With the start of 2015, everyone is in the midst of making and (hopefully) following through on their New Year's resolutions. One of mine, in addition to going to the gym (which I've already hurt myself doing), is to resume journaling on a semi-regular basis. I used to be a religious journaler about five years ago, but I've moved away from the practice, mostly because I keep forgetting/watching episodes of the West Wing on Netflix. Since then, I've received two more blank journals as gifts, so I take this as a sign that the universe wants me to pick up the pen again. 
I've also been reading a lot of memoirs recently: I just finished Amy Poehler's Yes Please, and I'm starting As You Wish by Cary Elwes as my public transit book of choice. Memoirs in my mind are a lot like professional journals that have been condensed and polished into a format that involves a lot less scratching out of misspelled words.
4 Reasons Why You Should Be Journaling
I'm a believer that if you're a writer, you should be keeping a journal as well. Here's a few reasons why.
1. Journaling Relieves Stress
Writing professionally can be stressful. Demands on word counts and creativity can be draining. You might think, why on earth would I de-stress from writing by writing? When you're writing creatively, you're writing for a specific purpose. You are fleshing out your characters, setting a scene, or moving plot along. But when you journal, you are just marinating in your own thoughts. Putting your worries, frustrations, and victories to paper can help you add closure to your day, and can provide an emotional release. (This is assuming that you're journaling before bed.)
2. Journaling Helps You Process Your Thoughts
Sometimes in the midst of releasing your emotions on paper, your mind is clear enough to work through those emotions, and figure out solutions to your frustrations. I've had some great “a-ha” moments when I'm journaling, or maybe thirty minutes to an hour after closing my journal I've found mental peace after littering pages with word vomit. And who knows? Maybe in the midst of one of your own word vomit sessions, you'll find the solution to that plot hole you unintentionally fell into. By the way, if you spend time journaling, you're likely to be physically and emotionally healthier according to a 2005 scientific study.
3. Journaling Boosts Your Self-Esteem
If you spend ten minutes every day writing about something positive you did or something you like about yourself, your self-esteem will thank you. Similarly, writing five things you're thankful for each day can make you more grateful, and as a result, can make you happier. You're enforcing positive truths about yourself and your writing each time you practice this.
4. You'll Be In Good Company
Kurt Cobain. Abraham Lincoln. Leonardo Da Vinci. Andy Warhol They all kept journals. If it worked for them, who's to say what you'll get from the practice of journaling? The hardest part of journaling is starting the habit. The easiest way is to schedule a time for yourself that will be consistent every day. Get a notebook that you love looking at or touching, or if you prefer to go digital, try Evernote or other note-taking apps. Of course, there's always blogging if you're ok with being more public with your mental processes. No matter which route you take, journaling is a worthwhile life practice to start. Do you journal? How does it improve your life? Let us know in the comments section!
PRACTICE
Today's practice is a little different. If you're a journaler, share in the comments how you got into the routine. Are you in love with your notebook? Did you find a pen that you can't put down? If you're not a journaler, give some thought to how you'd like to take up the practice. Will you be traditional or go digital? Leave a note when you've spent fifteen minutes either journaling, or contemplating your journaling practice.
Hey Liz
I have never journaled, primarily because my handwriting is awful! But if this practice helps declutter my messy mind then I should give it a shot…! Even a “Pet Peeve” list and “Gratitude” list can work, I guess 🙂
Thanks a lot #HUGS
Kit
Sometimes I have trouble rereading my entries because my handwriting is also awful. But I think you should let go of this and just write anyway.
It definitely helps declutter the mind and if no one else is going to read it, it doesn’t matter how bad your writing is. Its never put me off and mine is terrible
Krithika Hi,
Been reading your posts at The Positiver Writer and enjoying them. Are you left handed? I am and even I have a hard time reading my own writing 🙂 But I still like to write by hand sometimes.
I love traditional journalling, but still do not have a routine for that. Blogging works better for me, but then I miss the nice things of traditional journalling.
There is something satisfying about writing on a blank page with a nice pen, capturing a special moment that you can enjoy in the future! Try it again!
I’ve journalled off and on for years but try to focus on great experiences I’ve had, a spontaneous meeting with a stranger or child, something beautiful in nature, inspiring music I’ve heard, or making note of a significant achievement. When I (or someone else one day) read it back, the hope is that it will lift the spirit and prompt a smile.
