Welcome back to episode 13 of Aspire and Achieve with Annie. I’m Annie and today, we're going to talk about why you should be keeping a journal and I'm even going to give you some suggestions for what to write in it.
Do you keep a journal? If not, have you considered one?
Journal keeping for some may seem like a thing of the past after all women from the past kept journals and diaries regularly. They recorded everything from how they felt, to what they did, to their deepest secrets. Why do you think they did that?
Well, it was their way of keeping a record of their life. It was a way to vent their feelings. It was a way to get everything out of her head and onto paper. And that's exactly why you should be keeping a journal of your own.
We live very busy and stressful lives nowadays. There's always some place to go, someone to see, something happening that needs our attention. Women wear over 30 hats nowadays. Mother, housekeeper, nanny, laundry expert, maid, cook, corporate worker, entrepreneur and more.
While we're wearing all these hats, we have to try to remember appointments, work schedules, dinner menus, information from the boss at work, and the list just goes on and on. We're so busy doing and remembering so many things, we hardly get a moment to ourselves.
And that's where journaling comes in.
Now there's many types of journals you can keep. There's a diet and a meal planning journal for those wanting to lose weight. There's journals to keep up with self care. There's gardening journals, housekeeping journals, homesteading journals, a gratitude journal, and so on.
But the best journal to start is with a personal journal. Now, this is similar to a diary. A little book that's for your eyes only.
It's a place to record how you feel, what you're thinking about something that maybe you can't talk to anyone about. It's a place you can vent, rant, and rave about all the things that make you mad.
It's a place to record your deepest and most personal thoughts. You know the things you need to get out, but you don't want anyone else to know. A personal journal is exactly what it's called. Personal.
Now you might be thinking, “Well, what would I write in it?” Or “When will I have time to write in it?” Or maybe even, “How am I supposed to keep anything private in my house?”
Well, I have the answers for all those questions. So let's start answering them one at a time.
What do you write in it? The answer is anything. It's your journal. It could be whatever you want it to be. Are you tired today? Then write “I am tired today.”
Is something making you mad? Write about it. Are you happy or proud of something you did? Write about it.
The point is to write. Whatever you want. However you want to say it. I have a friend that has a corporate job. And she has to watch your P's and Q's all the time. She told me if anyone read her journal, they would think she had a trashy mouth. She swears and lets it all out. That's perfectly okay. You know, why? Because it's her personal journal and only she reads it.
And that leads me to bring up something about journaling, you may not have considered. It is the one place that no matter what you say, no matter how you say it, or who you are saying it about, it's okay. You know why? Because it's your personal journal.
I have a journal. I write everything in. I write what happened that day, who I saw, what I did, how I feel - you name it, I write it.
And, you know, I have to tell you. I've actually gone back in my older journals to look for things that happened or information that I might've kept track of. And it's come in handy more than a few times.
So, how do you get started? You drive yourself to the store and you look for a pretty journal that you might want to use. Don't be afraid to spend a couple of dollars. If you buy what you really like and what you really want, you're more apt to write in it.
I have a beautiful journal each year. This year, it has a pretty floral cover with a pink elephant on it. Last year, it was an all black cover with the word journal and gold on the front. Just buy the one that appeals to you.
As far as the paper inside, there's tons of options. You can find blank ones, lined ones, dotted ones. You can buy journals with a date on the page for you to write the date on, you can even find journals that have designs to color or sporadic pages throughout the book to color.
You also have the choice of spiral bound, disc bound or bound like a regular reading book.
Once you pick your journal, you might want to pick a special pen to write with. This pen can be saved for journal writing only. I actually have a Mickey mouse pen that II paid an arm and a leg for, four years ago at Disney world. And I only use it for my journals. Some people use gel pens, others use other specialty pens.
Just make sure the ink doesn't bleed through the pages.
So, where do you keep your journal? Well, if you don't care who has access to it, you can leave it beside your favorite reading chair or next to your bed. If you want privacy, however, you might want to keep it between your mattress or tucked away in a dresser drawer. You can even keep it in a tote or your purse. If you carry one regularly.
So now you know where to get your journal. You know, what types of journals you can choose from. You know, what types of writing instruments you can use and where to find your journal. So let's talk about suggestions for what you can write in it to get started.
Well, let me give you a little list of suggestions for you. How about a review of your day? Maybe the things that bother you. What made you happy? Something special you did for someone. Something special someone did for you. Maybe the goals you want to work on or quotes, you want to remember. How about just some doodles or drawings? Maybe a visual description of where you went. A poem. Song lyrics. A self-care routine. You may want to start a review of your week. How you're feeling mentally or with your overall health. Maybe songs you want to remember. Your bucket list. Important dates to remember. Maybe holiday or special event activities or memories that you just want to remember later. Or general things you want to remember, like phone numbers or addresses. How about a movie list you want to watch? Book reviews or ratings on a book you read. Photos. It doesn't have to be written. Fortune cookie papers. Maybe special recipes or special milestones.
So are you ready to start journaling? Get out there and get yourself a journal and start writing.
You might be surprised how much a journal can do for you. It will help you get your thoughts out of your head and on paper. It's like a reprieve. No, one's going to judge you for what you say. It's a personal space to vent. I say whatever you need to. Get started on a journal and I promise you won't regret it.
Well, That's all I have for you this week. Remember. You're a beautiful person. Both inside and out. And you deserve to be happy.
Get those thoughts on paper and start your journal. And I'll see you next week on Aspire and Achieve with Annie.
