Are you thinking about starting a journaling habit but feeling lost about how to start? Or, are you looking to change the way you journal to focus more on mental wellbeing self-development? Journaling doesn’t have to be confusing and it doesn’t have to be perfect. All you need is a willingness to begin and keenness to experiment. Read on for my tips on what to write, how to start, and which journaling methods to use.
What To Write When You Start Journaling
I recently wrote about the many fantastic benefits that journaling has for mental health. But, how do you write in a way that helps to support good mental health? And, what do you write about? The wonderful thing about journaling for mental health is that there are endless ways to write and to use your journal. For example, you can use your journal:
- To record daily events
- As an outlet to work through difficult emotions and feelings
- To manage anxiety or low mood as a distraction tool
- As a place to work on your personal development and goals
- To track mood and health symptoms
- As a place to record achievements and life reviews
- To develop self-reflection and self-awareness
How to Start a Journaling Habit
Just start! Honestly, we can all spend too much time worrying about the best way, and then we find we never start! You will find the best way by starting and experimenting. The good thing about journal writing is that it’s personal. Journaling isn’t about being perfect, it’s your chance to let go and write in any way you choose. The key thing to remember though, for journaling to be beneficial for our mental health, there needs to be an element of self-reflection involved.
How To Start Journaling For Self-Reflection
Self-reflection is vital for good mental health. Having an insight into how we feel and how events affect us, means we can more easily look after our mental health. Self-reflection is like a muscle, the more we use it, the stronger it gets. So, when you write down the events of the day, read them back and think about how you felt. For example, what feelings came up? And, how did you respond to the day? Beginning to write like this will help you to develop and increase your capacity for self-reflection.
Which Journalling Method to Use
There are many ways to keep a journal. Which method you use will depend on how you plan to write and how you plan to use the journal. You can even combine methods and use more than one method or use different methods for different aspects of your daily journaling. The common journaling methods are:
- A Traditional diary
- A notebook
- An Online app
- A Bullet Journal
Traditional Diary Form
Benefits
If you are brand new to daily journaling, then a traditional diary can be a great and simple way to start. I used a traditional diary as my journaling method for many years as I developed my journaling habit. If you are going to use a diary, then I would suggest using a larger, page per day diary. A larger diary will give you more room to record the day’s events and your thoughts and feelings.
Disadvantages
The disadvantages of a traditional diary are that you are limited to how much you can write by the size of each day’s entry. Also, there is little room for creativity, to add additional notes, goals and so on.
Notebooks
Benefits
Notebooks allow for more customization for writing a journal. You can write more freely, unrestricted by the space provided. As my journaling grew over the years, I introduced the use of notebooks. I often used them alongside my traditional diary. For example, I would record the day’s events in my traditional diary, and I would track my personal development and my mental health management in an accompanying notebook.
Disadvantages
The disadvantage of a notebook for some people may be a lack of structure. Some people like each day plotted out, to give them the incentive to write. and not miss a day.
An Online Journal
Advantages
Online journaling can offer a level of convenience, in that it’s easier to record events and thoughts quickly on a mobile app. Additionally, online journaling can feel safer, in that you don’t risk someone finding your journal because it’s locked securely online.
Disadvantages
I have experimented with using a few different online apps but found they didn’t work for me as a journaling method. The main reason apps didn’t work for me was because I found that an app didn’t give me the same cathartic release that physical journaling does. The act of physically writing is of great relief to me and an online app just doesn’t have the same effect.
Other Uses for An Online Journal
I do, however, use an online method for my writing journal. Previously, I kept all my writing notes, thoughts, ideas and so on, in a notebook. The trouble was, it was hard to find things and I ended up with a ton of writer’s notebooks and lots of deeply buried ideas! So, I began to use Evernote as a method to record my writing notes. This has been great at I can easily find all my content ideas, characters, personal reflections on my writing and so on, by using folders and tags. Using an online app in this way is also helping me in writing my memoir.
Bullet Journalling
Advantages
Bullet journaling is by far my favorite and most recommended way to journal. The bullet journal (bujo) method was created by Ryder Carroll as an improved method of personal organization. The bujo aims to bring together planners, daily journals, goals, habit trackers and to-do lists, in one organized system. A bullet journal can be customized in such a huge variety of ways and grows with us as we evolve in our journaling habit. And yes, bullet journals are for men too! I love this way of journaling because it adapts to my life when I need it to. It’s far more productive and useful and it’s therapeutic to color it in!
Disadvantages
Some people might be put off by some of the elaborate pages that bujo enthusiasts create. Honestly, some of them are stunningly beautiful! But, don’t let that put you off. I am no artist. My ‘daily spreads’ and trackers are nowhere near as beautifully illustrated. It isn’t about being perfect, it is about customizing it in a way that works for you and experimenting with your creativity. As you begin, you will find what works and come up with a bullet journal that works to support your mental health and self-development needs.
Types of Bullet Journal
You can use any notebook and turn it into a bullet journal. However, certain types are loved by bujo enthusiasts. The Moleskin and the Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks are common favorites. I switch between these two types but I do especially like the Moleskin notebooks. Mainly because I like the special edition ones you can buy! My current moleskin bullet journal is a Peter Pan special edition. It comes with a few stickers too!
Over To You!
If you are new to journaling, take some time to experiment with all the different uses and methods of journaling. You might just want somewhere to record daily events and your thoughts. Or you might want to go deeper if you are someone who likes to engage with daily personal development as I do. There is no perfect way, only what is right for you and you will find that through experimentation.
If you are ready to get started, you can check out my recommended journaling essentials. Do let me know how you get on. And, of you are already someone who journals, how do you do it? Do you have any tips? How does it help you? Let me know in the comments section below!
Hello! My name is Finn and I have a passion for creating honest content, that inspires personal growth and promotes well-being.
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[…] I find that having everything written down in one place, helps me to keep on top of things and stay organized. A couple of years ago, I began to keep a bullet journal which has become my most helpful stress management tool. You can find out more about what a bullet journal is and how to use one here. […]
[…] These are just a few of the ways that I feel journaling has benefited and continues to benefit my mental health. If this has inspired you to start your own I have a follow up to this blog on how to begin journaling. […]
[…] After completing my meditation, I remain seated on my meditation bench. Then I read my goals for the month, which I have noted in my journal. My journal plays a big part in my miracle morning routine. There are many ways to write a journal, which I recently wrote a blog about. […]
Great tips and I really like how you looked at the pros and cons of each one. I think you personally can’t beat a physical journal but for me it’s often finding the time to sit and write out the events of the day/how I’m feeling etc, especially when I know that I can speedily smash out something on my laptop in half the time! For that reason I’ve considered an online journal but as you said there’s just something more cathartic about physically writing in a notebook. I’ve recently invested in a Leuchtturm 1917 and I’m already in love… Read more »
Thanks for your comment! I agree, it has to be a physical journal for me too! Ive adapted my bujo, to incorporate my MH management, and it works well! The Lechtturm is great, enjoy it!
I love that you broke down the advantages and disadvantages to each type of journal. Writing is great therapy and you are right that it does not matter what you choose, it’s expressing your feelings that is important.
Im finding it especially helpful right now in the midst of this pandemic! Thanks for your kind comments