Have you always wanted to journal but don’t know how to start? Check out the tips in Faviana‘s Ultimate Guide to Journaling that will turn you into a journaling pro in no time!
Decide What to Write About
In order to figure this out, you’ll have to answer why you want to keep a journal in the first place. If you’re keeping a journal for a practical purpose such as to remember events about your day or work, for example, then the answer is simple: write down the events of your day. If you’re journaling to have a place to write down all of your thoughts and feelings, then write down everything! You may not have a specific topic in mind, and that’s okay when journaling. Write song lyrics and poems, draw doodles, even make a dream collage – whatever you decide, you’ll be journaling however and whatever you want and that’s the whole idea!
Buy an Awesome Journal
Journaling is supposed to be fun and personal, so why should your actual journal be any different? Find a beautiful journal that makes you want to write in it! Maybe a journal in a color that lights you up, perhaps something luxurious, such as a leather journal with nice paper. Maybe even customizing a plain journal with stickers and doodles to make it truly your own! Expressing yourself doesn’t only have to remain within the pages of your journal. Get creative! Bonus tip: You may want to buy a pack of multicolored pens for journaling – they’re really great for connecting different thoughts and for making journal doodles more fun!
Schedule Time to Write
Schedule yourself some free time to write. Maybe you want to write when you wake up in the morning, perhaps right before you go to sleep. Start off slow with 2 minutes, then 5, then ten, and who knows, maybe someday you’ll schedule a whole hour just for writing. Regardless of how much time you schedule, just make sure you do it. Plus, carve out a space and time when you will not be interrupted. There is nothing worse than being interrupted when you are in a deep writing zone!
Write, Write, Write!
Get it all out. Everything. There are no expectations. Just write until you can’t write anymore or until nothing else comes up. Perhaps literally write your thoughts down as they come up, however frantic and jumbled they may seem (this is called free-writing). Wherever your thoughts may take you, they’re leading you someplace great – it may not be a life altering moment, but giving yourself an outlet to explore these thoughts is just as beneficial.
Bonus tip: If you can’t think of anything to write about and don’t want to free-write, look online for writing prompts and find one that sparks interest. You can also choose a topic or set a goal for your writing session, and write until you’ve exhausted it or feel satisfied.
Remember, this journal is for you and you alone, so don’t edit your writing! Write about anything and everything that speaks to you – you’ll be glad you did.
Have any journaling tips you’d like to share? What about the best places/brands to buy journals? Let us know what you think by tagging us on Instagram @glamandgowns, and Faviana’s Instagram @Faviana_NY and Twitter @FavianaNY.
Xoxo,
Andie
