How I Learned to Love Journaling
I often find myself fantasizing about being a Pinterest-type journaler: having a set routine, journaling with a cup of tea while watching the sun rise or set. But in reality, journaling doesn’t have to be all that glamorous. Don’t get me wrong – it definitely can be, but there is no one set standard of what journaling “has to be”.
I am a self-diagnosed stationery hoarder. I have drawers filled to the brim with empty notebooks waiting to be filled. In the past, I forced myself to write daily and I always seemed to find myself staring at a blank page. Eventually, I decided that journaling wasn’t for me and subsequently, left my drawer of journals closed for months on end. At some point during quarantine, I mustered up the courage to open that drawer. And after quite a bit of trial and error, I finally developed a way of journaling that works for me. And so, here I have consolidated my advice and what I did to learn to love journaling in the following four tips.
Tip #1: Determine your purpose for journaling
We all have our own reasons for keeping a journal. Some want to keep a record of their day-to-day lives, and others may journal to declutter their minds. By identifying your intentions, it will become much easier for you to fill up the blank pages. Your journal can contain anything you want. From a retelling of your day to fragments of poems to a handful of adjectives to express your emotions, there is no criteria your journal has to meet- your journal is there to fulfill your needs.
Tip #2: Alleviate the pressure of writing daily
Contrary to popular belief, forcing yourself to write daily won’t help you become the journaler you aspire to be. Nothing good ever comes out of putting pressure on yourself to write. Journaling becomes yet another chore- another item to check off your never-ending to-do list. Think about it this way: Journaling is almost like throwing the trash out. If your garbage can is empty, you wouldn’t throw the garbage away. And I know, using a trash metaphor to describe journaling is definitely not the most appealing, but I’m serious. Your brain is like the can. When it gets full, journal to expel your thoughts and emotions. If you don’t feel the need to get anything out of your system, don’t journal. Remember, journaling is meant to be a tool for you to better your life – it’s not supposed to make you feel trapped or suffocated.
Tip #3: Forget about being “aesthetic”
These days, journaling has become all about being “artsy”. I have fallen for the trap of erasing my words if I think my handwriting looks messy, or decorating my pages with washi tape, more times than I’d like to admit. I have found, though, that I am happiest when I forget about making my journal look “nice”. When I focus on the process of writing, my words flow freely. Try to rid yourself of the pressure of having a pretty journal. Your journal is not meant to please or serve others; your journal is your journal.
Tip #4: Make it an experience
Journaling shouldn’t be a dull experience. Unleash your inner Pinterest girl and boil a cup of tea. Light some candles and look out the window. Go to a local cafe and try a croissant. Whatever it is you may choose to do, make journaling something you look forward to doing. This being said, though, know that journaling doesn’t have to be an Instagram-worthy activity. Journaling can be done anywhere, anytime.
Hopefully, these four tips have provided you with, at least, some direction. Please remember that journaling is not a skill that is perfected overnight. It will take time to find a routine that works for you. The main idea I hope you take away from this list is that there is nothing that journaling has to look like. Journaling is an incredibly intimate experience and one that can’t be recreated from person to person. Make journaling your time to cleanse your mind and to leave behind any burdens or frustrations you may have.
