Journaling tips to help you get started
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I can’t imagine a day when I haven’t scribbled stuff in my journal. I find the art of journaling very soothing. There is something very spiritual about journaling, in my opinion. Journaling has been part of my morning and night routine for a long time. I feel that I’m in a safe space when I’m journaling. As a therapist, I understand how important it is to find a safe space where you can talk about anything without feeling judged and cornered.
Journaling is an important element in my practice and the program I currently offer. Usually, I do find many people feeling hesitant about journaling, and writing stuff down every day feels like work for most clients. Even though the idea of writing feels amazing, a lot of people feel lost and unsure about the process. This is what inspired me to write this article. In case you’re a beginner, you might feel a bit hesitant too and that’s perfectly okay.
I hope these tips help you get started and I hope you include journaling as part of your everyday routine.
1.    Write whatever you’re feeling without worrying too much about feeling judged. All your feelings are valid and encouraged.
2.    If you feel overwhelmed and want to cry, go ahead!
3.    Don’t force yourself or worry about language. Feel like using swear words, it’s completely okay.
4.    Create an ambiance if you can before you write. Candles, incense, burn a sage if you feel like it.
5.    Take a deep breath or meditate for just a minute before you begin. It’ll help calm the nerves about journaling.
6.    This is a safe space, so go ahead and vent out.
7.    Don’t feel guilty if you miss a day or two. Go at it, at your own pace.
8.    It’s not about getting it right or good or perfect, so allow it to flow without worrying about making mistakes.
9.    There’s no right way to journal, feel free to do what feels right to you and feel free to get creative too!
10. It’s not about sounding good on paper. It’s about venting out. It’s completely okay if what you write doesn’t feel too profound or intense according to you.
11. Time yourself if you feel you think too much and write without pausing.
12. Five to 10 minutes a day is more than enough.
13. There’s no word limit so feel free to write pages if you feel like it.
14. Nothing is written in stone and you can always go back and change it.
15. You’re allowed to make a mess too. Scratch a word or an entire page, it’s all good!
16. If using a guided journal, allow yourself to let the prompt sink in and ask questions if you’re resisting a prompt.
17. Can’t think of anything, ask yourself how you’re feeling today or what are you grateful for today and let the words flow.
18. The prompts are just to guide you so it’s totally fine if your response is slightly different or doesn’t sync too
19. Try to let the answers flow and don’t worry about filling pages. The more you write the better you’ll feel.
20. Your thoughts are for you so don’t edit them.
21. Be honest with your journal. Consider talking to it rather than simply using it.
22. You can always rewrite the same prompt the next day if you feel differently than you did a day before.
23. No one will read your journal unless you show them, so don’t feel hesitant.
24. Asking the right questions will help you open a lot of thoughts that you perhaps haven’t been paying attention to.
25. Don’t force yourself to be optimistic or positive if you don’t feel that way.
26. Allow yourself to also write about the ideal future if you feel like it.
27. Creating a to-do list is very different from journaling so try to not confuse the two.
28. You can draw, paint, doodle, collage, and write as a part of journaling, it’s not always about words.
Research has shown that journaling has a lot of emotional, mental and physical benefits as well. It differs from person to person. Everyone has a different experience when it comes to journaling. Everyone enjoys it at their own pace as well. Try to be a little patient with yourself when you are on this journey, especially if you’re just starting to journal.
Ideally, we can see the benefits of journaling when we make it a daily habit. A lot of creatives have found their calling once they started to journal. It takes a little practice to be honest to get started with something new and find what may work for us. And it’s completely okay to explore in the beginning.
I hope these tips help you get started and hope you have an amazing experience with journaling.
Thank you for stopping by!