How To Start A Journal: Inspiration and Journal Prompts to Get You Started
Are you eager to dive into the world of journaling but feeling a little lost on where to begin? Fear not; journaling is an incredibly personal and transformative habit that can truly enrich your life. It’s a beautiful way to pause and reflect on your day-to-day experiences, your emotions, and how the people around you impact your journey. I’m just over the moon to share this blog post with you! Journaling is something that’s very dear to my heart. This post will uncover the secrets of how to start a journal, journaling ideas for beginners, and so much more. Let’s embrace this journey of self-discovery together, one lovingly written word at a time.
I’ve loved journaling since I was a young girl and received my first diary. You know, the ones with the lock and key. I treasured that small white diary with the gold lock. That was well over 40 years ago. I don’t have that small diary anymore, but I still remember my first diary entry, and I’ve been journaling off and on ever since.
I’ve compiled some tips on how to start a journal and journal prompts to get you started on this rewarding journey!
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Table of Contents
A journal is a safe place to dump your thoughts.”
-Unkown
What is a Journal and How it Can Benefit You
Writing is a great way to express your emotions and feelings. Sometimes it’s hard to say how you feel without writing about them. You can also use a journal to help with self-reflection, which is the key to developing yourself and becoming the best version of yourself!
If things have happened to you or particular experiences you are struggling with – a journal will allow you to document them and healthily deal with them. It can also be helpful to write goals, dreams, or things you want to achieve, as it will help keep you accountable!
There are so many benefits to journaling – but the main one is that it’s personal and just for you. Think of your journal as your best friend, a confidant, or a secret keeper. We all need a safe place to pour our innermost thoughts, feelings, and fears into a place where we aren’t judged or criticized.
Some journal writers like to use their journals as a creative outlet and write short stories, poems, or song lyrics. Others will draw or doodle when they don’t feel like writing. The possibilities are endless!
The bottom line is that starting a journal is a very personal decision, but it can benefit your mental and emotional health.
Benefits of Journaling
Journaling has been studied extensively for its positive effects on mental and emotional well-being. Here are 10 scientific benefits of journaling:
- Stress Reduction: Journaling helps to process and release emotions, reducing stress and anxiety levels.
- Improved Mental Health: Regular journaling can improve overall mental health by promoting self-awareness, emotional regulation, and a sense of control over one’s thoughts and feelings.
- Enhanced Emotional Intelligence: Journaling fosters emotional intelligence by encouraging individuals to identify, understand, and manage their emotions effectively.
- Boosted Memory: Writing about experiences, thoughts, and feelings can improve memory and cognitive function.
- Greater Problem-Solving Skills: Journaling enables individuals to analyze their thoughts and situations, leading to better problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
- Improved Immune System: Studies have shown that expressive writing can strengthen the immune system, leading to better overall physical health.
- Increased Creativity: Journaling can unlock creative potential by providing a safe space for brainstorming, self-expression, and exploring new ideas.
- Enhanced Self-Confidence: Regular journaling can build self-esteem by allowing individuals to recognize their strengths, accomplishments, and personal growth.
- Better Sleep: Writing before bed can help clear the mind, relieve stress, and improve the quality of sleep.
- Accelerated Healing: Journaling has been linked to faster recovery from trauma, injury, or illness, as it can help process emotions and promote a positive mindset.
“The greatest benefit of keeping a journal is how it makes you feel.”
–John Updike, American novelist, and poet
Different Types of Journals
There are so many different types of journals for your journal writing. It all comes down to what you want to use it for and how you want to use it. Some people like to have a specific notebook for different purposes – such as one for daily reflections, another for creative writing, one for tracking their goals, etc.
Types of Journals to Keep
The Gratitude Journal: This is where you write down things you are grateful for each day. This is a great way to focus on the positive aspects of your life and can help shift your outlook in a more positive direction.
The Bullet Journal: Bullet journaling is like a daily planner. You can also use it as your primary journaling method instead of planning and brainstorming ideas. It’s great because the possibilities are endless! I love how versatile the BUJO is! You can learn more about it here!
Bucket List Journal: This is a great way to document all your goals, dreams, and aspirations. You can also use it to track how you are doing on the things that matter most in life. Goal Tracking Journal: This journal will help motivate you by encouraging you to take small steps towards achieving your goal – each time you cross something off your list, you will be one step closer!
Mindfulness Journal: This journal is all about slowing down and taking time for yourself. It can help reduce stress, improve your mood, and achieve balance.
Travel Journal/Diary or Adventure Logs: Plan for your next vacation and keep a travel diary of all the fantastic things you do!
The Memory Journal: This journal is specifically for preserving memories. You can include photos, tickets, postcards, etc., to help jog your memory and relive experiences.
Health Journal: This is for logging how you feel, the foods you eat, how often you exercise, etc. This can help keep track of your overall health and well-being.
