An Expert's Guide To Finally Start Journaling

The personal benefits of journaling are better communication skills, confidence increases, and better relationships.

I’ve found journaling helps me clarify “that feeling of something missing” because we all have moments where we know what we would like to say, but somewhere in the midst of that conversation, our memory evades us and we’re left with just that feeling. Journaling helps me close that loop because it is also my responsibility to notice what’s missing and to communicate that with my husband – he’s not a mind reader, and neither am I. My whole truth is my responsibility and it’s one I am honoured to have access to.

The various kinds of Journaling:

Blank notebook (for notes & doodling)
Audio journals
Life journals
Paint journals
Bullet journal (for notes)
Dream journal
Gratitude journal
Project journal fitness journal
Productivity journal
Artistic/visual journal
Scrapbook
Virtual/online journal (can use a template or apps)

When is the best time to journal?

It depends – Design your own protocol.

Morning is the best time to journal. Think of your brain as the battery on your newly charged phone, so when your tank is full, it’s important to carve out that time for yourself – think of it as activating your personal insurance policy for filling your well before the world starts demanding more of you.
Write your pages in the morning with your reminders of what matters to you – before you fill your head with any outside influences.
Nighttime is also good – summarizing your day also helps you to process the day’s events and get rid of any cobwebs – unfinished business or yarns that you need to close. Research shows that journaling before nighttime can also improve your mood in the morning.

Other tips:

Remember to create a protocol that works for you and your seasons – don’t use time as the only success marker – for example if you journaled for 20 minutes yesterday and you are running behind today – don’t talk yourself out of your protocol, instead adjust and adapt. The tiny one minute a day is better than no minute at all.
Journaling doesn’t have to be boring, make it what you want. Use paint, flowers, images, pencil crayons.
And remember Journaling every day is optimal, however, it’s a habit/hobby that takes time to build up too.

Take a look at these products to start your own journaling kit:

Journals

Regular/Lined