Journaling: How to?

May 11, 2022

Time to read:

2 minutes

I know I have been writing about journaling a couple of times here (and raving about bullet journal too,) but I want to know and hear (or read) your thoughts on journaling.

What is journaling for you?

Like, did you journal? Do you do journal? (I sense some grammatical errors there but please be kind to me, it’s 11 PM and my mind still racing with stuff.)

And if you do journal, what kind of things you write? Is it something like a personal diary/blog? Or perhaps more like a to-do list?

With me, I do my bullet journal as a to-do list. Mostly about work. Yes, not super fun.

I’m also aware that bullet journal can be anything — not limited to to-do list. Yes, you can journal and pour your heart on it.

Problem is, I can’t do that. I always feel that my thoughts are not worthy (???) enough for my bullet journal.

(Yes, it’s messed up.)

I had a chat with one of my colleagues and I shared with them about my anxiety, my tendency to be high-strung on everything, and my obsession with being in control of everything — add it up with FOMO.

My colleague suggested me to do journaling. I can either do it in the morning as Opening Act or in the afternoon after I work as Closing Act.

Problem is, I don’t know what to write. Gratitudes? Goals? What went right today? Hopes and fears? Reflections on how the day went? I can find myself getting more stressed out because I will go “OMG WHAT IF…” in no time 🥲

How do folks usually journal? And how do you make it as a calming activity instead of “trying to reflect on something but it makes you feeling worse in the end”?

Posted

May 11, 2022

Writings and General Commentaries

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Nindya

An Indonesian in Malaysia and an Automattician. Self-appointed Guardian of Cilantro and Coriander. Aspiring children’s book illustrator.

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Comments

4 responses to “Journaling: How to?”

Nick S.

May 12, 2022

I also use a bullet journal-ish system but don’t like the “perfectionist” approach of keeping things too tidy and by the book. Take pages and just write, make random notes, jot down thoughts!

Also check out morning pages as an idea to get started: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/oct/03/morning-pages-change-your-life-oliver-burkeman 😊

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Terra Love

May 12, 2022

I’ve tried bullet journaling but turns out neither do I have the patience nor the skills for it. Instead, I keep a notebook with me for when things get too much for my simple brain to handle. I also keep a separate regular journal where I try to collate writing thoughts, tidbits from the day, bucket/wishlist. sometimes I even try to include a mood and exercise tracker but often fail at that.

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Natalia Turangan

May 13, 2022

I’m on and off doing ‘journaling’ since high school, I think. It started when I started to get a yearly agenda to write in that. It can be to do list for the future, or something I want to remember dearly from past days.. or list of my friend’s birthday. I never can maintain journaling on daily basis, or weekly basis… so it’s always on and off for me >.< Well I can even go off from journaling for a year (or more).. Not sure that this can be a good answer to share, but it is what it is 😛

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Mara

June 8, 2022

I wrote a guided journal. It’s writing prompts (questions), so it takes the pressure off what to write about. Plus it might suggest things to reflect upon that you wouldn’t normally consider. It’s also a coloring book, which helps you to relax, and you can color while you reflect on the questions.

I’m not sure if something like that would be helpful to you, but if you want to check it out, here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Me-Self-Discovery-Creative-Expression/dp/0578819139/

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