Tips to Turn Journaling Into a Fun and Useful Habit

Note: This article is from author Darious Foroux, who offers 29 tips to get the most out of journaling and turn it into an enjoyable habit.

Since I started journaling, my self-knowledge has been enhanced, I have become happier, and I have achieved more professional success. So I recommend this practice to everyone who seriously wants to develop himself. But in my experience, it is related to getting the benefits of this practice by going through it. If it is performed intermittently, it will be no more than a waste of time.

The tips in this article are for people who are passionate about journaling and beginners in this practice who want to improve their practice. But first, we’ll talk about the benefits of journaling because this introduction may make the reader persistent in his desire to receive these benefits.

What are the benefits of journaling?

For years, people have been using journaling as a way to relieve stress. An in-depth study by Joshua Smyth, a professor at Pennsylvania State University, has shown that written emotional expression can significantly improve a person’s physical health, in addition to improving mental health, physiological functions, and health in general.

Journaling doesn’t only improve overall happiness, it also has a positive impact on career-related skills like decision-making and critical thinking. When I started this practice, I wasn’t aware of all the benefits journaling had, but when I persevered, I was able to touch the improvement in my life.

When I remember how the improvement started to appear, I find that what the study we mentioned above is quite true of how I felt. So I persisted in journaling, because I realized its benefits.

29 Tips help you journaling

These tips particularly help people who want to journal but don’t know how to start, these tips came after studying famous journalers like the late physicist Albert Einstein, the Italian painter Leonardo da Vinci, the American writer Helen Keller and the German writer Anne Frank, and many more.

1. Set a clear goal

Some choose to journal for fun, some to analyze for their decisions, and others for self-improvement. It can be said that journaling is an effective tool for a person to learn about himself and his thoughts and organize his habits.

In my experience, you can only turn journaling into a habit if you have a clear goal. And to set that goal, ask yourself what you want to journal for. Answer this question. You’ll find that you’re better able to turn this practice into a habit.

2. Choose the way that suits you journaling

Just because you see all those fancy-looking, well-kept journals on Pinterest or Instagram doesn’t mean you have to do it that way too.

You can journal in the form of short stories, turn activities into painted symbols, or write down your decision-making plans, and what else you like. The important thing is that you record your thoughts, ideas, and feelings regularly. The way you do it’s up to you.

3. Be spontaneous

You’re not trying to impress anyone with your journal. There’s no need to curate the stuff you put in there. This is the place where you can be true and honest to yourself without weighing other people’s opinions.

4. Start with simple procedures

Most journaling tips on the Internet make the practice complicated. Journaling is a habit, so start small. If you tell yourself to write 500 words away, you just put unnecessary pressure on yourself. Just write for two or ten minutes about anything that comes to mind, and keep going if the momentum continues.

5. Don’t be restricted to a certain length for the sentences you write

Once you’ve started journaling, it’s totally fine to write longer entries. In fact, some of the longer entries I write are very therapeutic. The point is that you can do whatever you find useful, whether you want to write a few sentences or feel like writing more.

6. Keep your journal handy

Ideas and inspiration sometimes come in unusual times and places. You may have a great idea while you’re at a train station or in the middle of the night. So, keep your journal handy. You don’t want to miss a good idea. To make this task easier, use a dedicated journaling app.

7. Express in a way that suits you

Your journal doesn’t have to be just words. Feel free to keep it free-form,  like doodling, drawing, or sticking a photo. Maybe you prefer to use charts to illustrate your thoughts. No need to stick to just words.

8. Keep it private

Sometimes, it can be tempting to show your journal to someone. That’s okay. Just be true to yourself. You shouldn’t keep up appearances in your journal. If there’s a passage in your journal you want to show, it’s best to take a photo of it and don’t give the whole journal.

9. Don’t turn it into a to-do list

Journaling is a meditation activity. So don’t confuse it with work, don’t make it a to-do list, and don’t give it compulsory or duty-bound. Keep it personal. This is why we suggest journaling for the first 30 minutes after you wake up, so you can avoid the effects of the scattering to which you are subjected during the rest of the day.

10. Choose a traditional writing style or write through digital applications or combine the two styles

Some people like to use paper journals, while others like to use journaling apps. You can combine both. We think using paper and pen is more fun and spares you the fatigue of staring at your phone or computer screen.

If you’re totally new to journaling, then experiment. Try different paper-based journals. Try note-taking apps on your laptop or smartphone. Find your best fit.

If you are looking for a digital journal, the folks at Holstee created Reflection. app, a free guided journaling experience that’s available on desktop and mobile.

11. Write whenever you want

Though it’s preferable to write every day, the important thing is to keep it a habit. And commit to the habit. But you really don’t need to write every day. If you miss a day, just pick it up the next. The goal is to make time for journaling without beating yourself up over missed habits.

12. You don’t need to write at a certain time

It’s often said that journaling should be a morning activity, but in fact, this tip discourages most people and reduces their enthusiasm for journaling. You really don’t need to journal every day or every morning. If you prefer doing it at night or during lunch, that’s fine.

13. Change the time and places you write

One good journaling tip is to get some variety in your practice. Maybe you’re tired of sitting at your desk, why you don’t visit a cafe to write? Take your journal to work and do a couple of lines during break. Continue it at night and doodle while watching TV.

Keep your writing flexible. This helps you to be inspired and express your feelings. Some of them may think that tip means doing multi-tasks at the same time. But this doesn’t apply to journaling, as it’s not a work assignment. So practice it as you wish and have fun.

14. Create a sense of accountability

Journaling is a habit, and habits are best maintained when you’re held accountable for it. In my experience, an online community of like-minded people is one of the best places to get encouragement and accountability for your habits.

