How to Start Journaling: A Life-Changing Habit

In  childhood, many had a secret diary, which they trusted with their most intimate thoughts and dreams. But as adults, we often abandon this activity and consider it nothing more than a childish prank or a privilege of very creative individuals.

How to start keeping a diary if there are much more serious things to do, and why should you do it at all? We will tell you why the habit of keeping records can change your life for the better.

• Why keep a diary: 10 reasons
• How to start journaling: tips for an easy start
• About what to write in a diary: don't hold back

Why keep a diary: 10 reasons

The main thing how the diary will help you — it is to understand & nbsp; oneself, stop and & nbsp; comprehend the events from & nbsp; one's life. In the digital age, we run life like a squirrel in a wheel, and consume tons of information. The diary will become your safe haven in the cycle of life and more than once a saving anchor.

10 reasons to start journaling:

1. Record events from your life, so that you can return later and rethink them or remember important and pleasant moments

2. Trust your diary with your thoughts that you can tell even your loved ones.

3. Write down the ideas that come to your head during during the day. This will help not to forget about them and apply in practice.

4. Diary — it is an opportunity to speak out without fear of being judged, criticized or ridiculed.

5. He helps you to relieve stress and deal with your feelings.

6. Journaling has been compared to therapy, which is always available to you.

7. The diary will help you to analyze your life and make the right decision.

8. Gives you the opportunity to build relationships with other people or show that someone is not going your way.

9. The diary can become a deep dive into yourself and will reveal new facets of your personality.

10. Free-writing writing will help clear up your thoughts and teach them to articulate them more clearly.

This is just a rough list of the benefits that journaling can bring to you. Everyone determines for what purposes he/nbsp;takes a pen and notebook, since there are actually no rules. The diary can be your "vest" where you splash out your emotions, and it can be your creative notebook, travel notes and personal psychologist.

How to start journaling: tips for an easy start

The answer to the question "How to start keeping a diary?" starts with  selecting a notepad and pen. These tools should be convenient for you, while the format of the diary can be absolutely any: a diary, a spiral notebook, a folding notebook, a notebook, a sketchbook. It is good if the size is such that you can easily take it with you. Sometimes good ideas and thoughts come at work on the travel and of course travel 

Some prefer to keep a diary digitally: on phone, computer or online. As in paper and    electronic, make sure that nobody except you reads     Confidentiality will help you write without fear of being read.

Try to take notes regularly. Not necessarily every day, but you can set small rules for yourself. For example, record important events, record your emotions, write in the mornings or evenings. Once a week or a month, you can reflect on everything that has happened to you during all this time and write down conclusions. You can even set a timer and write a little each day.

Read also: Why the habit of getting up at 5 in the morning will change your life

Be sure to date your entries. Diary — it is also a chronology of events that will always help you return to the past.

In the diary, you can not only write, but and draw, make collages, write out quotes, scribble and many other things that come to your head. At the same time, writing should be easy, natural and fast. Let your thoughts spill out onto the paper and don't think about calligraphy. It's enough that you read your own handwriting.

Don't tear pages out of the diary if over time you find them stupid, careless, funny. Who knows what you will think about all this in another month, a year, 10 years?

As you can see, there are practically no rules in keeping a diary. You can drive it the way you want when it suits you. The only important addition, without which it is pointless to keep a diary — you must write honestly. After all, you want to establish a dialogue with yourself, and here you cannot do without sincerity.

About what to write in a diary: do not hold back

Starting a diary is easier than continuing and not quitting. Sometimes nothing happens in life, and sometimes there are so many thoughts in the head that it not clear where to start.

The following ideas will help to overcome the creative block:

• write what thank you for;

• ask yourself a question and write down the answers;

• write down the quote that caught your eye and contemplate it;

• describe a moment from your day or life that excited you or something you remember;

• describe your dreams;

• write about your fears and anxieties;

• compose a poem or story;

• practice freewriting — free letter. Write down all the thoughts that go through your head;

• draw your feelings, emotions or events;

• make lists and write down goals;

• write the letter you never send;

• briefly describe the events of your day;

• fantasize and write who you would like to be in this life or a past life;

• write from books and movies that impressed you;

• write about your desires and dreams;

• write a statement and develop the idea.

Diary entries can be short or long, in lists or pictures — — try different ways and you will definitely find yours.

Read also: 10 important things to do every day

If you're looking for extra journaling inspiration, you can read these books:

1. Kathleen Adams "Diary as a way to self  22 practices for self-discovery and personal development"

2. Barbara Sher Refuse to Choose

3. Hal Elrod «The Magic of the Morning. Diary».

Diary — it is an effective tool for self-development and self-knowledge. Lead him as you wish, but be sincere and truthful. Choose a comfortable pen and a beautiful notebook, be alone with yourself and write down all your thoughts and ideas in a diary. If you do this regularly, you will be able to understand yourself, become more creative and successful.

Read also: The life of happy people is available to everyone: find out how

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