5 Tips for People New to Journalling

Introduction to Journalling

Journalling is a great way to start to shift your mindset and create a greater connection with yourself. Making a connection with your current experience of life through feelings / emotions, thoughts and body sensations. Journaling can help create greater self-awareness in our lives in each of the areas of our lives.

I have been journalling for many years now and also use my blog as Jane’s Journal. I started when I was young and wrote about tennis, ways I could improve, results etc. as well as different situations and experiences in my life. I then had a time in my life where I didn’t do it much, however then started up again.

I journal for a variety of reasons including learning (i.e. things I would do differently next time) and recapturing the experience (i.e. how I did something). I also have a variety of templates that I use for journalling from gratitude, to interrupting thoughts patterns to reflecting on my day.
Self-reflection really is a great skill to do and can help you move consciously towards your dreams by connecting whole-heartedly with your self.

Maybe you are wanting to start journaling, however don’t know where to start? Or think you have nothing to write about? Maybe you have so many journals, however don’t know how to fill them? Or maybe you know it is time to make journaling a habit?

What is Journalling?

Basically journaling is writing down your thoughts and feelings about your life experiences in a journal or diary It is a skill of self-awareness. To journal is to keep –

• “A personal record of occurrences, experiences, and reflections kept on a regular basis; a diary.” ~ The Free Dictionary
• “a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use” ~ Merriam-Webster, and
• “to write self-examining or reflective journal entries” ~ Dictionary.com

As you can see by the above definitions of journalling, it is about looking within. So, now we are on the same page about journaling.

5 Tips for People New to Journalling

Before starting to journal, I would encourage you to think about the following 5 things – 

1. Protect Your Privacy –

Find a space to keep your journal in its own special, safe place. If you are living with people, you may like to create some boundaries and ask for an agreement that your journal is private. You may also want to put your name and contact details in the front (in case it gets lost). I also add the number of the journal I am up to (so they are all in order).

2. Date Every Entry –

When you are writing in your journal, write the date next to each journal entry. This helps you look back on your journal notes in chronological order.  

3. Take Time to Reflect on What you Write –

Reflecting and looking back over your journal can show how far you have come, helps build your self-belief and also develops self-awareness.

4. Tell Yourself the Truth –

Not sure if this needs further explanation, however if you cannot tell yourself the truth, who can you tell the truth to? Which again, is why privacy is so important. 

5. Write Naturally –

One of the things to remember with journalling is to remember there are no rules. Which is why writing naturally is here. So please remember, if you don’t like the journal prompts, don’t use them.

Over to You…

I hope this post has helped you with some new tips if you are ready to start journalling. If you have any questions, please write then below.

Want to start journalling? Click here to see the journals we have created 🙂

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