Journaling for Beginners – What to Use?
Keep it simple and literally easily doable for you. This would be my number one tip for newbie journalers.
I’m not saying don’t explore and play with different ways to journal. From my own experience, I started with the cheapest notebook and pen and progressed to almost all the different kinds of journal sizes, coloured pens/brushes and always seem to keep returning to a simple pen and notebook/journal.
And yes, all the other stuff I thought would make my journaling more fun and interesting I have stored away in my “just in case/someday” journaling container.
Life is usually so busy for most of us. If you think it is going to take a long time to journal or even set up ready to journal, what do you think are the chances that you will actually journal.
And how do you think the thought of regular journaling will make you feel?
Don’t misunderstand me. There are many journalers who love the whole creative arty visual side of journaling. If that is you, then go for it. Chances are, no one can stop you anyway.
I am just acknowledging some newbies that are awed and overwhelmed by what they have seen journaling can be with all the fancy templates and monthly themed artistic creators out there.
You don’t have to journal like that.
Most importantly, Why?
Here you go. Your first journaling activity.
- Firstly, ask yourself, why? What is the reason you want to journal at all?
- What is it that you think journaling will/may be able to help you with?
Your answer could be anything from just being curious, to help you sleep better, to be aware and document your daily fitness, to plan your next career move to help you write your first book.
For me it was to gain a better relationship with myself. Which is an ongoing journey and one I can honestly say has most definitely improved tremendously. Hey, this is why I am here sharing the power of journaling for well-being.
Some other reasons could be in the areas of;
- Health
- Career
- Finance
- Spirituality (beliefs)
- Relationships (family/friends/other)
- Leisure/Adventure/Travel
- Creativity/Just for fun
Here are some more journaling basics you may wish to consider.
Equipment
Journal/Notebook
- Size – Will you be carrying it around or just for use at home or in one location
- Format – Lined/blank/graph/dot pages
- Digital – offline/online apps
- Audio – smartphone/tablet/computer/other
- Video – Smartphone/tablet/computer/camera
Tools
- Pens
- Pencils
- Colours
- Paints
- Photos
- Inspirational quotes/clippings
When
- Daily (morning/evening/both)
- Sporadic
- Scheduled
- Weekly journaling group
Location
- In bed
- In the garden
- On the beach
- Favorite/different coffee shops
- In the car
- traveling/camping
- Waiting rooms (doctors/dentists etc)
- On buses/trains
Who
- Solo (by yourself)
- With friends
- Start a local journaling group
- With pets
- With nature
How
- One Word/sentence/paragraph/page
- Journal prompts
- Writing letters
- Poetry
- Art – drawings/paintings/doodles
- Clippings – photos/magazine clippings
- Cards – guidance/inspiration/writing prompts
- Free writing
- Affirmations
- Gratitude
This is just a general guidance to help you get started with your own journaling for well-being journey.
Hope you find it useful.
Love all your relationships,
Especially the one with yourself,
Journal well,
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