That is beautiful, ruth! 🙂
I journal twice a day: 750 words in the morning and 3 pages of whatever journal I have before sleep. Sometimes I skip the evening journaling, but I find just the simple practice of writing whatever’s on my mind at the end of the day to be a great stress reliever. I review my thoughts, my actions, whatever events or emotions came through the day. I also write about goals, sometimes develop story ideas, and make commitments to myself.
I find that the most important part of paper journaling for me is actually having a beautiful journal to write in. I can take hours to choose my next journal, and I never buy the same one twice. I also date them and keep the finished ones in my bookcase (I have completed 3 as of now).
I’ve been journaling for 15-30 minutes before bed nightly for about two months now. It started after I finished Salman Rushdie’s memoir, Joseph Anton. Rushdie mentions his journal numerous times in the book. So it dawned on me, “If a revered writer keeps a daily journal, why don’t I?”
I don’t meticulously track my word count (pretty hard to do in a journal), but I find the result of filling pages with words very rewarding. One page in my journal equals about 175 words. Since I’ve started, I’ve written over 12,000 words. I use it as a motivation tool. Many of my recent entries have ended with, “Keep writing. Keep writing. Keep writing.” Journaling reminds me that I’m a writer, even if no one ever sees my work.
Keep reading and writing mate! For me they both go hand in hand. Reading makes us better writers and there’s no greater satisfaction than reading over our own work and seeing how much we improve over the years!
Hi,
In 2007 , I met up with an accident in which my hip joint was dislocated . I was unable to walk properly for a year . That’s when I started improving my English through reading various story books , like hardy boys , nancy drew , sharalock holms etc. gradually my English got Improved & i was reading novels of almost all genre ,Inspirational books everything, in them mean time when i started writing i’ve no idea but i can confirm one thing for sure ,
The 4 Best Reasons, given above are very true and they work . One must try start writing if going through any kind of ups and downs in life , which we all do at some point of time or other. Writing Improves Self Esteem , It clears our Thought Process , Stress Goes away as you engage yourself in Writing, It feels good When you read what you have written in past …
Ashish you are an inspiration. Instead of spending your recovery time complaining or feeling sorry for yourself you chose to improve your life! Your English is great and you’ve read some terrific Story Books. I’ve read all the ones you mention. Keep doing just what you are doing and you will continue to be a blessing to those who know you. You’ve already been a blessing to me!
Thanks,
Becca
Journaling is my way of sorting things out, recording events that impressed me, and discovering the best way to express myself clearly.
I use the black and white composition notebooks (the kind we used to use in grade school) and a fountain pen (I love fountain pens because they’re elegant and they help improve my handwriting).
I make an entry when I feel like it. I don’t journal every day but there have been times when I feel I’ve got so much to say that I may make several entries in one day. For instance, I may have a startling idea in the middle of the night; I jump out of bed and record it. Or a dream makes a particularly pleasant or unsettling impression; I don’t want to lose it so I capture as much as I can. Other times, I’ll transfer story ideas from scraps of paper or my “carry-around” note pad into my journal.
A journal entry may go on for several pages because I want t follow the thread of thought to wherever it leads – usually a pleasant surprise. Or I may write one sentence, just a few words, that sort of sums up the emotion of the moment.
Since all my journals are labeled with start and end dates, I have the luxury of browsing through them to refresh my mind about an incident or mood, or even revive a story idea. Journals are a powerful resource for a writer.
Another fountain pen user! Yes, they do feel elegant, don’t they? If I had a quill I believe I could write about princesses in castles, dreaming of pirates and adventure. Big Sigh…….
Ah, Becka Sue, the pen does inspire the romantic in all of us.
I have been journalling for the past 50 years, since I was about 10. At first I wrote very briefly about what I had been doing but once I reached about 16 I began to write more. Ever since then I’ve written several times a week. I describe what I’ve been doing, try to work out problems I’m encountering and describe places I’ve been. When my children were born I made a point of writing about it soon afterwards, before I forgot the details.
