8 Ways to Journal (Get Started Today)

In this video, I go over 8 different ways to keep a journal. Some are simple but not particularly beginner-friendly; others have more structure and help beginners build their journaling habit.

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[amandabottoms]

I've found gratitude journaling at the end of the day, but at the beginning of my nightly journal entry as a way to almost help usher out the bad stuff of the day. It sets my mood for journaling in a much more positive light. The gratitude section, which takes maybe 10 minutes because I write out the questions each entry, is just such a pleasant way to start the act of journaling. I also like it because it gives you a jumping off point to write more. Sometimes the last question prompts me to talk more about my day, and I love leaving fun stories for the kids to find. I see my journals as letters to my kids that they get to read after I'm dead, so I love taking the time explaining how I wrap christmas presents so pretty like, or taking the time to explain things that they arent quite old enough to be told just yet.

[melanieswritingplans]

I was bullet journaling for a few years, and between late-2022/early 2023, I kept a daily gratitude log and I would always start with "Today I am grateful for..." per advice from another bujo content creator here on YT. Around April/May this year I dropped the gratitude journaling habit, and I noticed a big difference with my mental health. By not turning my attention to that which I'm fortunate to have/experience (even if it's as simple as a sunny day), I find that I get lost in my own thoughts -- the intrusive ones that I can wallow in if I'm not careful. Thank you as always for a wonderful explanation of all the benefits of journaling!

[Abysm.]

I’ve also been journaling consistently for roughly a decade (15 to 25) and one very useful and enjoyable practice I’ve been doing for the past 3 years is keeping an audio journal in conjunction with my tangible writing journal. I prefer to write, but when I don’t have time, lack energy, have a thought difficult to structure, or have the urge to rant and brain dump, using my phone’s audio recorder and recording myself speak has significantly improved my thinking and speaking. And though I still greatly prefer writing and rereading past entries, listening to my past audio entries allows me to experience another side of myself that can’t be captured In a ‘physical’ medium. I write in my journal 3 to 5 times a week, while i very infrequently opt for the audio journal, but still after 3 years, I’ve compiled a decent library of audio entries that complement my physical journaling and have deepened my overall self awareness.

[thebluesmurfdude]

My personal journaling looks a little like this:

I use an 8.5 x 11 blank page journal I bought off Amazon.

I use The Daily Stoic for a prompt.

I start by thinking about all the things I need to get done today, and write them down. I then reorder them by what is going to be the hardest for me to accomplish. (Like a simplified Eisenhower Matrix). Then, throughout the day I can come back and physically check these off as these tasks get accomplished.

I then take the remainder of the time i have to journal for that morning; read the prompt and write about it. Relating it back to my life, but also asking questions about the prompt. Sometimes there’s something going on that I just want to write about, and on those days I just ignore the prompt.

Then it’s taking the dog for a walk, getting ready for work. Etc etc.

At the end of the day, I look to see if there was anything I did not accomplish that I wanted to. If so I’ll collect all those and make a new list for me to evaluate the next day. But often I when I go to sleep and look at the list in the morning; I find that those few I didn’t get to aren’t worth the energy putting in, and I’ll discard them.

I use to end it there, but I found that sometimes I’m pretty negative on myself for not accomplishing all the tasks that I had originally envisioned. So now, after collecting the new list. I’ll spend five or ten minutes hyping up my accomplishments for the day. Write about what I’m grateful for. Celebrate the wins.

Been doing this since October 2022, and it has been the best decision. Except for those days where you spiral and are super negative on yourself. xD

Love the videos as always Jared! Trying to be better about leaving comments!! :)

[murdermayhemuk]

I have kept a gratitude journal for years and it helps my mental health when I’m feeling down. It is a brilliant practice finding the positive in even the worse day.

However, I completely understand your statement on it all being about gratitude which is why I also keep a journal analysing my day working through problems.

I think it works because of the combination of both. Love your content.

[ignacioenriquemendezchavez]

Jared, i’m a engineering student in Mexico, and the books you’ve recommended and journaling itself have helped mea lot, not just in the career, but in my life.
I encouraged my gf to start Journaling because her existencial crisis and whatnot
So all o can say, is thank you for this content.

[kryssysmith]

I suffer from depression (among a ton of mental health issues), so the GRADTUIDE journaling helps me look back to remind myself that I DO HAVE BLESSINGS in my life. I've been journaling (since I can remember), for the past 2-3 years (I fill up 2 notebooks per year) I started to DAILY journalling I LOVE IT! My journal is everything but coffee stained😝😝😝😝. Plus with gratitude you can also see ALL the THINGS I'VE ACCOMPLISHMENTS during that day 😁😁😁😁

[hilltopviewjournals]

I agree with your comments about gratitude journaling. I can’t just focus on that one method. So I use it as part of my daily logging with a ♥️ for gratitude, a + for good stuff I’ve achieved, and a - where I’ve not hit the mark. These interchange with my daily task list. I keep a daily long form journal as well but I’ve found that I can live without that if I can’t sit down to write, but life feels crazy without my daily logging. It’s just a simple list, but it keeps me on track and it’s easy to refer back to for later reflections. I never re-read my long journaling. And it has to be analogue. Apps just don’t work for me. I also make all my own journals so it’s a creative process too.

