Journaling every day might seem like a restriction or chore at first, but building that constant habit actually frees you to be your best creative self.
When you write down your truest and deepest thoughts, you are allowed to be yourself – and express yourself – fully and wholeheartedly. No holds barred. So I hesitate to make any hard rules or set any restrictions on how you should journal.
But I do have two fundamental rules of journaling that I’ve talked about before:
- Journaling must be done by hand.
- Journaling must be part of a daily routine.
Some journalers take to these guidelines immediately, jumping right into daily longhand journaling without a moment of uncertainty. But most of us struggle with them at first. It’s hard to start a new habit and stick to it, day in and day out. It’s tempting to skip “just one day” (or five or 50).
And some of us just object to the very idea of having rules for journaling.
Isn’t the whole point to be more true to myself and my desires?
I’ll journal whenever I damn well please. You’re not the boss of me!
What does it matter if I write every day or every six weeks? I’m still journaling!
If you’re cursing me and my rigid rules, and thinking something along these lines, I hear you. I’ve been there too. And I also have a rebellious streak that makes me resist doing what people tell me to do (even if the person doing the telling happens to be me).
But hear me out. The reason I love these two rules is that they don’t make me feel confined; they make me feel more free.
It sounds counterintuitive, but it’s true. Complete independence in my journaling practice can actually make me stressed and indecisive, while setting simple limitations allows me to be more open and creative.
Think of it this way: when I wake up in the morning, I know I’m going to journal. It’s a fact. It’s already decided, so I don’t have to think about it at all. It’s as much a part of my daily routine as brushing my teeth or drinking water, so there’s no need to question whether I’ll do it or not.
On the other hand, if I don’t have this habit in place, I have to make a decision every single day whether I’ll journal or not. I must expend energy thinking, “I know I should write. I’ll feel better when I do, but I don’t really feel like it. What if I just wait till tomorrow…?” And tomorrow I have to start all over again, making a new decision (or a new excuse).
It was an enormous relief when I just decided to journal every day. I felt happy and at peace with my choice. I got to use my precious headspace and creative energy for more important things, and I began to look forward to my journaling time as an essential moment in my day.
What about you? Are you ready to be more free by setting limits? What’s holding you back?
#JustWriteON!
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Journaling every day might seem like a restriction or chore at first, but building that constant habit actually frees you to be your best creative self.
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