So how do you find time to journal?
Below are some tips on how you can find some time to write in your journal.
In our busy lives it is hard to find time to fit in anything extra, let alone something for just you. I have always struggled with the “I don’t have time” mantra. However determining why I wanted to journal managed to put it into perspective and made me realise I had to find the time to do it.
Schedule a time
Scheduling a time to write in your journal will help you build it into your day. Can you get up a little earlier in the morning to jot down your thoughts? It’s a great to get your journaling done before the daily grind starts. It can help you organise your day, thought and priorities and can help you set your mood.
Maybe you are an evening person and you would prefer to do it at the end of the day. Spend 10 minutes before you go to bed to reflect on your day. It is a great aid to help you drift off into a peaceful sleep, you can do a brain dump, so you are not tossing and turning thinking about all the things that need to get done. I like to do my gratitude list in the evening has it gives me a sense of peace, even if I have had a bad day.
Another option, if you go to a place of work is to arrive at work 10 minutes early and write in your journal then, alternatively take some time to yourself during your lunch hour and reflect on your day.
Schedule a time when you are motivated to write and least distracted.
Set an Alarm
Once you have determined what the best time of day is for you to journal, set a reminder in your phone, particularly if you are planning to do it every day. Then set a timer for the amount of time you wish to journal for. Try and make it at least 10 minutes.
Take the pressure off
You do not have to write pages and pages of deep thoughts, it doesn’t have to be poetic, it doesn’t even have to be grammatically correct – this journal is for you and you alone. Keep it simple. Aim to write one sentence a day, or don’t use full sentences at all and jot down bullet points or just words.
If you are a lover of journals, no doubt you have seen some of the journals people post on social media – some of them are simply amazing – yours does not have to look like that. You are writing for you, set it up for you. If you want to get creative that is great but it is the practice of journaling everyday that is important and will help you achieve your goals. So if you don’t have time to make your journal a work of art don’t worry.
My January is always amazing, as I usually have a new journal, I have two weeks off work over Christmas, so I get to spend time on it. February doesn’t look too bad, as I have a bit of a flow on. By April it’s usually a dog’s breakfast, with bits of paper stuck in, scribble and a bit doodling in between. I have learnt that is how I roll and I’m good with it.
Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.
Knowing what to write
This can be part of the challenge, if you don’t know what you are going to write about, getting up 10 minutes early to stare at a blank page is not going to be something you want to do everyday.
There is a whole blog post on this topic here are a few suggestions:
- Start with a Gratitude Journal simply write down three things you are grateful for every day.
- Create a template – I have a daily template for my journal, so I know what I need to jot down every day. If you are just starting, keep it simple, over time you will develop your own template that list the things that are important to you.
- Do some Free Writing – Freewriting is the practice of writing down all your thoughts without stopping, and without regard for spelling, grammar, or any of the usual rules for writing.
- Begin writing a personal history – you may not think you have a story to tell, but jotting down details of your life gives you an opportunity to reflect and re-establish the story of your life. It is also a great reference for your kids and grandkids in the future.
- Find some fun prompts – there are plenty of prompts for journaling on Pinterest, in Facebook groups or on our website.
- Make Lists
- You don’t have to write anything, if drawing or scrapping is your thing, then do that.
Go digital
Now I am going to be upfront about this, digital journaling is not my favourite option, however I used to do a hour commute to work and back everyday and even though it was the perfect down time to write, I didn’t want to as the bumpy bus ride was not conducive to having a neat journal.
This is where the digital journal comes into its own. You can access it from your phone or device and hitting a pothole will not ruin your whole page. Generally, we always have our phones with us, which leads me to my next point on finding time to write….
Take your journal with you
Always have your journal on hand and take advantage of those times you a stuck waiting somewhere – that’s right, stop scrolling Facebook and Instagram and pull out your journal and write.
Describe how you are feeling, what you can see, hear, smell. Put down thoughts that are bothering you, write that to-do list, do a brain dump or draw a picture (remember it’s just for you so you don’t have to be Picasso).
One thing to remember is to make sure you have a pen with you (another bonus point for Digital Journaling – no need for a pen), there is nothing more annoying than having the time and the inspiration and nothing to write it down with. A lot of journals do come with pen holders.
Make journaling a priority
There are so many benefits to journaling and if you know why you are doing it and how it can impact your life then you will make it a priority. So, stop mindlessly scrolling through Facebook and Instagram, turn off Netflix and pull out your journal. Do something for you that will help you grow into the person you are meant to be. Disclaimer: I am still a big fan of scrolling and Netflix binging, but I usually have my journal with me and am doing some doodling or colouring.
Set up a journaling space
I have a very comfy lounge chair in my office and this is where I like to journal. Near my chair I have a small table and a basket. On the table I have two things: a coaster (for either a cup of tea or wine) and a candle (not essential but nice to set a pleasant atmosphere).
In the basket I have a few journaling essentials:
- Pens – a variety of pens, highlighters, markers etc
- A ruler
- An Eraser
- A spare Journal – I usually have my current journal in my handbag, and sometimes my handbag is all the way downstairs and what I am going to do doesn’t really necessarily have to go into that journal, so it’s nice to have a spare (yes I know I need the exercise and I should just go downstairs and get my actual journal).
- Some washi tape – I don’t have a big supply yet, I know that’s a slippery slope.
Obviously there are many more items you can have to contribute to your journal, but these are just a few of my essentials. Really all you need is paper and pen, but I have seen people with rooms full of journaling “essentials”, so in the end it is up to you and your style.
You don’t need to have a specific place to journal but I do think it is good have a basket or a bag with a few essentials that you can take with you so you can make any little nook feel like your journaling space. If you are prepared you don’t waste your writing time looking for the tools you need to journal.
Make it a family activity
If you have a family or a large social circle and you find it hard to schedule time to journal around them, include them in the process. Journaling is a great skill for children to learn, it helps them to explore their emotions, allows them to develop writing skills and form good habits.
If its your friends and your social life you are trying to fit it around, organise a journaling party, and let them know what all the fuss is about. I know when I starting scrap booking a few years ago, I used to get together with my sister-in-laws and we would do it together. It was a great opportunity to catch up and do something we enjoyed.
Journaling does not have to take up too much of your time, however a warning – it is addictive! If it helps you be the best person you can be then it is worth fitting it into your day.
Please let me know if you have any additional tips that can help others fit journaling into their day.
