How to Get Started

Journaling is one of those great pastimes that everyone wants to do but no one ever makes time to do it. Journaling requires two commitments: honesty and regularity. Without both, you will not reap the benefits of journaling. Here are some tips to help you get started with journaling.

Take it one day at a time

When I was younger, the idea of starting a journal on January 1st really excited me, however New Year's Day would come and go and I still hadn't started my journal. I've since learned that you can start where you are right now. I've also learned to not get ahead of myself. I would often think about what I was going to write the next day, instead of allowing my words to flow. It created a sense of anticipation within that's counterproductive to journaling. Journaling is about the moment, not about the future.

Write when you feel inspired

What time of day do you feel most alive? Journaling can be done at any time of the day, there's no right or wrong time. Most people find it easiest to journal their thoughts at the end of the day. Others find that journaling in the morning helps set the tone for the day. When you journal in the morning, you start your day with an open and creative your mind. Whatever time you choose, make it one that's convenient for you. Remember that you don't need to set the scene with candlelight and soft music in the background. You can journal on your laptop on the train to and from work, or you can jot a few thoughts down in a notepad during breaks.

Turn off your internal editor

Journal writing does not focus on proper grammar or misspelled words. The moment you start to think about incomplete sentences or proper punctuation, you start to lose your creativity. Write from your heart, and then if you want to use that entry for a larger piece, you can revisit your journal entries and edit them. My creative writing teacher always taught us to write as a whole circle, and then edit down to a straight line.

Understand the purpose of journaling

Poet Suheir Hammad said, "Writing must always have intention because words have power." Even though our journals are most likely private writings, we should always come to the page with a motivation to be truthful. If your intention is truth, you'll always find it.