How (And Why) To Start Journaling
Whether you’re looking for a new hobby or a creative way to keep memories, journaling is a great solo activity that has multiple benefits.
In this article, we share the best way to start journaling, what you need to get started, and beginner journaling tips.
What Is Journaling?
Journaling is the practice of recording down your thoughts and feelings, usually in written form but there are other visual methods of journaling.
There is no ‘right way’ to journal – some people choose to write diary style entries of what they did that day, while others prefer to use their journal to reflect on experiences they’ve had. There are multiple different types of journaling you can try, including:
Gratitude journaling
Bullet journaling
Reflective journaling
Health journaling
You may find yourself more drawn to one type of journaling straight away, but if not it’s a good idea to play around with different journaling techniques.
Benefits Of Journaling
Journaling has some incredible benefits, including:
Improves health and wellbeing
Many people journal because it makes them feel better, and it’s not just anecdotal. Research has found that people who journal have better psychological health and better physical health. In the short term, journaling can help with negative mood and acute physical symptoms; in the long term, people who journal report better mood, and improvements in blood pressure, lung, liver, and immune system function.
Reduces stress
Multiple studies have found that journaling regularly can help people to handle stress better, including reduced negative symptoms and a better ability to make decisions in stressful situations.
Creates a better mindset
Journaling provides a place to process and reflect on your experiences and thoughts, outside of the heat of the moment. This is a great opportunity to re-wire negative thought patterns and look at things more positively. Some journaling, such as gratitude journaling, is geared specifically at improving your mindset.
Provides a space to be creative
Journaling is a no pressure, private space to explore your creative side. You can use your journal to draw, write, record your goals and desires, and anything else that comes to mind. It’s a blank canvas for your creativity, with no need for perfection.
What Journaling Supplies Do You Need To Start?
Getting started with journaling is simple, and requires almost nothing to get going. If you prefer to write things down with pen and paper, all you will need is an empty notebook, and a pen or pencil. If you prefer to note things down on your phone, a notes app is all you need.
The type of journaling you intent to do can dictate what notebook works best. If you are planning on using glue, heavy pens and markers, or paints, notebooks with thicker paper will work best (check out our guide to paper thickness here for help). If you’re planning on bullet journaling, pages with grids or dots can be helpful.
Outside of this, choosing a high quality notebook that you like will be enough.
When To Start Journaling
There is no right or wrong time to start journaling. Some people find it easier to begin journaling when they have a lot to reflect on, while others benefit from simply biting the bullet and starting right away.
Whichever option you choose, aim for a time of day where you have at least 20-30 minutes free and have the energy and headspace to sit down and begin writing.
Over time, you might prefer to journal at the same time of day, but in the beginning it can be helpful to test out journaling at different times in the day to see what you get the most out of.
Journal Prompts To Get Started
Starting a journal can feel daunting, especially if you’re not sure what kind of journal you want to keep or what to write about.
Journal prompts are a great tool to overcome days when you’re not sure what to journal about, or to guide your beginners journaling while you get in the flow of your own style of journaling.
Here are some journaling prompts you can use to get going:
Gratitude journal prompts
List three things you’re grateful for today
Describe a place you always feel at home
What’s a memory that always makes you smile
List five people who make your life better and how
What are some small, everyday joys you’ve experienced this week
Journal prompts for reflection
Write about a time you felt truly happy, and what contributed to that
Write down some negative thoughts you’ve had lately, and analyse these objectively
What is a challenge you’ve faced this year that’s changed your perspective on things
Journal prompts for creativity
Draw or write out what would a perfect day look like for you
Imagine a version of you in a parallel reality – what would their life look like
Write a poem about the things that make you happy
Manifestation journal prompts
Where do you want to be in one-, two-, and five-years’ time, and what steps do you need to take for this to happen
Write a letter from your future self that talks about your achievements, thanking yourself for the work you put in to get there
Write about a day you want to have in the future, as if it’s happened already
What are your goals and intentions for this week
Journaling Tips For Beginners
Here are some tips to help you get started on your journaling journey.
Start small
Journaling doesn’t have to be lengthy, thought-provoking entries where you pull apart your thoughts and experiences. It can be as simple as checking in on how you feel that day, or writing down something that made you smile.
Embrace imperfection
Forget perfect handwriting and grammar when journaling; this places unnecessary pressure on yourself which can make you want to avoid your journal. Embrace messy pages, smudges, spelling mistakes, and all the errors that can come with a journal.
Set up a journaling space
Setting up a cosy space with a notebook you love can make journaling an experience you look forward to each day, which makes it easier to keep consistent.
Create a routine
Another way to improve consistency is dedicating a specific time to journal, that works with your routine. This might be first thing in the morning, on your commute, or before bed – any time you know you always five 5-10 minutes you can dedicate to your journal.
Try different techniques and styles
Play around with different types of journaling to see what you enjoy and get the most from. You might decide to stick with one style, or combine multiple techniques in one or multiple notebooks.
Be honest
It’s important to be honest with yourself about your thoughts in your journal so that you can process and reflect on them. Avoid over editing what you write down!
Don’t criticize yourself
Your journal should be a safe space to explore yourself, and part of this means avoiding judging the thoughts you have.
Use prompts
Use journal prompts to help on days where you don’t know what to write about to remove pressure on yourself to be creative.
Remember, starting a journal doesn’t have to be scary and there is no right or wrong way to journal. It is just as valid to journal once a week or month as it is every day – finding the right type of journaling that works for you is key.
Need a new notebook for your journaling journey? Check out our handmade journals here.
