Tag Archives: journaling motivation

Inspirations, Journaling Motivation, Tips and Tricks

Journaling on the Go

January 5, 2016 Sandy Leave a comment

If your life is like mine, it’s usually pretty hectic. Sometimes it’s hard to find the time to sit down and write in my journal like I want to. I rush through my days, and then in a few weeks I realized that I haven’t cracked my journal in far too long. Who knows what insights I’ve lost, what tips and tricks I will never think of again, or what memories did not get recorded?

‘One solution is to set yourself up for journaling on the go, so to speak. We all have little corners of time when we COULD write something down, but we just don’t have the resources or tools right then. Handle that hurdle by equipping yourself to jot down notes, thoughts or entire entries, no matter where you may be.

The old-fashioned way to accomplish this is by tucking a small notepad or a miniature journal book into your pocket, purse, tote bag or glove box of your car. Keep a few pens there, too, so you’re not caught without a writing implement.

If you’re feeling high-tech, for most of us the answer is in our cell phones or tablets. We almost always have these within reach, and there are some great journaling-friendly apps out there. In fact, I did a post a while back on free iOS apps that you might want to check out (you can find it HERE). Android and Google have similar tools, and if you’re willing to invest a little cash, all of the platforms have some pretty fancy apps that will definitely suit your needs.

Are you one who likes prompts for journaling? Be sure to pack a few or add them to the Notes feature on your device. That way, if your muse is having trouble keeping up with your schedule, you can still jot down a few ideas.

However you choose to outfit yourself, the next trick is to be mindful of the small corners of time that happen when you’re out and about, then choose to use some of them for journaling.

Are you a parent? Do you ever find yourself waiting to pick up a kid? There’s a corner of time! Got an appointment today? I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who knows how to keep to a schedule. Take advantage of that wait time and do a quick note to your journal. Sometimes there are lags while you’re waiting for programs to begin, and sometimes you have a few free moments at work over your lunch or break time. These can be worthwhile chunks of time to consider.

There are so many benefits to journaling! Don’t let your busy schedule get in the way of taking advantage of them!

Making Money with Journaling, Tips and Tricks

Finding Time to Put Your Thoughts On Paper

November 20, 2015 Sandy Leave a comment

One of the biggest reasons that people abandon their commitments to journaling is TIME. The journal gets set aside during busy times, times of stress, or times when routines are disrupted, then it’s never picked back up again. Years later, you find your empty notebook with three entries and a ream of blank pages. Sound familiar?

If you’re hoping to someday turn your journaled thoughts and musings into published content, though, this absolutely will not work. In order to make your dream of publishing come true, you have to have material to publish, and the only way to get that through journaling is write regularly over an extended period of time.

The secret is priority. How badly do you want to create that journal content? Are you dedicated to the concept? If so, then read on for some hints about how to make sure you write in your journal nearly every day.

Put yourself on a schedule. Figure out what time of day is best for you to get creative juices flowing, and then make sure you are in a position to write, undisturbed, for the amount of time you feel best. This might mean locked in your room with notebook and pen, or it might mean in a quiet place with computer and keyboard, or even in a position to dictate your thoughts onto your voice recorder or phone.
Start small and work your way up. You don’t have to write thousands of words at a time to start being more consistent with your journal. Try setting a minimum time limit instead. Write for at least five minutes at first, then work your way up to writing for fifteen or even thirty minutes.
Make a date with yourself. Put an appointment into your personal calendar (literally!). I don’t just mean to intend to write and make a mental note; I mean actually pick a time and put an appointment into your personal calendar just like you would for a lunch engagement or a doctor visit. Write it down. If you’re using a digital calendar, make it a repeating appointment. This way, you won’t accidentally schedule yourself out of your journaling time.
Save time in other areas and use it for journaling. If you’re like most of us, you have some room for improvement in the efficiency department, especially in routine tasks such as house or yard work. Look for ways to get more done in less time, and you will free up time to write in your journal.
Add a few moments to your day by rising a bit earlier or going to bed a bit later. Myself, I do best early in the morning, but that’s completely up to you.
Give up a little television time. Let’s face it. Most of us spend way too much time in front of TV. Keep an honest log of your TV time and you’ll see what I mean. Could you give up a show or two to make time for your journal?
And don’t get me started on digital distractions. How much time are YOU spending on games and social media? It’s time for an honest assessment of that, too. Could you shave fifteen or thirty minutes off of that time, then put all of the minutes together to make time to write in your journal?
Make a production goal. One reason NaNoWriMo works so well is that it pushes people to write more than they ever dreamed to be possible. 50,000 words in a single month is a VERY ambitious goal, yet each year hundreds of thousands of writers participate. Now, you don’t need to write that much in one month, but you can set ambitious goals for yourself. How about filling your notebook within a certain length of time? Be sure to keep track of your progress in some visible manner, and consider setting up small rewards for yourself at milestones, such as 1/4 or 1/2 way done. Plan a celebration when you do finally reach your goal.
Keep your eyes on the prize. Once you’ve set a goal, keep it in front of your space all the time. This might be with a sticky note on your keyboard or a home screen graphic on your tablet or computer, but make your goal visible.
Accountability helps, too. Find someone to be a journaling partner. You don’t have to share your actual writing to do this; just agree to trade word or page counts on a regular basis and to offer encouragement to one another.

Experiment! Find out which of these tips will work for you, and your journal will grow right before your eyes. And remember, if you need a regular dose of writing prompts to build the habit, you’ll want to sign up for the Journaling Life mailing list! You’ll get six weeks’ worth of ideas to write about! Just complete the form below:

Journaling Motivation

Why Journal?

November 2, 2015 Sandy

Journaling is somewhat of a fad right now. Check any bookstore and many other types of establishments, and you’ll find multiple shelves of journals in all shapes and sizes. Some are blank books while others are guided writing exercises designed to appeal to a particular audience. There are journals with themes, with blank pages to include pictures and scrapbooking items, with record sheets for family events, and more. It takes the preteen notion of “keeping a diary” to a whole new level.

People journal for lots and lots of different reasons, and usually for more than one reason. Do you see yourself anywhere on this list?

To record daily life for children or other loved ones
To explore personal feelings
To gain or maintain perspective
To bank successes for future darker days
To experiment with different styles of writing
To resolve inner conflict
To promote healing and wellness

The list goes on, and it’s as varied as there are people in the world. And your reasons may change over time. There is no “Journal Law” that says you must be consistent in your journal. So grab a nice blank book, or a book of writing prompts, or a scrapbook, or a computer or tablet, or whatever medium works for you right now, and get writing! It’s good for the soul no matter what your motivation is!