So you have opened up your journal to a fresh page and are ready to write. Now what? Here are three simple tips to help you use your journal to develop your strengths, improve your self-awareness and fulfill your aspirations.
- Take notes throughout the day. Jot down those fleeting thoughts and brilliant ideas you have during your day. Carry around a small notebook or a mini voice recorder to record important “headlines” or bullet points as you think of them. Even if you think you’ll remember later, take a second to write that thought down, record it or even email or text yourself a reminder. When you have more time later, reread your notes and use them as prompts for longer entries in your journal.
- Find a routine that works for you. If you are always running out the door five minutes late to work in the morning, don’t try to force yourself into writing in your journal when you wake up. Find a time later in the afternoon or evening when you are more relaxed and can fully devote your attention to it. Alternately, if you are falling asleep over your journal when you try to write “Night Notes ” before bed, try an earlier time when you are more alert.
For the morning people:
Write as soon as you get up in the morning (or after you’ve had your coffee if necessary). Describe what your ideal day looks like in detail. Consider questions such as:
- What are you excited about?
- What do you hope to accomplish?
- What are potential challenges you might face, and how can you overcome them?
- How will you feel at the end of the day?
- Do you have any insights from yesterday?
- Were your predictions close to the reality of the day?
Stay focused on what you want to achieve, then later evaluate the day’s actual events.
For the night owls:
Kick up your feet after the kids are in bed or after you’ve finished doing the dinner dishes. Find a quiet place where you can write uninterrupted, and tell your journal about your day. Ask questions such as:
- What were your victories?
- What were your roadblocks?
- How do you feel?
- What do you hope for tomorrow?
Again, construct your perfect day and focus on your goals.
Stumped?
Start your entry by writing down five things you are most grateful for or five victories, large or small, from the day.
- Go beyond the to-do list. It’s easy to get caught up in thinking about what you need to accomplish in the immediate future, but your journal has the potential to be much more than just an ongoing to-do list. Write about your wild ideas, your big dreams, your crazy “what if…” scenarios. Your journal will never judge you or tell you something is impossible, so feel free to dream out loud on the page. Remember that Leonardo da Vinci kept detailed journals of his art, writing, inventions and other creative imaginings, and he is widely recognized as having one of the greatest minds in history. Keeping a journal helped him sort through his ideas and see life from a unique perspective others may have missed.
How does your journal assist you in your personal development? What journaling tips would you add to this list?
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