Get a journal that’s aesthetically pleasing to you. When I first started trying to keep a journal I used just any old spiral notebook that was laying around. That didn’t work long. I ended up buying a nice Moleskine journal eventually, and it was just such a pleasing experience to use that I wanted to write in my journal all the time. So spend the extra money on a decent journal. The inclination to write more is worth more than the price of some fancy paper.
Get a decent pen too. That’s right, a pen, not a pencil. Having a nice pen makes writing so much more fun. I use the Pilot G2 religiously, and they can be found everywhere for dirt cheap. Some people use fountain pens or just plain rollerballs. Find one you like, and stick with it.
Then to actually write in the thing. Write down the full date before every entry. Then write whatever comes to your head first, whatever’s on your mind. If you have a problem you’re trying to solve, write it down, and then approach it by writing different solutions. You’ll quickly get the hang of it, and figure out your own style. Remember, you’re writing for yourself, and no one else. Don’t be hard on yourself if you’re unclear at first.
Make sure there are no distractions while you write. That means no television, no people talking to you, zero interruptions while writing. If you can’t find a quiet place, put some headphones on and drown out conversations around you. It’s so important to eliminate distractions if you really want your journal to be a big help.
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great tips, I’m starting to keep a journal and have had trouble starting
These are great tips. I have tried off & on to do journaling but never was successful – I was using just anything. I bought my first moleskine notebook recently – 1 week ago – and find I want to write in it! I love picking it up and feeling the texture of it in my hands. BTW, I am a huge fan of the Pilot G2 extra fine point pens!
Life is made up of a series of decisions. We don’t always make the right ones! I keep a journal. I write in it every day. The pages record my good and bad decisions. Both are very valuable. At the end of each day, if I think about what I did right and what I did wrong, the decisions I make tomorrow will be that much better.
Moleskin notebooks have such great style, history and quality. Writing in them is a treat.
I also love to put drawings and diagrams in my journal. The squared pocket moleskins (graph paper). Are the best for this.
For people living with others, remember that your journal may be read by those others. For that reason, be objective if writing about people you live with, writing in a way that would be helpful to them and their relationship with you if they should happen to read the journal.
I would personally NOT write about things that may come back to haunt you or others if they become public: indiscretions, things told to you in confidence, fantasies that others might not understand, acts you might have done that might cause hurt, anger, or resentment, etc.
That still leaves a large universe of helpful things to write about. I like to summarize my day, put problems in writing, possible solutions, and results, and note significant events, such as personal challenges and achievements, or a child’s or significant other’s challenges and achievements, plans, hopes, dreams, aspirations, etc.
Finally, I think that it’s important to write a journal entry every day to get the full benefit of journaling.