Do you remember writing about your secret crushes in your diary as a teenager? Maybe not everyone did that, but you\u2019ve probably seen it at least in a movie or on TV. Journals are similar to diaries but can incorporate many different types of writing. Sharing your thoughts doesn’t always mean documenting your secrets behind a little lock you can only open with a key!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Journaling is becoming a popular topic for many people as they consider the available options to improve their mindfulness and overall wellness. We are going to cover everything you need to know to get started, and if you\u2019re already journaling, you can also take advantage of our list of journal prompts for adults below that will help you get your creative juices flowing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Start a new habit today with a blank page and one of our journal writing prompts. You’ll start to notice the benefits right away!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Journaling is a form of writing that doesn\u2019t have strict rules. There isn\u2019t a specific format you must follow and it doesn\u2019t get turned into anyone to read or grade. Journaling is a safe space for you to share thoughts, feelings, memories, ideas, stories, and anything else that you want to put a pen to paper to document. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It comes with many important benefits you can take advantage of and it\u2019s one of the easiest (and most affordable) forms of self-care available. You need very little to get started so keep reading and start your journaling habit today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many benefits to keeping a journal. It\u2019s beneficial for your mental health<\/a> for a variety of reasons including the few listed here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For anyone that is working through trauma or going through a tough time in life, keeping a journal can provide a great place to get out some of the emotions and thoughts. Many therapists will recommend this to patients because it\u2019s a safe place where you can write down your thoughts and feelings without putting much thought into it. Even the Mayo Clinic<\/a> has proven that it can help manage anxiety, reduce stress, and cope with depression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever you have to explain something to someone else, you end up understanding it at a deeper level. The same thing happens when you write down things in your journal, you\u2019re able to gain a better grasp on how you\u2019re feeling and what\u2019s going through your own mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No matter how you\u2019re using your journal, it\u2019s capturing moments of your life. Some people use it more than a diary and log the things that happen each day along with any thoughts they have. It\u2019s helpful to be able to go back when you want to remember past events and you can see how you\u2019ve grown and changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to get the most from your journal, it\u2019s important to revisit it in the days, weeks, or months after you\u2019ve written and do some self-reflection. You\u2019ll be able to see personal growth happening as you see how you have changed your thoughts and opinions on things and experiences or learned to process emotional situations differently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Journaling can have a lot of the same positive impacts as regular meditation. Being mindful of the details and focusing on one task helps calm your mind down. It\u2019s hard for your mind to wander much while you are focusing on writing things down. And even if it does wander, you can capture it and embrace it. By documenting your feelings in the moment, you can have a huge positive impact on your self-awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The last big benefit you\u2019ll enjoy when making journaling a habit is that you will work your brain in a new way and boost your creativity. It\u2019s a spot where you can explore alternative methods of expression. You can add doodles or photos to your journal. Use it to write poetry and explore new types of writing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve never had a journaling habit, it\u2019s a simple thing to add to your morning routine (or any time of the day that works best for you.) There are just a few things to consider and do before diving in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A journal can be any paper that you want to write on. If you search journals on Amazon, you\u2019ll see that there are hundreds of options to choose from. We recommend visiting your local bookstore or stationery shop if you want something with a hard cover. This way you can open them and see how the pages are structured\u2014lined, dotted, or blank. But don\u2019t let that fool you, any type of notebook will work just great. Many people prefer bullet journals that are blank and allow you some structure on the page and they hold up well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also a good idea to stock up on some pens that you love. You can get them in multiple colors or just one style. Just make sure that you keep them near your notebook or journal at all times so you are never spending time searching for a pen while you have moments set aside to write.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However you plan to use your journal, some days, it\u2019s going to be a little difficult to think about what to write. Consider keeping a printable list of prompts folded inside the cover of your journal or keep a journal jar where you pick out a new slip of paper with a topic on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read on for some great journal prompts to help you get started<\/a>. Once you get through this list, you can find all kinds of great free resources on the internet as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you think mornings are the best time to journal to empty your brain before you begin your day, set your alarm ten minutes earlier than usual and fit it into your morning routine. You can also incorporate journaling into a midday break each day or sit down at the end of your day and share some thoughts in your journal. Whenever you decide, try and stick with it for a few weeks. You can always adjust, but you are trying to form a habit and that takes some repetition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some days, you might just write a sentence that describes your feelings for the day. You might even just glue a picture into your notebook. To really start a habit, it\u2019s important to at least contribute something each day until the habit sticks. Because there are no rules or requirements for your journal, you can just go with whatever is on your mind and you don\u2019t need to worry about following a specific format. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Journal prompts are simple sentences or questions to help you jump in and have a starting point for your journal. You do not need to use them, but prompts can be helpful if you are struggling to find a good place to start or you aren\u2019t sure what to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This first group of prompts is easy and fun. They aren\u2019t too deep and cover more surface-level things, but might be fun to answer each year and see how things have changed and progressed. Many of these are great, especially if you’re starting to build a habit of journaling with your family members. People at any age will usually have answers to these questions: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve built up a habit a bit and you want to explore a little deeper, you can try some of the journaling ideas that are more focused on self-discovery. This just means doing more of a deep dive into your feelings and helping work out some of the \u201cwhys\u201d in your choices and your reactions. These can help you start to really learn more about your mind and the way that it makes decisions and you can work to change things you don\u2019t love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to push yourself creatively in your journal, you can include some creative writing prompts to help you get started. Doodles and drawings are encouraged if they are what your brain is producing that day. You can also try one of the ideas below to see if that sparks anything special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are popular with younger kids and improv groups. The idea is that you pick a random sentence and then see where your imagination takes you from there. There are great lists of creative and fun story starters for people of any age available online, but you can also open a book on your bookshelf, copy down the first line of the book and then start crafting your own narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a fun exercise to see where your story develops versus one that is already done. Are you someone who thinks of wild and crazy science fiction or fantasy storylines or do you lean more towards experiences that you\u2019ve personally had?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to writing a full story, you can try one of these prompts to let your imagination run wild a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wellness and self-care are huge benefits of journaling, so how can you set up your journaling practice to ensure that you stay focused on those areas? Here are a few ideas and journal prompts that target mindfulness and wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The idea of morning pages<\/a> comes from an artist named Julia Cameron in her book, The Artist\u2019s Way. The idea is simple. You start every single day by writing three pages using a pen and paper. This should just be a stream of consciousness that hits the page and you don\u2019t even need to put a lot of thought into it. Write down whatever pops into your head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some days will be easier than others to fill three pages, but it\u2019s important to just stick with it to see the difference. It\u2019s one healthy brain dump of things that are floating around in your head. You might write down errands you need to run or things you want to remember and follow it up with your recollection of your dreams from the previous day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Use your daily journal entry to document your affirmations for each day that you are repeating to yourself throughout the day. Affirmations are simple statements that you write down and say out loud during your daily routine as a way to manifest that to be reality. For example, you can repeat “I am successful or I am getting stronger every day.” There are hundreds to choose from and you can write it down in the morning and then reflect on how it served you throughout the day. Some people also choose to stick with the same affirmation for a whole week or month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gratitude is another popular way to utilize a journal. Keep a list of things that you are thankful for each day. This can be so beneficial to your well-being because it encourages you to take the time to focus on the positive things throughout your day. Your daily gratitude can be as simple as a flower blooming in your garden or you might have big things, like your child having a big moment at school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The final category of different prompts and ideas is just simply recording your daily life and daily routine. Similar to the diaries of teenage years mentioned above, many people use a journal to record things that happen each day as a memory log. This can lead to more in-depth journaling when big moments happen, plus it helps you get in the habit and gives you a reference guide if you ever want to remember what you were doing on any given day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s never too late to start a new habit, especially one that is going to improve your clarity and allow you to reflect on yourself and the life you are living. If you are interested in getting your children involved, you can check out our journal prompts for kids<\/a> for some additional ideas. Keep an eye on our Connect Blog<\/a> for more journaling ideas<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you’re looking for some journaling ideas and inspiration<\/a>, try utilizing journal prompts for adults<\/a>. They’ll offer questions and scenarios to challenge your imagination and get you writing.<\/p> <\/div> 1. Journaling provides a healthy outlet.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. You can reflect on previous life moments.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Keeping a journal improves mindfulness.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Creativity is boosted by journaling.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Start Journaling<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Pick up a notebook or journal.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Gather a list of journal ideas to keep the words flowing.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Make it part of your routine.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Start writing, and stick with it!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Types of Journal Prompts for Adults<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun and Simple Journal Prompts to Get Started<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Self-Discovery Journal Prompts for Adults<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Creative Writing Prompts for a Journal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Story Starters<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Creative Writing Prompts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Journal Prompts for Self-Care<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Morning Pages<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Daily Gratitude and Affirmations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Memories and Everyday Life<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Use These Journal Prompts for Adults to Get Started Today<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nFrequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n