[MrVinc]

I started journaling as a way to live with more intention and not let life pass me by without me noticing it. I generally have three sections in my entry. First section is writing about my current mental state with the goal of being more aware of it and understand it better. Second section is a recap on how the previous day went and the third section is my intentions and objectives for the new day.

[maxxikevich]

Hey Jared,

Thank you for your videos! I tried to start journaling for years and your guide on "Traditional journaling" helped me a lot.

[amandabottoms]

I like a weekly planner to keep up with tasks/events that need to be done. keeps me focused without feeling like i need to account for every minute of every day.

[katfyte]

For me, it’s extremely depressing to read about failures, fears and fragility. I look back in my journals for inspiration. There’s always something that can lift me and inspire my future self. Focusing outside myself makes me strong; introspection just compounds my insecurities and encourages intrusive thoughts. It’s healthy to be positive. Be careful what feedback loops you create.

[verosnotebook]

Fascinating topic! I’ve kept a journal on and off all my adult life, and consistently for the last 7 years. It’s become essential for my mental health. I keep a TN with 3 inserts: one is the Journal, the other a Commonplace one for any words that ‘speak’ to me, and finally a Reading Log for all that I read, thoughts as I’m reading and after, lists, TBR, future publications I don’t want to miss, etc. I’ve also always kept a notebook for work and again essential in that sphere. I used Moleskin but since I love writing with fountain pens, I switched to the Leuchtturm notebook A5 and incorporated elements from the Bujo system that work for me. Quite minimalist since I prefer that and I keep adapting it as my life changes. That one is for organisation, both personal and professional, or rather anything that doesn’t go in the TN.

[collienkaseberg]

Thanx for your compilation of journaling techniques. It inspires me! I'm a journaler, but an inconsistent one. I would like to be more consistent about it. My thoughts on a Gratitude Journal. I believe it is a VERY positive way to journal, yet it is a special way to keep positive thoughts in one place. I think it would benefit one to take 3-5 minutes and write 3 to 5 things that make one grateful for their day. It should be a separate journal and be only one part of a journaling program. It is a great thing to have when depression hits and one can't think of anything positive about living life. It's a great reminder that life really is worth living. Again, it should not be the only journaling practice.

[Joyboy.]

I am 20, I've been planning to journal for idk how long. But this time, 31st july just before midnight (i study till 6am and wake up at 12pm- temporary schedule) I started writing about what i am doing wrong and i feel and what i will be doing to improve it. Next day and days after that i just started to write whatever i thought that i needed to get out. I started writing about everything I've talking to myself about in my head all these years. 1st day it was kinda weird but just next day it got normal to me. I don't write everyday but i write whatever comes to my mind(mostly related to growth, my thoughts and quotes)

[balqis]

I have made journaling into my life since April 2023, even though I tend to skip or even forget to do journal. I started to follow journaling since 2018 during senior year in secondary school, however I was only experimenting on which method to use and I dropped them instantly.

Now I’m in 4th year of bachelor degree, also an intern, I started to do journal after I had my counselling session. My counselour suggested to write something, and journaling came up in my mind after years of not picking up.

Now I don’t feel bad on skipping days and I enjoy journaling more. Your videos also have helped me to change my mindset on the daily journal, Mr Henderson. Thank you.

[nordicsolitude]

I mostly do free journaling, reflecting on something that transpired or something that I've been noodling over. Occasionally I will include a sketch, especially at the new year. I also generally carry around what I call an "idea book, " which is essentially what is termed a "commonplace book" in this video. My biggest struggle, however, is to develop a regular habit. Life tends to interfere.

[MrFredstt]

Gratitude journaling works for me, I think, because of my personality. I have always been quite a negative person in life and a downer. It was so ingrained into my daily mindset all through my teen years and now through to my mid 20s. So, to me, having a journal where it's nothing but being positive and thankful has helped to keep my thoughts from always drifting towards the negative

[lvlautist]

The thing with gratitude journaling is that I feel like I'm writing/being grateful for the same 2 things over and over again. I can get creative with it but I don't feel honest saying things like "I'm grateful for being able to look out a window" "I'm grateful for double knotting my shoes" it's the same thing to me as just being grateful for being alive. Guess I live a boring life.

[SleepyOldOwl]

I have another method to get started: drawing a card. It could be a tarot card (from an artist you like) or an art card or whatever inspires you. Start by writing down what you see, whether it appeals to you or not, why, what you feel and associate with it, and then from there everything that comes to mind.
I use an image because I'm visual inclined, but a poem card can work too.
I do this for over 15 years now and it works great for me.