I prefer A4 hardback lined books with smooth paper. I have mostly written with a fountain pen. I love the feeling of starting a new book, the ink flowing across the fresh paper. Sometimes I read back but I don’t think I’ve read every one yet. I’ve always told myself that I am writing for posterity but I have no idea whether or not posterity would have an interest in what I’ve written. I have almost unreadable handwriting so they might find it hard. Until email appeared, I also wrote a lot of letters but this seems to have died out everywhere.
Why do I write? It is the most comforting activity I do. I have a relationship with myself through my journal that I don’t have with anyone else. I can write anything I like and there is no one to censure it. The only limit is my own boredom with the self-centred nature of much of what I write. Although I have started writing many other things: novels, short stories, articles, I have rarely finished anything. With my journal this is never a problem. It will only be finished when I die. So far I have written several million words.
I discovered writing with a fountain pen a few weeks ago. There is something about writing with a fountain pen. I love the sound it makes. The special sound of making words. It’s good to hear that others still love using them too,
Keep writing,
Becca
I’ve been journaling regularly for twenty years and not so regularly before that. Another reason to journal is that it jumps starts my other writing. It gets my mind and fingers moving and warmed up. Thanks for this article. I agree with your reasons as well, Liz.
Madeline great idea!
Thanks, Robyn!
I journal regularly. It is my way to plan, release stress, log in thoughts, pray on paper, and remember life happenings. I love rereading journals from years gone by. I journal in themes. I have a prayer journal, a gratitude journal, a dream journal, a log/datebook, I even have an image journal in which I draw or calligraphy quotes in. In the last few years I have spent time typing my journals by date into my computer. ? Why? I wanted to do two things. 1. To take a look at how I’ve changed over the years / or what I continue to struggle with 2. As a gift to my children. Who would want to inherite a mess of journals without it being in chronological order? At each typing I name the page with the year, month day and which journal it is in. That way my kids will be able to feel me when I go and it won’t just be on a screen lit impersonal tool. My kids swear they will publish my journals when I’m dead and make a billion dollars. Greatest compliment they could give me.
WOW! I have no plans to publish my journals or ever share them. They are just too personal. I did, however, use parts of my early ones as a way to start my memoir. But even doing that was a huge confront. Good for you and your children, Robyn.
I started my journal (again) while in the hospital in September 2014 recovering from septicemia. It was a very traumatic experience, and a friend bought me a new journal with a lot of different color in pens to start to sort through my emotions. I now write in it almost daily, chronicling my recovery, my blessed life, and all things big and small. It is a wonderful way to focus my creative thoughts, and I am so glad to be back in the process!
I used to journal quite a bit in earlier years and found it to be a stress reliever as well as an escape from the mundacity of life at times. Having read this article I found a lovely Moleskine Journal I had kept away for months and just wrote in it about my day. I must say I found it really refreshing and encouraging so I hope to continue with it and make it a goal of mine along with regular postings to my blog!
I have been journaling nightly for more than 7 months now. For me, I’ve always believed that I should keep a daily journal; however actually doing it proved to be a bit more difficult. In the end, writing consistently in my journal coincided with me doing another thing I believe in doing: reading the scriptures daily. Reading my scriptures had also proved to be more difficult than first anticipated, but when I started going to a seminary class and reading the scriptures was required, both things became easier to do.
I’m still figuring out how to write in my journal “correctly” though; I haven’t quite got the “relaxing” part down. 😛
You’re on your way, LeRoyce, and that’s the important thing.
Yep, that is the important part. Practiced that while I was writing in my journal last night. It made it much more enjoyable. 😀
Well done! Good reading your success.
It’s funny how people always look at me in a weird or surprised kind of way when they see me sitting in the train, the bus or at Starbucks. I always believe it’s because they wonder what I’m doing with a writing pad, a notebook and a pen in my hand, instead of all the people of my age with their tablets, phones or laptop. Well, call me old fashion, but pens, my pads of paper and Moleskine notebooks have always been my best writing companions.
Pads are great when you are in junior high and high school, you can use the first page to write in class, the second to write your replies for roleplaying or your ideas for a book, a drabbles, a short story and even write them. And you just have to put the first page down when it’s time to write the lesson and you continue in page three and four.
