How to Start Journaling

Journaling is a really great way to express yourself, process your thoughts and feelings, and track your progress over time. It can be a helpful tool for self-discovery, mental health, and creativity. I started my journaling journey right when the pandemic hit because I found myself stuck inside with too many thoughts, not enough people to talk to, and wanted a safe space to unload all of my thoughts and draw to my heart’s content.

The great thing about journaling is that despite what people think, it doesn’t require any words. Of course, traditional journaling does require you to put your thoughts on paper, but I am a firm believer that you can convey your thoughts and feelings through art, which is why sometimes my journal spreads contain very few words but are bursting with colors and designs. So, if you feel like you can’t start journaling because you don’t know what to write – don’t worry. Anyone can journal.

If you're thinking about starting a journal, but you're not sure where to start, here are some tips on how you can start journaling:

• Choose a journal that you love. You’re going to be spending A LOT of time with this journal and it’s your personal space, so it’s very important to choose something that you will love and will be excited to write in. There are so many different types of journals you can choose from and depending on what you decide is a priority for you, that will determine the kind of journal you use. Maybe you love journals that have lines or maybe you prefer journals with thicker paper so that the pen ink doesn’t bleed through (these are my fave!) or maybe you love leather-bound journals versus paper ones. The options are endless so find a journal that speaks to you.

• Find a comfortable place to write. You'll want to find a place where you can relax and focus on your writing (or designing!). This could be your bedroom, your living room, or even a coffee shop. Depending on what I am planning on doing with my journal, that dictates where I work. If it’s a text-heavy day, I am happy to write anywhere. If I am creating more aesthetic journal spreads, I love to be in the comfort of my office.

• Set aside some time each day to write or create. It doesn't have to be a lot of time – even 15 minutes a day can make a big difference! The important part is making sure you are committing time to write regularly.

• This one is going to be a hard one for perfectionists (trust me, I’d know because I am one!), but don't worry about grammar or spelling… because no one will see it! Your journal is a private space, so there's no need to worry about grammar or spelling. Just write whatever comes to mind.

• Be honest with yourself because this is one of those times where you can be and no one will judge you (but maybe yourself). Journaling is a great way to be honest with yourself about your thoughts and feelings. Don't be afraid to write about anything that's on your mind – down the line, you can revisit things you’ve previously written and see how much you’ve grown (or not grown, but hopefully, that’s not the case).

• Keep your journal private. Your journal is a private space, so it's important to keep it safe. While I have different journals for different things, there are a few that I would hate for other people to read – those are for me and for me only. So, if you feel like you might want to create things for people to see but also write for yourself, you can always create more than one journal.

• Have fun! Journaling should be enjoyable, so don't take it too seriously. Just relax, let your thoughts flow, and have fun with it – seriously. Don’t make journaling a chore that you dread doing because you’ll never continue with it!

For those of you who don’t know what to write about or what to create, here are some additional tips for getting started with journaling:

• Use journaling prompts. If you're not sure what to write about, you can use journaling prompts to get your creative juices flowing. There are many different journaling prompts available online and in books. I love getting inspiration online for things I can write about.

• Get creative and don’t limit yourself to what you think your journal should look like just because you see someone else do something. Whether you want to write stories, poems, songs, or just draw photos, that’s okay, too! I love writing fiction in general, so sometimes I’ll look up book writing prompts and do that instead – it’s a great way to be creative and write!

• Experiment with new formats and styles. There’s no wrong or right way to journal, so experimenting will help you find what works best for you. You could experiment with different journaling styles, different layouts – anything!

• Don’t feel like you have to write long novels. Sometimes I get lazy and just want to write short sentences or long, run-on streams of consciousness that make no sense to me later on (but was what I wanted to write at the time, so no regrets there) – no matter how you journal, it should suit your mood.

• Use a journal as a tracker for your progress (more to come on this in a future blog post!). I love using my journal to help track my goals and you can, too. From saving money to tracking how many books you’ve read to even how much water you’ve had a day, you can track your progress to help yourself stay motivated and on track.

• Join a journaling community. There are many online and offline journaling communities where you can connect with other journalers and share your thoughts and experiences.

I hope you find these tips helpful to get started with journaling. But, remember that journaling is a really private experience and the only way you can find out what works best for you. Happy journaling!