Introduction to Journaling

Although journaling goes as far back as ancient civilizations and early journals were not paper based, but often stone or clay tablets, in recent years it is a topic that has boomed in popularity and adopted by high performers and celebrities alike., and the benefits of journaling are huge.

And yet, many people I know find it confusing, daunting, and intimidating. Some of them are not sure why they should. Others want to start, but don’t know how.  So, in this blog I will aim to answer the questions that I am asked and hopefully make your journaling journey easier and more fulfilling.

My own journaling story started on a plane from Geneva to the UK in 2010. I had been visiting my sister and her family, and as I was at the time going through a divorce, there was a lot going on my head. A lot of the time I felt overwhelmed and exhausted, and a relative of mine had suggested I used writing as a way of letting the thoughts out of my head.

It was on the journey back that I wrote my first entry, all about where I was in life, where I wanted to go, and how I could get there. After scribbling for a lot of pages, I felt lighter, clearer, and happier. And just like that, my life changed.

What is journaling?

Well, it is simply the act of writing about your thoughts, emotions, experiences observations and plans.

I say simply, however this simple practice is powerful, and the main reason is that it, like any writing task, requires you to think. Remember all those essays you wrote at school? Why did they get you to write? Because you had to think, make sense of your thoughts, and write them down. This, in turn, gave you clarity.

And once you have clarity, you can make a more informed choice, which can often be life changing. Going back to my example of my first entry. At the time I was going through a divorce and the journaling helped me navigate the process and my journey as a single mother. Sometimes the entries were not pretty, but seeing them on paper helped me see these events more rationally and turn these difficult times around.

Rules of journaling

Some of the most common questions I get asked are when you should journal, how much to write, and what to write. The confusion around this, and subsequent over thinking keeps people from starting.

And the truth is, there are no rules. It really is up to you, there is no ‘right’ way to journal. It is a practice that is to benefit you, and not one that should cause you any pressure.

Generally, people journal in the morning, and/or the evening. But there is nothing stopping you from writing when you have time during the day.

As for how much, again, it is up to you. Some people write pages and pages, and another person may only write a few words. Something as short and simple as “Today was a great day”.

 Types of journals

This is another question that people get stuck on. What type of journal? There are many types, and you don’t have to restrict yourself to just 1. For example:

• An old fashioned notebook with plain or lined paper. This is my favourite.

• A Bullet journal - this too is a physical book, but with dots that you can join and customise the book as you wish.

• Journal with prompts - as the name suggests, this book is filled with prompts to reflect on.

• Journaling Apps - similar to the above, but accessible on your phone for ease. I must admit, I have never got into these.

• Electronic journals - in it’s simplest for this is a document on your laptop, and is something I am going to start.

My advice would be, start, try out different times and methods, and see what works for you.