If you are someone who likes writing in their journal or wants to start, this article will help give you insight into which type of journal will work best for you and other great journaling ideas for beginners.
What is Journaling?
Journaling is a well-known self-help technique that is easy to understand and implement in your life.
Writing down what’s in your head is a great way to organize thoughts and ideas. Recording events that happen in your life is a great way to process them. Journaling is an excellent habit that can be practiced by people of all ages.
It’s a great way to express emotions to make sense of them, have something to look back on, and it makes it easier to get things off your chest. Journaling can also be used to track goals, which can be very motivating for goal-oriented people.
You will find many journaling ideas for beginners so that you know where to start when it comes to journaling.
Why You Should Practice Journaling Daily
It is important that you journal at least once per day, even if it’s only for five minutes. This will give you the chance to not only write down your thoughts but also reflect on them. It can also help with getting clarity which will lead to better decision making down the line.
You may be the type of person that does not like to journal. You may think it is a waste of time or that you do not have time to do it. The truth is, even if you only spend a few minutes per day writing in your journal, you will see positive effects on your overall wellbeing.
Indeed, studies show that people who have a regular habit of writing in their journals are less stressed and more satisfied with life. Journaling also has cognitive benefits including improving memory and attention span. It can even help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety (Journaling for Mental Health).
Benefits of Journaling – Focuses the Mind, Reduces Anxiety, and More
Journaling is an easy way to bring you closer to your true self. It doesn’t require much effort and can be done anywhere, at any time. It helps you increase your awareness by providing you with an outlet to explore your thoughts, feelings, ideas, and experiences.
People often have a hard time connecting and understanding themselves. For this reason, many people use journaling as a way to reflect on their day and express their thoughts. This is a great way to get in touch with your true self since it can be done at any time of day.
Journaling improves self-awareness, reduces anxiety, and increases creativity. You can track habits and physical reactions over time, process negative events that happen in your life more constructively, and even reduce the incidence of insomnia.
Journaling is one of the most popular methods for self-reflection and idea generation. You can practice it to improve creativity and reduce anxiety. A journal can act as a personal diary, keep track of habits, or just doodle in it.
The act of journaling can help you reduce stress by taking stock of your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in an organized manner. While the process can help give clarity about your habits, feelings, or stories that you may not have noticed otherwise.
The benefits of journaling are abundant, and the list goes on.
Journaling Ideas for Beginners
As a beginner, you should know, there are a number of different ways you can journal, from using traditional pen and paper to the many digital options available including journaling apps. There are benefits and drawbacks to each option. Choose the best one for you!
There are many forms of journaling that you can do with pen and paper. Drawing is a great way to express those thoughts that are hard to put into words. You can also add drawings in between the words and sentences when you’re writing down an idea or just some thoughts that aren’t complete yet. It helps the thought process along and frees up space on the page – without having to erase what was already written down. You can use any form of writing that you want.
Indeed, different kinds of journals may have slightly different purposes. Some people prefer traditional notebooks and pencils, while others like using their phone or tablet. The type of journal that you will use will depend on what works best for you and what kind of content that you are writing about.
Journaling has become a popular therapeutic technique for individuals to pursue. It helps people release their emotions and thoughts, and it is the first step in the healing process. It doesn’t matter HOW you process your emotions or write about your day, just find a way that works for you.
Types of Journals (Paper vs Digital)
I am here to say that there is no clear winner in the paper vs digital journal debate. I am a fan of both. Notably, one of the most important journaling ideas for beginners is you should use whatever media allows you to express yourself and work through your feelings.
Some people prefer to write down their thoughts in a paper journal, but digital options are becoming more popular and offer many benefits.
Paper Journals
The paper journaling trend has always been a popular method of writing. People have been buying journals to fill with handwritten thoughts and events that they experienced for a very long time.
There are many benefits to paper journaling. My favorite part of using pen and paper is I love nice pens and beautiful journals. There are sooo many to choose from.
Another benefit is that it allows you to write in your journal anywhere and anytime without having to worry about your device battery dying. Plus, there is the sense of nostalgia you get when writing in a physical journal. Sometimes with a digital device, your writing feels less authentic and can get lumped together if you’re not organized.
Digital Journals
Digital journals are a unique type of media that give you the ability to write on demand. There are two types of digital journals; PDF format used in an app like GoodNotes and an actual journal app like Penzu. Nevertheless, both are good options because they let people express themselves through their writing and share thoughts, ideas, and other content.
I love digital journals and creating them to use in the GoodNotes app. I use my Apple Pencil to write in them which gives me the feeling of writing in a paper journal while allowing me the digital benefits of having it stored on my iPad.
Check out my digital journals in my Etsy shop.
Both GoodNotes and Penzu can use on your tablet or phone to keep all your thoughts organized, secure, and easily accessible.
We should not think of these digital journals as a replacement for paper journals. Instead, they offer a way for people to still keep up with their journaling habits in this increasingly fast-paced world. They also provide convenience and privacy to the writer, perfect for building an idea without judgment.
Journaling Ideas and Tips for Beginners
Journaling is a healthy way to clear your mind and express your thoughts. Start by keeping it simple. It can be as easy as jotting down a few sentences or paragraphs about what you did that day, documenting what you are grateful for, or your goals for the week.
Keep in mind though that journaling is not just about writing. You can journal through drawing, sketching, painting, or even doing some coloring. The point of journaling isn’t to create something beautiful; it’s a form of therapy for the mind and an outlet for expression in whatever form you need it to take at that moment.
General Ideas
For instance, here are some basic general ideas beginners can use when they start journaling to get their daily practice started:
1. Talk about how you’re feeling in a specific situation
2. Write down what you’re grateful for today
3. Write down something that makes you happy or gives you hope
4. Record your progress on your goals
5. Reflect on the highs and lows of the day or past week
Journal Prompts
Journaling is a powerful tool for personal development, self-reflection, and building mental health. Journaling prompts help you get started and keep going.
You can use journal prompts to help you find insights into your life. It’s easy to get started with a journal prompt. It gives you a jumping off point for your thoughts. You can pick one from the list below, or create your own!
For example, here are some journal prompts to get you going:
1. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
2. What three words best describe you?
3. What job would you be terrible at?
4. Chocolate or vanilla? Why?
5. What one thing on your bucket list would you like to get checked off this year?
Conclusion: Practicing a Daily Practice of Journaling Can Make a Huge Impact on Your Life
Journaling is a great way to start the day. It can help you create a structure for your day and prepare for what’s to come. For beginners, journaling can be really hard at first, but it gets easier with time and practice.
A daily practice of journaling can make a huge impact on your life. It provides a way for you to process your thoughts and emotions. For some, it can be therapeutic. And for others, it can be a way to explore new parts of themselves that they may not have had the courage to look at before.
Finally, I want to conclude with the importance of being able to sit down and reflect on your thoughts or feelings in order to better understand where they are coming from or how you are feeling about certain events. This kind of reflection is an important part of self-awareness and is necessary for any emotional healing that needs to happen.
Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM)
Behavior Change Specialist (NASM)
Works Cited
Journaling for Mental Health – Health Encyclopedia – University of Rochester Medical Center. (2021). Retrieved 6 June 2021, from https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentID=4552&ContentTypeID=1
