You’ve likely read about the ‘life-changing benefits’ of journaling or maybe searched for the ‘best tips for starting with journaling’… yet, you’re resisting another new habit. Or maybe you feel an unwanted sense of nervousness or fear at the idea of digging deeper into your thoughts. That’s why I want to tell you about how and why journaling is an act of self-care and love for any creative soul.
Starting a Journal
Let’s all get on the same page (ha … page… get it?) ‘Journaling’ refers to writing your thoughts, emotions, experiences and feelings (ideally in a dedicated, private notebook). If you’re new to the world of journaling, I recommend you check out my other introductory posts on journaling:
The Benefits of Journaling + How To Start
Spiritual Journaling Techniques + Prompts for Creatives
10 Self-Healing Journal Prompts
Despite what you see on Instagram and Pinterest, you don’t need any special or aesthetically-pleasing materials to get started (though, if having a couple of pretty materials inspires and motivates your new habit, that’s okay too!)
All you need is a pen or pencil and a private notebook. You can also use a private note on your phone, computer or tablet if you prefer to keep things digital, though I personally feel like if you’re able to work pen-to-paper, there is something magical that happens in literally writing and transforming your thoughts and beliefs with your own hand.
When you’re starting with journaling, following some guided prompts can be a helpful tool, rather than feeling like you have to decide what to write about. That said, you are more than welcome to simply use your journal as a space to release and brain-dump your thoughts in a stream-of-consciousness format.
There’s no right or wrong way to journal, so long as you’re using it in a way that builds yourself up over time. What I mean by that is that you don’t have to always be *positive* in your journal (it’s a safe space to release any negativity you’re feeling), but avoid using it to build up bad thoughts and beliefs about yourself. Use it as a space for nourishment and growth.
The Beautiful Benefits of Journaling
There are many physical and psychological benefits to regularly journaling, including:
- A greater ability to cope with feelings of anxiety, depression and stress.
- Improving immune function.
- Supporting cognitive processing and memory.
- A greater sense of optimism
- Organizing our thoughts to boost productivity
- Raising awareness of our subconscious thought patterns so we can create sustainable change.
As a creative soul and writer, I can also say from personal experience that journaling deeply improves your creativity and generates inspiration when you’re going through something like writer’s block.
Why Journaling is an Act of Self Care
Giving yourself the time and space to sit with, work through, and reaffirm your thoughts and beliefs is one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself. It’s an act of self-care because it involves you taking radically patient time with yourself (if even for 5 moments), completely dedicated to you and your growth alone.
There is no greater act of self-care than giving yourself the gift of clarity and peace of mind, which is what journaling allows us to receive.
My Journaling Journey as a Creative
Though I often went through phases of keeping a diary as a young girl, it wasn’t until I was in my 20s that I began a regular journaling practice, beginning with bullet journaling (a form of journaling that allows you to track intentions and habits).
I loved bullet journaling, but I found it too constraining, and as I continued deeper on my own self-development journey, I opened up the format of my journal to include some bullet journal techniques but with lots of space to free write on a daily basis.
My daily goal in my journal is to write about:
- My thoughts and feelings that day, and being honest, open and non-judgemental to those feelings
- What I am grateful for that day
- What happened that day (anything I want to remember or celebrate)
Journaling has supported me in…
- Rewiring negative self-talk and thought patterns
- Building up my self-confidence and beliefs
- Clearing out mental clutter that is distracting me from my purpose
- Reducing chronic anxiety
My biggest lesson from journaling is that even if you have just a few moments a day, it’s worth it. And that there is no one way to journal. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different prompts, techniques and styles of journaling to discover what is best for you.
I will say when I’m in a creative rut, feeling anxious or feeling a ‘low vibe,’ I sometimes avoid my journal too. It’s hard to face our thoughts when we’re feeling that way, but I promise you (from experience with myself and my clients) – it is in those moments that your journal can support you the most.
Self-Care Focused Journal Prompts
Here are a few prompts for you to use to get started in your journaling journey…
- What do I do that makes me lose track of time because I am so enraptured in it? (This helps you meditate on and consider your passions)
- What restores my energy? (create a list of activities that actively build you up when you’re feeling low – then you have this list to reference in future!)
- Where do I need to be leaning into grace? (consider areas of your life where you tend to be hard on yourself and pick one area to focus on this week)
What questions do you have about journaling? Let me know in the comments so I can write more articles for YOU!
Download 70+ More Guided Journal Prompts for Self Care {For Free!}
Take your journaling practice to the next level with my {free} journal prompts! If you’re a digital maven, you can even use this as a digital journal and directly fill in each prompt on the PDF! Or, print it out and you have a journal you’re already starting and can continue to add to with some loose leaf. Journaling need not be complex to be radically effective!
Other Posts You’ll Love
10 Self Healing Journal Prompts
The Benefits of Journaling + How To Start
Spiritual Journaling Techniques + Prompts for Creatives
8 Tips + Tools for Gentle Self-Healing
How to Build Confidence as a Creative Soul
A New Twist For Your Mindset + Self Care Routine
About Lauri
I’m a coach and guide for creative goals desiring to work through feelings of self-doubt, so you can passionately pursue your soul’s purpose.
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