How to start a personal journal

So its the 1st January and you are thinking of starting a journal, but you don’t know where to begin. It is important to remember that there is not one way of journalling, the only correct way is whatever works for you. Here are a few ideas that will hopefully motivate you to get started

• Consider what type of journal you want to keep
• Think about how you will be keeping your journal as it dictate both the collection type and size, for instance if you want keep a mediation journal on your commute home using an audio recorder maybe most appropriate, but if you want to keep a gratitude journal as events occur a small notebook you can keep in a pocket or handbag maybe better suited
• Always date an entry and consider including the time and location as they will provide reference details when you review your journals later
• If you live with other people you maybe worried they will read your journal, there are several options you can try to stop them; tell them you do not want them to read your journal, keep it at a different location e.g. work, lock it away, encrypt it on a computer, write in code, write a joint journal or suggest they keep a journal as well so they understand the desire for privacy
• Write as quickly as you can and do not worry about whether you are writing correctly
• Write honestly, do not lie to yourself in your own personal journal

Of course, if you are writing a journal one of the problems with starting is dealing with that blank first page. It can look frightening, but instead think of it as the doorway to an exciting record of your life. Here are some ideas to help you start (you can fine more on the Writer’s Digest website).

• leave the first page blank, if you find this difficult tell yourself you will fill it with an index or summary of the journal when you have finished the book
• write about your feelings about the journal and what you hope its page will contain
• write a summary of your current situation at the moment such as where you live, your job and relationship status
• complete a short questionnaire about yourself, such as age, height, weight, goals, role models

Remember there is no correct way to start a journal, including what day you start; there is no reason why you can’t start on 2nd January, 4th May, 29th November or any other day. The important thing is to start when you want to.