Have you ever written in a journal? Studies show that about half of Australians have maintained a journal sometime during their life. You can pick from different kinds of journals after you buy stationery online, including daily, food, and travel. Keep in mind that we “remember” 100% of what we write down. Whether you’re new to journal writing or are looking for fresh journaling ideas, here are some helpful tips to achieve the best results.
- Avoid Trying to Add Perfect Entries
If you’re creating published material, you should generally aim for perfection. For example, Australian author and journalist Geraldine Brooks won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for her novel “March.”
However, journal writing is a different writing form that should focus on inspirational thoughts you have during the day. What’s most important is to record your thoughts.
Your journal-writing should be shaped by what you need the journal to be. Don’t feel that you need to compete with celebrity bloggers, for example.
- Consider Purchasing a Quality Journal
If you’re going to be serious about journaling, then you should consider investing in a quality journal. This will make writing in and looking at your journal a more pleasant experience.
Another possible benefit is a quality journal could even motivate you to add regular journal entries instead of just every now and then.
A physical journal’s price can vary greatly. Make sure to avoid purchasing a journal just because it has a higher price tag. On the other hand, you should be willing to spend a little more money on a quality journal.
- Add Short Entries
Many people have the concept that journal entries should be long, and diary entries should be short. However, this isn’t a rule you should follow automatically. There are days when you’ll have lots of incredible ideas that you should record by putting pen to paper. Other days might include many big events that you’ll want to record
Meanwhile, there’s nothing wrong with jotting down a few things or ideas from the day. This makes the process faster, so you’ll be more likely to make daily journal entries.
An added benefit is it will be easier to reread your journal entries later. You can quickly browse past entries and reflect on whether or not your thoughts and perceptions have changed since then.
- Always Carry Your Journal Around
This doesn’t mean you have to write everywhere you go or even write in it every day. The key is to have the book with you so you can jot down whatever pops into your head. If you wait to record them hours after inspiration strikes, then you might forget the game-changing idea you had.
You can also select small journals that are more portable. This prevents the excuse of not carrying your journal with you because it’s big and bulky.
- Practice Handwriting and Drawing
You can use a small notebook for this function. It’s cost-effective yet can help to prevent your journal entries from looking like “chicken scratch.”
There are several ways to improve handwriting, but one is to practice it. This is especially important in the digital age since much of our writing is done through email, social media, and text chats.
If you want to start a new journal, then the above-mentioned tips are some that can help you get started after you buy stationery online. Your entries’ length, handwriting, and imperfection are some of the ways you can make more and better journal entries.