How to Incorporate Journaling Into Your Daily Routine

Journaling is a way to pause, reflect and release how and what you’re feeling. Acknowledge the thoughts clouding your mind, put pen to paper to note down the never endling to-do lists and then pause and recognize how you’re feeling today and why.

Dissect your thoughts and feelings to understand why you’re feeling the way you are so you can address it. The other day I was feeling very anxious but I didn’t know why. I started jotting all the thoughts I had racing through my mind. My upcoming deadlines, my current stresses. I was able to narrow down why I felt so anxious and from there, I could try to mitigate my anxiety by rationalizing that there really was no need to be stressed out.

How to get started

• A sentence a day. One of the most effective ways to implement a new habit is to slowly integrate it into your life- one step at a time. Start journaling with one sentence a day. How are you feeling today? How did your day go? What are you grateful for? Whatever comes to mind, jot it down. Overtime- as you develop the habit of sitting down and taking time to journal, you can dedicate more time and writing down more of your thoughts might come easier.

• Journal prompts. Don’t know where or how to start? What to write about? Try journal prompts to get you started. Journal prompts can get you thinking and reflecting on your thoughts, feelings, your likes/dislikes, your goals, what fulfills you etc. Here are a few journal prompts to get you started!

• Start your morning off with journaling. In the mornings, start off your day with the right mindset by journaling. Respond to your daily devotional, write down a quote for the day or reflect on three things you are grateful for.
• End your day with reflection time. Reflect on your day by jotting down how you felt, highlights and lowlights. What could you have done differently today? What can you do better tomorrow?
• Monthly reflection. Reflect on your month as you enter into a new one. How was your month? What were your memorable moments? What went well and what didn’t? How can you go into next month with intentions and goals? Here are a few monthly journal prompts to get you started.

What to journal

Journaling doesn’t only have to be about how you feel. It’s a place to de-clutter and sort your thoughts. Get all your to-dos on a written list. Document your goals. What’s next on your bucket list. What cool restaurants did you want to try? Note how you saw God move today.

• To-do list

Write down the never ending to-do list. Plan out your week and schedule when you will get your tasks done.

• Annual/monthly/weekly goals

Create a page that you can refer to often that states your goals for the year. What steps will you take each month and week to reach them?

• Bucket Lists

What are your must do items for the year? How about for the season? Any travel plans this year? New restaurants you want to try?

• God moments

How has God moved in you life recently? Has he moved in significant ways? These are moments you don’t want to forget, especially when life might not be going as you planned- you can look back and remember God’s plan is always better and He works all things out.

• Gratitude list

Sometimes we forget to pause and reflect how blessed we are- the food on the table, a shelter over our heads and friends and family that support us. Write down what you are grateful for today.

• To be read list/ Books read this year

Write down the books you are meaning to read and keep track of all the books you’ve read this year so far.

• Vision board

Create a vision for you year. Use words and magazine clippings to help yourself remember what you hope your year will look like. Read more on how to create a vision board here.

• Monthly cover pages

Create a new monthly cover page each month to separate your journal entries.

Journaling Supplies

• Clip outs from magazines
• Pens and markers
• Journal
• Journal clips
• Tape

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Journaling will  help you put your feelings into words and reflect. Become self-aware and improve your habits and mindset. Get to know yourself better so you can be better. In the end, your journal will be a little piece of your own personal history that you can look back on and see how far you’ve come.