Keeping a purpose in mind may help motivate you to stick with journaling. For instance, if you're working through the loss of a loved one, a chronic disease diagnosis or another challenging situation, your motivation might be to gain clarity on the situation and manage your emotions. Perhaps you want an outlet to help you feel less stress, or you may just want to add a little creativity to your day.
If you can't seem to get into the habit of journaling regularly, look at what's stopping you. Common stumbling blocks include:
You might even journal about the issues that keep you from journaling often. After all, your journal is a tool that can help you work through challenging situations. When you address the barriers to your journaling habit, you can find ways to overcome them.
It might sound silly, but using a journal and pens you enjoy can help you get excited about writing. Browse journal options to find some with attractive covers that grab your attention. Then, look inside. You can find journals with blank pages, lined pages and prompts. If you like neat rows of writing, you might prefer a lined journal. Blank pages might be better if you like to draw or get creative with your journaling. Choosing a journal with prompts often helps if you feel stuck when you journal.
When you're starting any new habit, penciling it into your day can help you remember to do it. Look for a pocket of time that you can dedicate to quiet journaling. Some people like to schedule their journaling time in the morning to set their intentions for the day. Others prefer to journal about everything that happened that day before going to bed. Whatever you prefer, set aside that time just for journaling.
You can also try a technique called habit stacking. With this strategy, you pair your new habit with an activity you already do. For instance, if you already have a prayer routine when you wake up each morning, you might stack journaling onto that habit. Your established habit becomes a reminder for the new activity until it becomes a natural part of your routine.
Habits often take time to form. If writing pages of thoughts in your journal doesn't come naturally, start small and build up to a larger habit. You might write just a few lines each day in your journal at first. Instead of setting aside an hour of journaling time, simply sit down for 5 minutes to write. The smaller start will feel more manageable and help you ease into longer journaling sessions.
For some people, not knowing what to write in the journal becomes a barrier to getting started. They freeze when they sit down to write. Planning can help you find inspiration for filling your journal pages. Here are some ideas that could inspire you:
Your retirement years often keep you busy. For instance, living at Bethesda Gardens Fort Worth means you have a robust calendar of activities you can enjoy every day. All those activities can make you forget about tasks such as journaling. Set a reminder on your phone that pops up to remind you about your journal. You might also leave notes around your home as reminders.
Giving yourself a little treat for journaling consistently could encourage you to continue with the habit. Buy yourself a new set of colorful gel pens for your journal or treat yourself to a fancy coffee drink. Little treats can be major motivators when you're establishing new habits.
