How to start journaling and be consistent

I love journaling.

I have been journaling on and off since I was about 9 or 10 and it’s second nature to me. I can’t imagine not doing it. But I get that if you’re new to it, or haven’t kept a journal since you were a kid, it can be overwhelming and confusing. You don’t know how to start and as a mum you’re always short on time. 

I get it. I really do. At certain times of life even 5 minutes seems too much. I’ve been there. But both motherhood and childhood are important stages in life to capture. You have the opportunity to tell your life story, your family story. It deserves to be told by someone who knows it well and cares for it- you! Don’t leave it for somebody else to have to piece together.

So how do you start?

1. Choose what kind of journaling you want to do.

If you read my last post, 6 tips for beginner memory-keepers, you may have already figured out roughly why and how you want to journal. You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going with your journaling, but if you have a general idea it will be much easier to choose a good pen and notebook.

2. Buy a journal and pen that inspire you.

There are lots of different kinds of pens and journals to choose from. They don’t have to be fancy or expensive, but if you choose pens and notebooks that inspire you, you are much more likely to use them.

Pick a notebook and go with it. Try a different one next time. Experiment. Figure out what you like and don’t like. Don’t be afraid to switch and swap as life changes.

I have even used calendars before. When Kirby was born, he wanted to be in my arms 24/7. He would only sleep in my arms or on top of me for the first few months. My usual kind of journaling was out of the question, but I could jot down a few memories in a calendar, so that became my journal for a while. Find what works for you right now.

3. Put your contact info in it

If you plan to keep your journal in your bag, make sure to put your contact information in it so that it has a better chance of making its way back to you should it get lost.

4. Pick a time and place

Over the years I’ve  learned that journaling works best when you make it a habit. The easiest way to turn it into a habit is to write at roughly the the same time and place each time. Find a time and place that works for you most days and go with that. It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but you. Set an alarm or use a trigger to remind you until it becomes a habit.

Saying that, don’t force yourself to write every day because that will turn it into a chore and you won’t enjoy it as much. If you don’t enjoy it, you won’t write.

Try to make the place you write cosy and inviting so you look forward to journaling time.

5. Start small.

Don’t expect to write a long, descriptive entry on the first day. Chances are you will feel a bit awkward and not be quite sure what to write, even if you’ve thought long and hard about it. That’s fine. Start small. Give yourself 5- 10 minutes at some point during the day, then slowly increase the time until you are happy. 

Use writing prompts if your mind goes blank any time you sit down to write. Some basic ones that you can use all the time are:

• How was your day?
• How are you feeling?
• What made you laugh today/ this week?
• What is your current routine?
• 5 things you are grateful for right now.

I’ll be back on Thursday with some more prompts.

6. Don’t worry about your voice.

Many people think that journaling has to be poetic and rambling, full of beautiful verse and deep insights. It doesn’t. It has to reflect you. It has to be honest and authentic. Some days you may want to leave a long detailed description of something and some days you may only feel like adding a few short bullet points. Some days you may fancy sketching or adding bits to your journals and some days you may just want to write. They are all good. They are all a reflection of you on that particular day. The variety of journal entries will make it more interesting for you, both now and when you look back on them in the future.

7. Collect everything..

As you get started journaling, you may want to add things to your journal. These are just some of the things I add to mine:

• Photos
• Sketches
• Small notes and drawings from the kids
• Ticket stubs
• Stickers and washi tape
• Stamps
• Special receipts

So far so good, but how do you keep consistent once you start writing?

How to be consistent.

Like I said earlier; journaling works best when it is a habit. Get into the habit of writing every day or every few days. The longer a gap you leave, the harder it is to write because you get out of the habit and start forgetting the details. 

But life happens. Sometimes we can’t write for a while. What do we do then?

I have journaled for so many years now that I know will always return to it, but there are times I can’t write for long periods of time. I have developed a few tricks to catch up quickly. 

When I get that behind in my personal journal, I usually add a list of special things that have happened since I last wrote, especially if I think I might reference them in my journaling later on. I also like adding photo spreads that show what has happened. The gap doesn’t seems so noticeable and it adds a bit of interest to the journal.

If I don’t have time to write things in my children’s journals straight away, I tend to write the things down on sticky notes that I put in the journal until I can go back to it.  

But if you’re still struggling to stay consistent, maybe a dated journal will be better for you for a while until you have built the habit.

Whatever way you choose to journal, don’t make it more complicated than it has to be. Simple is great because it gets it done. It doesn’t have to be perfect either. Make it your own and have fun with it.