Journaling is an art with many benefits. Not only does it helps you to put your cluttering thoughts altogether, but it can also be the patient ear that listens to all your rants without ever questioning you once or even complaining. If you develop the habit of journaling, you get clarity in different aspects of your life. It can be a fascinating tool for refreshment purposes too.
16 Tips For Effective Journaling
1. Writing Daily
“Writing few words a day can lead you to write five hundred words a day.” The first and the most important tip for journaling is to write something daily. Being productive at writing is an essential quality required for journaling.
Writing is a slow process. So if you develop the habit of daily writing, then you can find journaling to be an easy task. Also, writing something daily is necessary to have a good grip on the journaling process.
2. Avoiding Pressure
Doing things under pressure cannot give fruitful results. In fact, it can also result in panic and frustration. Journaling is best done without any particular pressure. Because if one is bound under pressure, then the free flow of thoughts for journaling is disturbed.
3. Sorting Your Thoughts
Great journaling means sorting your thoughts by penning them down. And the first step towards this is being aware and clear about your thoughts. If you arrange your ideas, your journaling will have clarity.
4. Keeping A Handy Journal
There are times when you are free, and your mind is filled with several thoughts, or you are sitting idle between your traveling schedules. In such a case, if you have a handy journal with you, it can be easy for you to pen down your thoughts. Most of the time, when you are free, you often reach out for your cell phone, but if that gets substituted by a handy journal, then your time can be utilized positively.
5. Making It A Hobby
Don’t be under any pressure to do journaling. If you obtain happiness by doing journaling only then it can be satisfying. We, humans, look forward to something at the end of the day that removes all the day’s worries and stress. But if we consider journaling as a burden, we might not be able to do it effectively. So making journaling a hobby and obtaining joy out of it can give commendable results.
6. Not Comparing Your Writing
“Comparing your progress can be harmful to your art.” We often compare our successes and failures with the accomplishments of other people. This can be disheartening for sure, even in the case of journaling. If you compare it with others, then you might not be able to develop your skill. Doing journaling for the sake of competition cannot be fruitful.
7. Writing According To Your Mood
Writing can be best done whenever you feel like doing it. Doing journaling for the sake of ticking something off from your list cannot give your rewarding results. But doing journaling as something that you desire to do can be the key. Writing forcefully when you don’t feel like it should be avoided.
8. Changing The Environment
It is not necessary to always write in your room. Sitting at your desk can be your habit, but it can get boring after some time. So changing the environment in which you do your journaling can lead to better results. Being close to nature, just like sitting in a park or by a river, can also be great for your journaling.
9. Keeping It Original
Keeping your journaling personal and original is the key step. Your journal should feel like it’s entirely yours, and you are not imitating someone else’s style. You should prefer being true to yourself while journaling, even if that results in making it messy and chaotic.
10. Using Different Techniques
Change can be good sometimes. Instead of following the same pattern each day, you can try to change something like changing the fonts or styles to make your journal interesting. There are several journaling techniques available that can best suit your needs.
11. Keeping Your Journal Private
As we said before, your journal should only be yours. Try to avoid showing someone else your journal. If you really want to show someone something from it, just restrict that one thing and not give them full access to your journal.
12. Not Editing
If you are editing your words while journaling, then it is undoubtedly the wrong way. Editing means improving something, while journaling stands for originality. It is important not to edit your thoughts or restrict them for journaling. Try to be free with your words and styles because that’s what journaling actually means.
13. Writing Freely
To be true to the process of journaling, you have to write freely. You can write anything without worrying and questioning yourself. It is also vital that you write things that you are not vocal about otherwise in your journal. The things you can write can be mundane details, questions, and scenarios in your head.
14. Being Positive
While it may not be the case always, try to have a positive approach while you write. No matter whatever you write, try to end it on a positive note. There is no need to be disappointed with your writing.
15. Keeping Away The Distractions
Journaling can be best done whenever you are not preoccupied with something else. So keeping your phone silent while writing or avoiding talking to people can be best for journaling. Keeping away all the distractions that come in your way of journaling can be significant and productive.
16. Trying A Free Form
The free form of journaling can be the best as you don’t always need words in your journal. Try pasting a picture that you like or writing some quotes. Your journal can be the place where you can doodle or draw freely. This not only adds an element of creativity but also keeps your journaling in a free form.
Though all these tips will surely make your journaling process better, the best way of writing is to write what you feel and just pour your heart out in your journal.
