I am a journaling addict. I admit it. I can’t travel, go to the doctor, or do virtually anything that involves waiting without bringing along my journal. I didn’t discover journaling until I was in my 20’s. I had dabbled with journals in my teen years, but frankly I didn’t have enough life experience to have much to write. Major change or illness is often the impetus to begin writing.
Recently, I asked some friends on an online writing group if they journal – and their reasons for doing so or not. The answers were diverse and fascinating. In the “not” category, a typical response was, “It’s hard for me to journal regularly because it feels “silly.” Like I should be doing more important things than writing about myself. It also feels self-indulgent, even though I read about people getting a great deal of benefit by doing it. But sometimes I also wonder if I don’t do it because I’m afraid of what might come out onto the page…or maybe that nothing would come out!”
I began to journal on a regular basis when I entered graduate school. I began to think of myself in a different light, travel, meet new people, and explore my world. Journaling became a self-discovery tool in which I could explore my feelings and experiences in a more concrete way. Along the way, I have stopped and started journaling. I find when I am very busy, I am simply too tired to write, and it isn’t until things calm down that I have the opportunity to digest what has happened and write about it.
The need for perfection was another common reason. Some people don’t feel comfortable writing in a stream of consciousness manner when their grammar and spelling may not be perfect. Others said they would start journaling with a true desire to set the habit, but then stopped and then felt guilty about it and never got back to writing.
Some Advice
- Give yourself permission not to write every day. If you skip a few days, or more – it doesn’t matter. No one is grading you; just write when you feel ready. Even though I am a writer by profession, if you were condemned to read my journals you might just die of boredom. I’m not writing a novel, I’m clearing my head and getting my life onto paper.
- Set rules for the people in your life with regard to your journal. For example, I tell my family that I prefer that they not read my journal, but if they do, I don’t want to hear any complaints. My journal is the place where I vent, and I may write things in the moment that I don’t truly mean. Because I don’t censor myself, I probably won’t go back in and correct things I blurted out on paper.
- If writing is not your thing, explore other types of journaling. In upcoming columns, I will be showing you journaling ideas; from visual journaling with collage and other art, to writing bulleted lists, or stream of consciousness words. The world of journaling is vast. Explore it and you will find what works for you.
Think Outside the Book
There is something beyond therapeutic about getting your thoughts and ideas on paper. Even in a written journal, you can challenge yourself to explore your creativity. Turn the book 45 degrees and write the other direction. Buy colored tape or tear strips of colored paper or magazine pages and glue them down on the page to mark off boxes and write each paragraph in a different box. Instead of simply writing your thoughts use journaling prompts or images to inspire your writing.
If I could be beside you as you start your journey into journaling, I would give you this advice:
- Be kind to yourself.
- Perfection is to be avoided. Messy is good.
- If you hate a page, rip it out and cut it into sections and mosaic it onto a new page, paint over it and start again.
- Get a Xyron machine or use spray glue to adhere things in your journals – a bit time saver I wish I’d found earlier.
- Don’t compare your journal to others.
- Use of “bad” language and inappropriate thoughts is to be encouraged in a journal – get it out there!
- Don’t show your journal to anyone who can’t be trusted to tell you that you are a genius. Journals aren’t meant to be critiqued.