I’ve been journaling on and off for my whole life! But, if you haven’t, a journaling how-to guide is exactly what you need.

Journaling is a very unique and personal experience. It generally includes writing down your thoughts, ideas, and important things to remember.

You can either go for the classic ‘Dear Diary’ and write about your day, or make mind maps, a gratitude journal, or even write down a to-do list. The possibilities are endless.

If you’re considering it or just interested in learning what the hype is about, you definitely came to the right place.

Journaling how-to guide

I always thought journaling had to be the ‘Dear Diary’-way and I personally never liked that idea.

For some reason I thought you had to be creative and a good storyteller, which I’m definitely not. I’m more of a list-type of person and enjoy ticking things off a checklist.

But journaling is all about experimenting and finding your way. There’s literally no wrong way.

Some benefits of journaling include:

Improving your personal development.
Becoming more self-aware and mindful.
Improving your mental health: Self-confidence and self-esteem. Anxiety and stress.
- Self-reflecting.
- Managing and working through bad experiences or feelings.
Documenting your memories.
Improving your time management & productivity.
Setting and achieving goals.
Prioritizing your tasks.
Creating healthier habits.
Improving your self-discipline.
Improving your communication skills.
Increasing creativity.

Get the most out of journaling by trying the following:

1. Schedule a daily meeting with yourself (time & place)

It is so important to prioritize and schedule time with yourself every single day.

Even if it’s just for 5 or 10 minutes. Find a quiet place, where you feel comfortable and with no distractions. You can even burn some incense or have an essential-oil-diffuser to set the mood.

2. Create a structure that works for you

As we mentioned earlier, there’s no wrong way to journal!

To find your style, you’ll have to try out different ways. There are so many ‘journal prompts ideas out there or you can try out a guided journal.

Here are some topics you can include in your sessions:

I’m grateful for…

I normally write down 3 things I’m grateful for, on that specific day.

My goals for today…

I write down 3 to 5 goals every day that I want to achieve on that day (for example: be kind with my words, go for a run, and finish project x).

Today’s thoughts…

This is where you just allow yourself to let out all feelings and thoughts. Without judgment. Write it all down, and it’s totally fine if nothing comes up on certain days.

To-do lists

I personally love this part, because it helps me to organize my thoughts and manage stress. I normally prioritize my top 3 tasks for the day and then add other general things.

Brainstorming

If you have any ideas or thoughts that need to be mapped out, do it here. It’s great for decluttering your mind and help you determine where you’ll start.

Affirmations or positive thoughts

End your entry on a good note.I usually include most of the topics above, but you can also start by just trying one of them. Experiment and see what works for you.