Once out of high school, I switched my pad for notebooks, no need to hide anymore, I had a daily job and every time during breaks I would pull out a notebook to make notes of a meeting, word vomit on a subject and so on. I have the little black Moleskine, The Hobbit special edition. I also have a big format, this one is plain red and I use the two of them for different purpose, the red one is for my writing projects, there’s a complete storyline and notes of one of them, the smaller one has thoughts, ideas and drawings. They are always in my backpack and when I reach the end of them (which will be soon), I’ll switch with the empty ones waiting.
As for the pens, I have two of them. One is a heavy black/yellow/blue Donald Duck pen with a quote that say “I scream as loud as I please”, it’s been my companion for the last five years. Since my birthday last year, I have a second companion, that I treat with better care because it’s a Dupont pen, special edition, the design is made by my favourite Manga Author, Eiichiro Oda, it’s a black/blue/silver pen with a Mermaid on it. It means a lot to me and I never thought my parents would accept to offer me such a present because “who uses pens nowadays”. But they know that I would use it and boy I do. I write everything with it from ideas to letters and thoughts, yet I keep using my other companion in transports and short travels.
Journaling is one of my favourite moment of writing. It’s when I just write what I think, what I see, what bothers me or makes me happy, it keeps my mind at work but in a peaceful, relaxing way. it helped me go through doubts, writing block and hard time. Sometimes I even take notes of my dreams. The hard part is when I have to go through my notes remembering I wrote something, somewhere. First I have not the best handwriting, second I can’t always read what I wrote but also I don’t always like re-reading my rants or corny thoughts. Yet, this is the best for the mind and the soul with a few good laugh when looking back at it.
I’ve been a sporadic journaler for many years (I started journaling when I was 8). I’ve tried at various points to turn my journaling into a regular practice — but I always stumble against the truth that it bores me to write my thoughts down every day (after all, I’ve spent all day listening to them in my head already).
However, I return to the practice in times of confusion or struggle or heartbreak because I find the practice comforting in times of turmoil and indecision. The process of recording my thoughts on the page slows them down and invites room for inquiry and critical reflection which can open doors to insight in times of stress or struggle.
These days, with my time for writing so limited as it is, it’s hard to justify taking time away from my creative endeavors to write down some of the mental prattle that clutters my days. But I always have a journal and a spare on hand because it’s comforting to know that my journal is right there — waiting for me when next I discover I need it.
Jessica, I get what you are saying, especially about the voices in your head all day. Sometimes I think there’s a committee up there! And I’m glad to hear you say you do write in times of confusion or struggle. Some of my==best ideas come from times like that.
Keep writing!
Becca
I tried journaling once, but it didn’t make sense to me. I don’t like to write down what happens in my life. The important stuff I trust to my memory, and if it disappears then it must not have been that important. My thoughts are generally pretty clear, especially since I try my best to understand everything that I come across.
I’ve been journaling for YEARS. Seriously, since I was 7, I’ve had a journal to write in. I think I’ve filled up about ten or eleven notebooks at this point. Journaling has definitely helped my writing and I’ve even started drafts of novels in my journal. Basically, if you’re a writer and don’t journal, you’re definitely missing out. 🙂
That is so cool that you’ve started drafts of novels in your journal! 🙂
I have been a sporadic journaling for some years now. I have read some of my older journals ( 5 incomplete to date, I told you I am sporadic ) and I was in some cases I was angry, sad, frustrated or merely praying for divine order. I choose now to journal on a more consistent basis and only write positive things moving forward. Things that will make my spirit sing when I happen to look back over my life and need the only person in the world who knows me, to pick me up when I am feeling down, Outside of God. #Happyjournaling #Novel #Godsplan #SimplyLace #CominSoon #Phenomenalread #Writerswrite #2015 #Literature #Books
Very well done on your decision to journal more consistently, K.N. and see you’ve got a bunch of Twitter sites to fill.
Thanks for the great post Liz. Over the years I have kept journals from time to time. Some were meant to chronicle special trips. Some were written during times of great stress or pain. They were very sporadic and I never could get into keeping a daily journal.
I’ve had short stories published, I’ve edited the prose section for a quarterly magazine. I let years slip by without writing, then met a publsher and worked as writer and eventually editor-in-chief (Which meant I just wrote more of the magazine) for a Quarterly Women’s Magazine. I hadn’t written anything for years until recently. Finding this blog and “The Positive Writer” has helped me get started again, and I’m so grateful. I’ve learned so much about my fear and self doubt. Now it’s time to take control and know that I’m Good Enough.
