I recently did a 30 day challenge to start journaling more.

I also made a video where I shared my journals and notebooks.

And I’ve talked about the many benefits I find in journaling consistently.

+ clear mind (brain barf what’s in there)

+ more focused on what I’m trying to accomplish

+ able to work through things (free therapy)

+ document my life

+ less anxiety

+ calmer mind

So, today I wanted to talk about ways you can get more consistent with journaling if it’s something you’re interested in.

Give different types of journaling a go.

I don’t just keep a ‘normal’ journal. I also have a gratitude journal, morning pages notebook and my bullet journal. And each of these serve a different purpose for me but I enjoy doing them for different reasons.

I’m more consistent with morning pages and my gratitude journal than my normal journal.

But there’s also photo journals, art journals, doodle journals, you name it.

Choose a time of day to sit and do said journaling.

Morning pages is first thing in the morning and I write my gratitudes right when I get into bed for the night.

Having a specific time that I do them each day helps to create that routine. And because there’s not really a good time on a daily basis for me to sit down and write in my normal journal I do it less consistently.

But maybe you sit down with your normal journal at the end of every day before you get ready for bed.

Ask yourself why you want to journal. What do you hope to get out of it?

If you don’t have a purpose or a driver to why you want to journal you’ll be less likely to do it.

Struggling with what to write about? Try journal prompts.

There are so many books filled with journal prompts, get on Pinterest or find a favorite blogger who shares their journal prompts. [insert Vienda here].

Let go of the idea of perfection.

Hard, I know. Especially with your journal journal. That journal that one day might get published after your death (unlikely, but hey it’s passed through your mind) or the idea of someone reading one day. Wanting it to be well spoken, prolific, all those things that keep you from just writing.

Make it a challenge.

A 30 day challenge is a great place to start. I don’t know about you but my mindset changes when I’ve been challenged to do something. I’m not a competitive person, but there’s more of a drive to complete something set out before me.

Give a template a go.

This isn’t something I do, but I’ve read from countless people that this is what keeps them consistent.

Some ideas to add to your template:

+ main thing you did that day

+ anything noteworthy or interesting

+ what did you accomplish

+ anything you read or watched

+ something you want to document

+ what are you grateful for

+ what’s one thing you need to accomplish for work

+ what’s one thing you want to accomplish in your personal life

There are so many ways to journal and there are no wrong ways to journal. You just have to set out a goal and get started.

How do you journal?