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Have you been wondering how to start journaling? And then you turned to Pinterest for inspiration?
Pinterest is an endless sea of ideas… and a trap for journaling beginners
If you’ve ever searched for journaling ideas on Pinterest, you’ve probably seen them: the beautiful journaling pages with impeccable handwriting, aesthetic decorations and illustrations that could have come from an artist. It can be very intimidating and overwhelming to look at them. You’re probably wondering how to get started yourself. You probably look at your blank journal, thinking: Well, I’m screwed… Before you put your lovely journal in a corner and don’t touch it again.
To make sure that doesn’t happen, I’d like to share three tips with you on how to start journaling. The tips show you how to make it a fun activity that keeps you going. (No matter what undercover artists share on Pinterest.)
Before we look at the tips, here’s a free tip to start with:
Put Pinterest (and your phone, for that matter) aside, and focus your attention on yourself.
Tip #1: Make it a fun & rewarding activity
Journaling is about you, your thoughts and your feelings. There is no right or wrong. That’s why there are many ways and methods to start with journaling:
- If you love stationery and are a haptic person (i.e., you like to do things with your hands), you can start with a paper journal.
- If you are in love with your iPad and use it for every occasion, a digital journal is definitely a good start for you.
- If you like both or can’t decide, you can do a mix. Write on paper and digitally and find out which you enjoy more. (Or keep both!)
Even though other people may tell you otherwise: You don’t have to buy a separate journal to get started. You can start with loose paper or an ordinary notebook.
The important thing is to make it an activity you enjoy. Use sheets of paper, notebooks, pens, washi tape and stickers that make you feel excited so that you want to start right away. Have you always wanted to write in ink? Get yourself a nice quill, and give it a try!
Find out what kind of environment is good for you and how you can integrate that into your journaling activity. What gives you a feeling of peace and comfort? Make yourself a cup of coffee or tea, light your favourite candle and sit on a comfortable chair. Or take your headphones and sit on a bench in a park. Whatever works for you—do it and test it out!
By the way, you don’t have to stick with a method just because you’ve tried it once. There are no rules about how to start journaling. The only thing that counts is what feels right and good for you.
Make journaling an activity you enjoy! Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Tip #2: Start small
If you’re just starting out and thinking about how to start journaling, it’s a good idea to lower your expectations. If you’ve never done it before, you’re unlikely to fill pages upon pages on your first experiment.
Set aside 15-30 minutes for your first sessions. Don’t expect to write a novel straight away. Your journaling is for you and your eyes only. No one else will read your entries (unless you share them with someone). You don’t have to win a Pulitzer Prize with your writing. The sentences don’t have to be particularly eloquent or stylistically exciting. They are your thoughts and feelings. Heck, you don’t even have to be able to read it yourself afterwards. Journaling is about the process, not about a pretty outcome.
Tip #3: Use journaling prompts
You may find it difficult to get anything down on paper at all. This is normal and not a problem! If you don’t know yet what to write and how to express yourself, journaling prompts can be a source of guidance.
Journaling prompts are your helping hand when you don’t know how to start journaling. Usually, they are short sentences or questions to stimulate your thoughts. They can be rather shallow and easy to answer or very deep and thought-provoking.
Here are three journaling prompts to help you start with journaling:
- How would you describe your mood today?
- How did you prioritize rest and relaxation today?
- What upcoming social events are you looking forward to?
You can write one of these questions at the top of your entry. Below that, write down anything that comes to mind. Write whole sentences or bullet points. If you find it easier to express your thoughts with scribbles, doodles and illustrations, you can do that too.
Did you like these prompts and would like more to start your journaling habit? Check out THE JOURNALING JOURNEY in my shop. These prompts revolve around 9 areas in life, and are ideal for beginners. With 72 different prompts, you won’t run out of journaling material anytime soon!
Now available: The JOURNALING JOURNEY
How to start journaling? It’s easier than it looks!
Hopefully, if you follow these three tips, it will be easier for you to start journaling. Adjust your expectations and remember: journaling is all about you!
Let me know if you have started a journal yet!
If you’re looking for more journaling tips and inspiration, check out the journaling section on my blog.
Title Image Credit: Prophsee Journals on Unsplash