So, here’s something strange that’s happened in the last few weeks. As I’ve begun to practice writing every day
It’s good reading you’ve rekindled your writing, Becca!
Well, if keeping a regular journal counts as real writing for a writer, then I have certainly done my share. I’ve kept many since I was old enough to translate my thoughts and feelings into words. I’ve always written “to” it as if I were talking to a close friend in whom I could confide about anything and everything. Writing in my journal has helped me immensely over the years to work out so many different feelings, frustrations, and issues while giving myself clarity and giving my writing form and structure. It helps relieve a bad case of writer’s block as well. Now and then I will pull out an old one and read through it, often incredulous that whatever was going on at the time seemed so important (it wasn’t, in hindsight) and to see that I have made true progress toward achieving goals and dreams.
That is wonderful, Ayla. I feel the same way about journaling. It’s something that I’ve done–though sometimes not consistently–since I was quite young.
I have been kicking around the idea of keeping a journal. This has convinced me. I can’t wait to start.
Melanie Zetterberg
http://www.writinggoddesmmelanie.blogspot.com
I received my very first journal when I was in elementary school. My aunt had given it to me as a gift one year, and I thought, what’s this for? I’m not writing anything personal – someone might find it and know my secrets. Besides nothing in my life ( at that time) was so important I wanted it recorded on paper. So I started writing stories. I made up stories that were far more interesting then “I got up got ready for school, sat threw boring classes I hate came home did homework went to bed. Get up and repeat.
So instead I wrote things like:
“She woke at the sound of the alarm screaming in her still darkened bedroom. Grumbling she rolled over and shut it off plunging her alarm and herself back into silence. Finally placing her feet on the floor, she wondered what adventures her day would hold. She didn’t expect anything different than the normal school work and an untasty lunch that would await her. As she left for school she found a note taped to her front door addressed to her. She had no time to read it so she stuck it in her pocket and headed for the bus.”
Suddenly my life had intrigue as I’d wonder what was in the note all day. It was truly a mystery because not only had the character not read it yet, but me as the writer hadn’t written it yet.
I guess thats when the love of fiction writing also became a part of my life.
That is so cool, Debra! I love how you took an ordinary morning and made it more intriguing. It definitely makes the reader wonder, “What exactly was on that note?”
I may work on that and expand it into a story… it will be interesting as a writer to see where it goes.
What a creative use of your journal, Debra!
Wow, I love this idea. Maybe I need to try something like this instead (I’ve never been able to stick with journaling).
This is awesome. Great model for me to try to replicate.
I’ve been journaling for several years. At first, it was an assignment to track my writing progress. Then someone suggested I use to journal to express emotions and fears I had that I couldn’t talk to anyone about.
I don’t keep separate journals for my writing and personal life. I like the idea of having a gratitude journal and entering self-affirmations. That goes a long way.
When I fill a journal, I like going back and reading my entries. It’s fascinating what I was thinking at the time. I think the grateful journal would be good so that when we look back, we can say, “I did (a) and (b) and (c).”
I need to take time out of my schedule, whether it’s in the morning, afternoon lunch break, or before I go to bed, to write in my journal. It helps me to assess situations and elaborate on how I feel about life and writing.
Definitely. I think one of the greatest things about keeping a journal is being able to go back and read entries from years past.
This article was great! It has inspired me to pick up the pen again, and write, write, write! Thank you~
One of the most important rules for keeping a journal is that there are no rules. You can write fragments and run-ons and silly things. Write down a highlight from the day or lapse into some novel-length entry instead. Scribble smiley faces or frowns or cute little hearts on the page (That’s about the extent of my artistic talent). And don’t forget to be honest. Don’t lie to yourself. Journals can help you capture the things that you can’t quite articulate yet–the secrets, the dreams, the fears–and make them less abstract. Sometimes it’s a way of relieving you’re heart of things your afraid to say, sort of like praying (and sometimes my entries turn into prayers). Follow your thoughts and feelings as you journal, then take a deep breath, close the journal, and smile. Get some rest, and stop stressing out (how about that for a resolution?).
Thanks for the reminder, Joy “… there are no rules.” when it comes to keeping a journal.
Thanks for the tips! I’m going to try to start again tonight!