The Dream Journal: Track your dreams and look back on them to discover patterns or hidden meanings behind them! It may surprise you how much meaning there actually is in your dreams and how much they can truly affect how you feel.
The Diarist: This is a journal strictly for writing down quotes, poems, song lyrics – even things that inspire you! It’s perfect for writers or anyone looking to become more creative.
The Pregnancy Journal: Track how your pregnancy and how you are feeling and your body is changing. Write about your doctor’s appointments; you can include sonogram pictures, how you feel each week, how your body is changing, etc.
The Family Tree: Start with writing down as much information about yourself and your family members that you know – such as birthdays, significant events (weddings, graduations), what states they lived in, etc. As you learn more, you can write it down.
The Recipe Journal: This is great for foodies and cooks! Include the recipes you love, photos of the dishes, how they turned out, what ingredients you used, etc.
Overall, there are many different types of journals out there – the possibilities are endless. If this is all overwhelming, I recommend just starting with a daily journal and then branching out from there.
Journaling Ideas For Beginners
Here are a few journaling ideas for beginners that will help you develop and maintain your daily journaling habit. Please keep in mind there are no rules for journaling. This is your story, your journey, and your life. So, make it what you want it to be!
Purchase a Journal or Notebook
Get yourself a cute notebook or journal that you love. You can even get a plain notebook and decorate it. Cover it in stickers, or you could even mod podge it. Make it your own and personalize it. This will make it more enjoyable for you to write in, and you’ll be less likely to let it collect dust. This is one of my favorites! I also love these too!
Pay attention when purchasing. Do you like lined or unlined paper, or maybe you like grid paper or dots.
Pick a time of day that you will sit down and do your journal writing. Some people like to write early in the morning and do morning pages, others at night before bed. Experiment until you find the time that works best for you and stick to it!
Start With Something Small
Just like anything else in life, start small. Don’t overwhelm yourself by writing a novel the first time you sit down to write. Just start with something small – a few sentences or paragraphs about how your day went, how you’re feeling, what’s on your mind, etc.
Write When You Feel Like It
This isn’t a school assignment, so there’s no need to stress if you don’t feel like writing daily. Just write when the mood strikes you. You’ll find that your journaling habit will increase over time, and you’ll be more likely to write on a regular basis. I promise you, once you start writing, the words will flow out of you. The more you do it, the easier it will become.
Keep it Private or Share With Others
This is entirely up to you! I don’t share my journal with others, but I have journaled about specific things like my husband’s cancer journey or a special vacation and don’t mind sharing those with others. It’s really up to you how much or how little you want to share.
Where to Journal
You can write anywhere you feel comfortable. Maybe you have a designated writing desk, or you enjoy sitting at your dining room table with a cup of joe. After all, there are no set rules. I’ve made entries everywhere, from my cozy chair in my living room to busy airports and hospitals.
Don’t Stress if it’s Not Perfect
This is your journal, not a thesis. There are no right or wrong answers, and you don’t have to be perfect. Just let yourself write and be creative. I know, I know, we get on Pinterest and see all the beautiful journals and think to ourselves, mine will never look like that, and we end up self-sabotaging ourselves and never start. Don’t do that!
My Grandma wrote her memoirs on a legal pad and printer paper with a Bic pen, and it is PRICELESS! She marked through misspelled words. She jumped around and told us she was because she was writing about what inspired her at that moment.
How Often Do I Need to Make Journal Entries?
You can make entries anytime you like. Some people want to make an entry every day, others once a week. Again, there are no set rules. I usually do my writing when something exciting or noteworthy happens in my life, and sometimes that’s multiple times a day, and other times it might be every few days (and sometimes months) in between entries. It all depends on how busy I am and what’s going on in my life.
Set a Timer
Setting a timer for your writing will help you stay focused and on track. I like to set a timer for 5-30 minutes, and when the timer goes off, I’m done writing for the day. This helps me stay focused and not get sidetracked, but it all depends on how much you want to write.
How to Use Journaling Prompts
Journaling prompts are just that – prompts to help get your creative juices flowing. They can be about anything and everything. You don’t have to use them, but they can be a great way to get you started writing if you’re stuck and have no ideas. I’m going to include some below to help get you started.
Journaling Prompts for Beginners
As stated above, journal prompts are fantastic for getting your creative juices flowing. I know how it feels to be staring at a blank page, trying to decide what to write. That’s where using prompts comes in handy. Whether you are a new writer or a seasoned one, we all get stuck sometimes with writer’s block.
New journal writers often struggle with how to get started, but if you give yourself a journal prompt to work with, it makes the process easier. Here are some prompts that may help:
- What do I want from journal writing?
- The Day in Review: Write about your daily life. What did you do? How did you feel? Who was in your life today?
- Thoughts on Today’s Events: write how you felt about the events that took place today, both good and bad.
