Whether you’re an avid journaller or are just beginning your practice, sometimes a little motivation is needed to ensure you keep to the habit. So, to help you get started we’ve put together three reasons daily writing should be a part of your life. After reading these, we’re sure you’ll feel encouraged to bring journalling into your regular routine!
Focus on the Positive
Whatever your journalling style, whether it’s one line a day, a paragraph, or multiple pages, taking the time to write helps you to unpack and reframe your thoughts on what’s been happening in your life. As Joan Didion famously said, “I don’t know what I think until I write it.” Getting clear on your thoughts can help you to view events from a new perspective and see the positive you might not have seen before.
Achieve Your Goals
Journalling can be a powerful tool for setting and achieving goals. Similar to the point above, spending time with your journal can help you to identify your goals which is the first step in achieving them. Regularly checking in with your journal will enable you to track your progress, identify barriers, and motivate you to keep going!
Release Negative Emotions
If you’ve ever tried stream of consciousness writing or “morning pages,” you’ll notice the sense of a weight being lifted as those thoughts that were jumbled inside your head are now out on the page. Julia Cameron, who coined the concept of morning pages, describes it as a way to “provoke, clarify comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand.” Whether you choose to write at the beginning or end of your day, it’s sure to help set you up for success.
