I remember my first time. January 1 2008.
I was so excited about the new diary that my dad’s office gifted for New Year. Every year, my mom claims it, saying that she needs it for budget purposes. But I know her, Half the pages are gonna end up unused (which later becomes my rough note). So this time, I made my claim. ‘Give it to me this year because my English teacher has instructed us to practice diary writing’. And being the dad’s favourite one, (don’t tell my sister) I got the diary.
As excited as I was, I didn’t know what to write. And my first page seemed something like this — Today is New Year. I’m very happy. I wore a new dress today. My mom scolded me for hitting my sister, so I’m sad.
Sheesh…
I know. It’s cliche. But hey, I was just eleven back then. I lasted for two weeks. And I ended up keeping the pages blank. Just like my mom. I tried to journal 3-4 years later and stopped again. But when I started again at 20, I kept it going, at least for the most part.
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The Fear Of Maintaining A Journal
The single reason why most of us fear, or hesitate to start a journal is because of the myth that you have to be consistent.
Let me tell you, you need not be consistent with your journal. In fact, the very first thing my English teacher taught us was to not write a diary entry every day. (Spoiler: You can write a journal everyday. More on that here.)
Journal is something personal. It’s a part of you, where you let your thoughts play around with words (or sometimes art). I see journals as a tiny little world of ours. Our true selves. So don’t you think it’s unfair to have a set of rules for journaling?
I mean, it’s your journal, you do what you want. Experiment. Try to see what works for you and do that. I have written in my diary every day for almost a month, and I’ve gone months without opening it. It’s my journal and I decide what to do.
You can write, draw, paste stickers, or even scribble (I’ve done that), or copy a page of a poem in it. It’s yours and yours only. And until you get into that mindset, journaling might feel a bit unconnected. The last thing you need is a notebook that you hate looking at! Picture of junk journal
Why You Wouldn’t Start A Journal?
It’s completely normal and human to have hesitations before you start a journal. And I’m here having answers for most of your excuses.
The main one — fear of consistency, is handled in the earlier section. So ‘I don’t feel like doing it today’ is out of the question.
‘No time?’ You have different types of journals, some of which take less than 5 minutes. Choose one that fits your mood and time availability.
‘Boring hobby?’ Start and you’ll know. Besides you can make it as interesting as possible through drawings, or stickers. And I won’t categorise journaling as a hobby. It’s a routine — like how you brush your teeth everyday.
‘Not a writer?’ You don’t have to! Yes, Journaling is a broad term and there are other types apart from writing as well. Also, what matters is that you are putting your thoughts down on a paper. So chill about grammar and vocabulary.
‘Not safe to put your thoughts on a paper?’ Burn it after you finish writing, or tear it off. What matters is that you write down your thoughts. A journal is not mere words on a paper, rather a medium of communication with oneself. (I even have arguments with myself in my diary :P)
‘What if I…’ — STOP. Why don’t you give it a try and then decide for yourself.
How To Start A Journal?
As a beginner, the thought of starting a journal can be intimidating. But hey, let’s take baby steps. One thing at a time.
Get Good Stationery
Now, this is totally a personal preference. If you’re fine with the empty notebooks on your cupboard, well and good. Or fine with your mobile notes? Good. But if you are anything like me, brand new stationery can increase your motivation and commitment by 10 times. After all it’s a process to be enjoyed, right? Right?
You can just buy a journal, or you can add to your cart, cute vintage stickers to spice things up. And if you’re a vintage lover (again like me) use a fountain pen. It gives that main character energy 😛 . These are some of the products I use personally, you can check it out.
Create a Routine (or not)
Come up with a routine. Either as soon you wake up, or during your lunch break or just before you get to sleep. Having a routine helps you stay committed. However, if you choose to not journal everyday, or around every time, that’s fine too. Just make sure you experiment and try out different methods to know what works the best for you.
Start Small
With all the overflowing beginner’s motivation you have, try not to go all in on the first week. Take it slow. If you’re a beginner, the ideal way to start a journal would be to take only 5 minutes of your day. And once the process syncs in, try out varieties.
Decorate the first page
As silly as it might sound, decorating that first page with colors, doodles, stickers, or a silly quote makes a difference. Think of it like signalling your brain that you’re gonna do something fun!
Start Writing
All that is left is to put that first word down, and it’ll take off from there, letting momentum do the work.
Final Thoughts
Remember, there is no right or wrong way to journal. Decide what you like, and go with it. But if you need inspiration, or for the days when you don’t know what to write in your journal, or not sure how to express a particular emotion in your journal, start with our free Journal prompt packs.
The very fact that you have read till the end proves that you are ready to build your better version. Start today and enjoy all the magical benefits of journaling.
Time to give yourself the permission to express yourself.