- A Letter to Your Future Self: Write a letter to yourself as if it’s from the future. What would you say? What I’m Grateful For Today: Start by writing down 0ne to three things that you’re grateful for today.
- The Things I Like About Me: Make a list of ten things you like about yourself.
- My favorite memories from my childhood: Make a list of your best memories from when you were young. My Grandma did this in her memoirs, and I love reading the journal entry list of her favorite childhood memories.
- Dreams and Goals in Life: How do I want to live my life? What steps am I taking toward that goal? How can I improve on those things in the future?
- What I Need to Discuss: How can you improve your life? What do you need to discuss with yourself and/or someone else?
- My Attitude: How am I feeling today? How does my attitude affect those around me right now or in the future?
- Write a letter to a deceased loved one: I do this one when I’m missing a loved one that’s passed. I miss talking to my deceased loved ones, so I write journal entries to them. It may sound morbid, but I find it therapeutic.
- Things that make me happy: What makes you smile, laugh, or feel good inside? List five.
- Your Bucket List: What are all the things you’ve always wanted to try? How can you pursue them?
Hopefully, these journal writing prompts will help get you started on your journaling adventure. Just remember, there are no rules! Write how and when you feel inspired. And most of all, have fun with it!
Journaling Resources to Inspire You
I’m always looking for journaling inspiration and different ways to keep my writing practice interesting. A few tools I look to for inspiration are books, Facebook groups, and Pinterest.
Facebook Groups: These are a great way to connect with other journalers and share ideas. There is an endless amount of support and encouragement from others.
Pinterest: I love how creative and inspirational Pinterest is. There are plenty of different ideas to keep your writing practice fresh!
Books: The books I’ve listed below keep me inspired and focused, and I hope they help you too! They provide helpful tips and prompts to get you started, as well as examples.
Journalution: Journaling to Awaken Your Inner Voice, Heal Your Life and Manifest Your Dreams
Within the pages of ‘Journalution,’ you’ll discover the art of journaling as a path to self-awareness. I’ve personally found solace in its teachings, learning to use my journal not just as a record but as a tool to connect with my inner voice. It’s a gentle nudge to write with authenticity, to celebrate life’s moments, and to dive deeper into our thoughts and dreams. It’s about more than just writing; it’s about understanding and embracing oneself.
The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
The Artist’s Way is a transformative journey into the heart of creativity. It’s not just a book; it’s a spiritual guide that beckons you to embrace your artistic soul. Whether you’re an established artist or someone yearning to express, this book offers a path to rediscover and liberate your creative spirit. By shedding self-doubt and embracing freedom, it illuminates the way to artistic expression that’s genuine, fearless, and profoundly you!
Effortless Journaling: How to Start a Journal, Make It a Habit, and Find Endless Writing Topics
Embarking on a journaling journey can be daunting, but ‘Effortless Journaling’ simplifies the process. This book is your guide to establishing a consistent writing routine, cultivating habits that last, and uncovering a treasure trove of topics to explore.
As stated in the book.“You have this one life in which you have a multitude of experiences, feelings, awakenings, ideas, longings, dreams, goals, frustrations, and worries. All of these are fleeting but critical to your evolution as a person. With a journal, you have the opportunity to capture all the thoughts in your head, tease them out, mull them over, wrestle with them, savour them, and preserve them for perpetuity.”
Journal with Purpose Layout Ideas 101: Over 100 inspiring journal layouts plus 500 writing prompts
Journal with Purpose Layout Ideas 101 is your creative companion for a more inspired journaling experience. Brimming with imaginative layouts and thought-provoking prompts, it’s designed to elevate every page of your journal. Whether you’re a seasoned journaler or just beginning your journey, this book offers a fresh perspective and a wealth of inspiration. Dive in and let your creativity flourish!
Draw Your Day: An Inspiring Guide to Keeping a Sketch Journal
Draw Your Day offers a delightful twist to traditional journaling. Instead of just words, it invites you to capture the essence of your day through sketches and drawings. With daily prompts tailored for every day of the year, this book becomes a visual diary, guiding you to illustrate your life’s moments, big and small. Whether you’re an artist or someone seeking a new way to chronicle daily experiences, this book provides the inspiration to see, sketch, and savor your world.
Art Journal Freedom: How to Journal Creatively With Color & Composition
This book is a vibrant guide to expressive journaling through mixed media. It’s not just about creating; it’s about liberation, allowing your emotions to flow uninhibited onto the page, whether they’re serene or stormy. This book equips you with the tools and prompts to communicate feelings powerfully using color and composition. In this book, you’ll discover the transformative joy of turning emotions into art.
Final Thoughts
I hope that this blog post has given you some journaling tips and inspiration on how to start your own journaling practice! It’s never too late to start writing, and it can be a beneficial way to document your life adventures, thoughts, and feelings.
Is there anything that has made journaling easy/difficult for you? What advice would you give a beginner? Please share in the comments below!
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