Journaling- How To Get Started

 

Journaling- How To Get Started

As mentioned in my previous post i,e, Journaling- Rules & Benefits , this post is more focused on understanding how to get started with Journaling. 

Below are a few pointers that have been inspired by a well known Youtuber Megan Livingstone. The manner in which she has described to go about getting started with the idea of journaling is precise. 

I would like to share the same with you with a few additions of my own.

Invest in a Journal or Notebook: Many of us love to shop and when it comes to stationary, there are many who go head over heels for the same too. So enjoy the process of choosing a journal for yourself. This is one of my favorite things to do. Every year or so after I’ve finished a journal, I make a trip out to the store to choose a new one that I fancy the most. Look for one that’s not too small so that you do not have to spend more for another journal down the road.

Pick a Time: There’s no right or wrong time of day to journal, but it is best to choose a time in your schedule where you can be alone and uninterrupted. Before bed, in the evening, as part of your morning routine (this is a great time to set intentions for the day!), or any time you are feeling emotions that you want to dive deeper into is a great time to pull out your journal and write. It is not important to journal every single day. Again, whatever works for you! For me, sometimes I journal once or twice a week, sometimes every day for a few days, and other times I go a couple of months without journaling. It’s just a tool I turn to when I need to express myself, so there’s no specific time or amount that is required. Experiment and find what works best for you.

What to Write: Many people wonder what to write about in the first place when getting started with journaling. It can seem daunting or uninspiring to imagine staring at a blank notebook. But there are countless things for you to journal about.  You can also refer to the RULES OF JOURNALING that I have mentioned earlier for help.

Here are a few examples:

Limiting beliefs or fears that you have
Something that got you stressed on a given day
Decisions that you are unable to make at the moment
What are you grateful for?
Your prayers for those whom you love but you are not able to reach out

Writing Styles: Again, there’s no right or wrong way to journal, but here are some examples of writing styles that you may find helpful when getting started. I personally use a combination of these depending on how I’m feeling and what I’m writing about.

Stream of Consciousness: this is a style of writing whereby you simply write on 1-2 pages without stopping. You don’t pause to think about or judge what you’re going to write, but rather, allow whichever thoughts are present to be transferred on to paper, with or without the use of punctuation. This is a fun practice to do sometimes as you may find you repeat yourself several times, which can be an indicator of something that’s very prominent on your mind.

Brain Dump: I love doing brain dumps. This style of writing comes in handy for work or school or when you feel overwhelmed with a LOT of different things on your mind. To do a brain dump, simply write down ALL of the things that are weighing you down. This could be tasks you need to complete, upcoming projects, or things going on in your life. It feels so good to get it out! Then, you can organize these things by priority to help you feel more mentally organized.

Pros and Cons: writing out a list of pros and cons comes in handy when you are trying to make a decision. I’ve journaled out many big decisions in my life, including various pros and cons lists, and it’s really helpful to take a look at it in an objective way to help you gain some clarity.

Short & Sweet: sometimes all you may want to write is one simple sentence or a paragraph or two, and that’s perfectly fine!

Symbols & Drawings: adding some doodles or pictures to your journal alongside what you’re writing, or on their own, is a great way to further capture what it is you’re trying to say. It’s a fun way to express yourself, especially if you don’t feel like you have many words to say.

Just Notes: jot notes come in handy when you’re not in the mood for writing out several paragraphs. When you just want to get some stuff off your mind quickly and in an organized way, use jot notes/bullet points.

Poetry/Storytelling: writing your thoughts out as poetry is such a beautiful way to express yourself. I personally adore poetry and I love writing in this way when I don’t want to be so explicit, but creative instead.

My process of journaling is usually a combination of the above. I usually begin by writing down the date and then titling my journal entry something that reflects what I’m about to write about. Then I jump in by writing about something that happened to me, something that’s bothering me, how I’m feeling that day, what I need help with, or a fear or limiting belief that I want to explore. I just prefer keeping it simple!

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Written by Jaison Noronha
Idea Source : Personal Experiences & YouTube