That’s awesome, Christy! Happy journaling! 🙂
Love the West Wing reference–I would love to feel like I was watching that show too much!
I’ve dabbled in journaling a couple of times, but never stuck with it. I’m not sure why. I’d journal for a couple of days, and then stop. It’s funny, because I’ve heard from so many people how good journaling can be, and how much it can help you with your writing, but for some reason it just seems to stress me out instead. Of course, I’m not very nostalgic. I rarely take pictures, and rarely look at the ones I do take (I rarely re-read the few journal entries I have written as well). I’m going to try to take it up again, as I think it sounds like a great practice to have (and I even have a pretty notebook my sister gave me for the job). I’m thinking about writing on paper because I spend so much time on my computer already, and I want to write right before I go to bed. I may experiment and see if something else works better, though. Honestly, I’ve only ever tried writing in a notebook right before bed, and maybe that doesn’t work for me as I haven’t been able to keep it up (maybe Einstein’s definition of insanity coming into play?).
Thank you for the encouragement(I am posting this text as part of my journalist):
Thanks to my teachers !
Today I read a letter written
by Albert Camus to his teacher: ‘I embrace you with all my hearth’ (Translated
by Maria Propova).
It touched my hearth.
It moved my tears into my eyes, almost close to cry! I thought about my teachers
whose for better or for worse (much more for better) have been brought something
to my life. Even I can say they gave to my life some meaning to look for something.
During my first school
years (primary school) I can remember Maestro Cesar, Maestra Rafaela, Mtro.
Ruben… The list could continue (Maestro, Maestra means Teacher).
Specially my 6 grade
teacher, and the end of Primary school, I kept always in my hearth. She was energy
to call our attention in everybody if we didn’t learn a lesson, if we didn’t do
our homework. She gave detention at minor incident of fight. She didn’t never
made distinctions or had preferences to not call the attention in someone. Even
her daughter she used to call her attention and gave her the same treat.
I remember in my
graduation day I cried after I received my ‘Certificate’ (We call it ‘Diploma’).
It was too emotive that something happen in my feelings. The celebration of the
ending our Primary studies was the ending to see her every day too. The ending
to see my classroom partners. Even if our town was a little one and we were
able to meet regularly in our quotidian life, it was a moment of everybody was
taken a different way in their lives. She gave us too much for life.
I remember she gave me
and envelope when I said her goodbye. It was some money. It was like an encouragement
more for continue my studies, even if it was so difficult to my family.
During years, after
primary school, I used to visit her when I was able to pass and say hello. It
became more difficult when I graduated from high school (that time I didn’t cry!),
and because I let my town in order to pursuit my studies, in order to try to get the
university, a dream always unsure to achieve in that moment. Since working and studding
I have tried three carriers. Long history about it. In short I will say when I begin
my carrier into Languages, as always, with the incertitude to achieve it, I
used to think about my teacher Rafaela, and how she would call my attention
when I found myself in difficult moments. And that gave some energy to
continue. I liked too much my actual carrier from the beginning of my Bachelor.
I enjoyed reading literature, novels and all the subjects related to learn to
learn. The wonderful thing was that I was learning another language and at the
same time I was learning bunch of thing for life.
(AJ. January 2015, San Lorenzo Ca.)
I used to keep journals as a kid; I had so many. Now that I’m older and I have a smart phone, I just download journaling apps or notepads. But it doesn’t give me the same satisfaction as putting pen to paper. I just don’t want my nosy siblings getting their hands on a tangible journal of mine because they have before and it was really embarrassing. Apps can come with a lock so I know they’re safe, and no one gets in my phone anyway because I have a passcode. Needless to say I rarely journal anymore because I don’t enjoy using my phone as much as I enjoy writing in a real book.
Just checking some previous posts. After reading the Practice and some of the comments, I reached to the shelf above and pulled down my beautiful new teal soft leather bound journal. I have written a few entries in it. The purpose was to write reflections about my time with my mom who passed away in September. After reading George’s comment about using the same joural for various purposes, I decided that it was okay to write other things in this journal as well. Better than having things scattered about, plus it honors my mother just the same.
Thanks for the nudge.
I kept a diary for years when I was young-all through my teens. Sadly I threw the notebooks away in disgust in my thirties! I’ve often planned to resume journaling -maybe now is a good time. Thanks!