

Are you more of a visual person who struggles with words? Start an art journal and express your emotions with daily sketches and doodles that incorporate some writing.Įxperiment with writing on paper, on a laptop or on your smartphone and find whatever works best for you.

Do you obsess over your handwriting when you’re writing in a paper journal? Try downloading an app for gratitude journaling that will give you daily prompts you can simply type in.

Try a few ways of keeping a journal and observe how it makes you feel. Because it’s not much effort to type something out versus getting hand cramps from paper journaling. I type faster, I feel more productive and I’m less likely to censor myself and more likely to write stream of consciousness. The speed and ease of the keyboard sometimes works better. The usual advice is to write on paper because writing in cursive forces you to slow down and relieves stress.Īnd though I still love writing a rough draft for a story on paper, I sometimes get on my laptop for everyday journaling. Experiment and find whatever works to get into the writing habit. You don’t have to keep a paper journal You don’t have to keep a paper journal. My advice is to experiment and find your own way – even if it goes against the typical journaling tips online. Something – even a few lines in your note app on the subway – is far better than nothing.Īre you struggling with journaling every day, or do you hate writing or don’t have time for it? Because the joys and benefits of journaling outweigh the necessity of writing on paper or journaling in the morning. So I experimented and found what works for me. Because the journaling tips I’ve read haven’t always helped in my real life. Journaling offers many powerful benefits, but it’s not always easy to get into the habit of writing every day. It’s the belief in the value of journaling and the persistence to make it work. Though it’s not always perfection that qualifies someone to speak. I’ve written about the value of journaling daily.īut I don’t always keep a daily journal. There are seasons in your life when you feel balanced and motivated – and you’ve got your priorities straight.Īnd other times you’re stressed and wonder what it’s all for.īut the value of journaling comes through when you stick with it despite the ups and downs.

And you don’t have to beat ourselves up whenever you fall short of writing daily. It’s a habit you develop that you actually need most when you’re feeling anxious, hurried or just not in the mood. It’s not a hobby for when you’re feeling great or have the luxury of time. I get distracted and I deal with depression and anxiety like many others.īut here’s the thing: journaling is a habit. Then a few weeks later my good habits fall apart.Īnd sometimes it feels hypocritical to write about journaling when I don’t always maintain a perfect writing streak. Sometimes I write how-to posts and the tips really work in my daily life. Here are my top journaling tips and the life-changing benefits of writing. Struggling to journal every day? Forget the usual advice.
