imagine ever stopping! For years, I wanted to start journaling consistently but couldn't make the habit stick. So, if you're feeling the same way, my biggest tip is to get a cute journal that you'll want to write in and pens that will make you excited to write! That probably sounds like silly advice, but on the days I don't feel the motivation to journal, choosing a new color from my set of pens always gets me in the spirit haha!
Do any of y'all journal regularly, too? If so, what do you like to write about?
Photo by Nicole Sanchez (@nsvids)
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