Journaling - there is no wrong way

Written by: Philip Baker-Clarke

April 8, 2024

Time to read 3 min

Congratulations! You have decided to take the first step to start journaling. People who journal tend to have a growth mindset and seek self improvement over stagnation. Maybe you need to work through emotions or emotional trauma, career or fitness goals; whatever your reasons, journaling, taking the time to clear your mind and set goals and aspirations is undoubtably creating a path towards an even better you.

I’ve spent a bit of time thinking of a title for this blog. “Top Tips…How to Journal…”, but the truth is, there are no right or wrongs. How you decide to journal is very personal to you and may take a bit of exploration. What helps one person may not be right for another. Some people might flourish with a guided journal book, others with a more free and easy blank book to use as they need.

Personally, I have been practicing mindfulness meditation for over 8 years.

For me, journaling has helped me through some difficult times. I can only speak from my own perspective, but as a man, talking about how I feel can be difficult. I sometimes struggle to find the words in the right order to create a cohesive sentence as I don’t always truly understand what I am feeling myself. Are my feelings valid? Or is my mind spiralling out of control and creating scenarios that just do not exist? On so many occasions I have been able to put my mind at ease, through journaling, without it impacting relationships, friendships or work.

So here are my own thoughts on journaling, particularly if you are going for the blank book method.

Just write

Journaling is not about grammar, spelling or sentence structure. Journaling is about you and is for your eyes only.

Intentional vs passive journaling

Whether you set yourself a more disciplined task of journaling for a certain number of minutes per day, or journal as and when you feel the need, it's totally up to you. Experiment and do what you feel benefits you the most.

Be your own best friend

Your journal should be private to you. You can use it to offload those thoughts, feelings, emotions and insecurities that are taking camp in your mind. Write them down, shut the book and let them go.

A new perspective

Use your journal to challenge your thoughts and work out alternative thought patterns.

It’s good to talk

Not everyone can find the words verbally to convey or express their feelings. Use your journal to get your head straight and put thoughts and feelings into context.

Overthinking

For those that have a tendency to overthink, journaling can be a great release of those thoughts, feelings and emotions. Putting them down on paper can help to reframe things in your mind.

Worrying

Are you a worrier? If you spend much of your day worrying, journalling can really help. Set yourself half an hour each day where you are “allowed” to worry. Write down everything that is on your mind and then close the book. By allowing yourself worry time, you can catch yourself at other times of the day and think - this is not my worry time right now.

Gratitude journaling

Gratitude is a subject on its own merit, proven to improve your quality of life and wellbeing. Find our blog about gratitude and journaling here.

Goals and intentions

Use your journal to monitor and track your goals and intentions. When you’re working on becoming a better person; whether that be emotionally or physically, journaling your progress will help to keep you on track. Remember to practice self care on those days where you may not have achieved your desired result though.

Be kind to yourself and remember to always be your own best friend.

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Thank you Phil, for your insightful thoughts and experience on journaling. If you’d like a beautiful personalised notebook to begin your journaling journey, take a look at our shop.

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