You can join an online writer’s group or use an app that tracks your progress and time.

15. Remove distractions

Your journaling period is a time of meditation. You can’t do that reflection while you’re chatting on a social media app, or notifications keep popping up to distract you. Put your phone on do-not-disturb mode, or turn off your Wi-Fi altogether. Don’t check your email. Just write.

16. Express what worries you in your journal

If you’re worried about something, then journal about it. It doesn’t need to be literally on paper. Note-taking apps can also work. Write it down, and study your options. Stress and anxiety often come from feeling overwhelmed. Putting your worries in a journal can help you deal with them better.

17. Think about decisions by writing

Maybe you’re considering a career change, or you’re weighing the pros and cons of your current relationship. When you need to make a big decision, it helps to put them on paper. Again, it doesn’t have to be literal paper.

18. Check your progress towards your goals regularly

You don’t have to think about this every day. But it can be a good idea to check your progress weekly, monthly, once every three months, or even once every year. Describe your living situation, your work, your relationships, and everything that helps you to know where you want to be.

19. Use different perspectives

Having different points of view is useful in various facets of life. You may feel annoyed by a customer who has ignored you. If you think about things from his perspective, you may find that doesn’t deserve to be angry. If you use this tip well, you can be creative with this.

20. Use questions that motivate you to write

If you can’t think of anything good to write about, set up a list of questions. For example, you can ask yourself the following:

1. What am I good at?
2. What am not I good at, but I’m so-so at?
3. What am I bad at?
4. What’s make me tired?
5. How much sleep do I need?
6. What is the most important thing in my life?
7. Who are the most important people in my life?
8. What stresses me out?
9. What motivates me?
10. What things can help me regain motivation after I lose it?
11. What relaxes me?
12. What’s my definition of success?
13. What type of work would I also do for free?
14. What are my most productive hours of the day?
15. What’s my favorite way of learning?
16. How do I want others to see me?
17. What behaviors do I not like about other people?
18. What makes me sad?
19. How do I manage negative thoughts and feelings?
20. What makes me happy?
21. What makes me afraid?
22. What makes me angry?
23. What type of friend do I want to be?
24. What do I think about myself?
25. What things do I value in life?
26. Is there something in my life that I’m taking for granted?
27. What do I respect about myself?

You can make a list of questions about this. Again, there are no strict rules for journaling. If you have another questions that help you to inspiration, write and answer them.

21. Write at least one true sentence

One of the best writing journaling tips comes from Ernest Hemingway when says: “Write at least one true sentence”. Although this tip is directed at those who want to professionalize writing, it is certainly useful in journaling.

The idea is to open up writing in this sentence. Once you start, you often keep going. If you don’t, at least you have one sentence.

22. Don’t adhere to spelling and grammar rules

You want to set your thoughts free when you’re journaling. You want to think on paper. But often, we edit ourselves as we’re writing. Avoid that, don’t correct your grammar. You’re not writing anything formal.

23. Write about your successes

Remember your successes in your life, like a deal you successfully completed with a client, or you overcame back pain, or other victories you have made in your life. Writing about what’s going well in your life, no matter how small, can help you study it for future insights. Writing about successes also makes you feel more encouraged and positive.

24. Pick a philosophy and write about it

Philosophy helps us examine our values and direction in life. Pick one that you identify with most: Existentialism, Stoicism, Religiosity, etc.

If you don’t have a doctrine you prefer the most, express freely. It’s also good to be inspired by various philosophies.

25. Write about something you’re grateful for when you feel the effectiveness of ideas

If you’ve applied all the journaling tips in the world and have totally run out of things to talk about, then take the time to write about what you’re thankful for. Writing about gratitude can help your thoughts flow again, lift your mood, and boost your confidence even when you’re doubting yourself. It’s a very useful practical exercise.

26. Try writing in the third person

Sometimes, some things you want to bring out are difficult to write about. Maybe it’s trauma or something you’re not proud of. When this happens, try writing in the third person, as if you’re telling someone else’s story. Moat people find that easier. This gives you a sense of relief and provides a new perspective. Write down what you learned about yourself.

27. Write about mundane details

Maybe you had a fun conversation with your best friend. And because it’s often repeated, you feel like nothing is new. But in a few years, you won’t remember it. Details bring memories alive. Note down the location, time, who you were with, what clothes you wore, how it felt, and the verbatim words spoken.

28. Write what you can’t express to others

There are things we sometimes wish we said, but we didn’t say, or we didn’t find the right opportunity. These moments may haunt us even when we can do nothing about it.

Here comes the role of letters not placed in the mailbox, meaning that you write to someone or yourself, write everything you want to say, and keep them in your dairies. It’s a very excellent way to relieve the pressure of feelings and hurtful thoughts.

29. Always end on a positive note

A journal becomes more effective when used as a self-learning tool. Don’t just write about how bad your day was or how annoyed you’re feeling. Staying in a negative mindset influences your decisions. Always end on a positive note.

Conclusion

You will seek the real benefits of journaling when you practice it over a longer period. You won’t get the benefits we mentioned if you practice journaling for a few days a year. This practice can only change your life if you keep at it. This is true for most things in life.

Here’s another fact: Some of the most important characters who have written their journals rarely return to read them. Don’t be surprised, journaling is about the process not what you actually write. The magic is that writing down thoughts makes you learn better even if you never return to your journals.

The tips for writing in this article are not reduced. Of course, journaling in which freedom is exercised making it applicable in almost countless ways. So try to find a way to enjoy it, and you will be struck by its benefits.