Creative Ideas for Daily Journaling

Creative Ideas for Daily Journaling  

Figure 1. Source

Did you know that almost all psychotherapists and counselors recommended journaling? It’s a method that relieves stress. The practice of expressing thoughts and emotions contributes towards better stress management and healing from anxiety and depression.

But hey; you don’t have to be anxious or depressed to start journaling. We’re all under stress, so we could use this coping mechanism. Journaling has many other benefits, too:

• Makes you more creative
• Makes you a better writer
• Helps you find solutions to problems
• Unlocks your thinking capacity

Maybe you don’t like writing. But when you get great journaling ideas, it will be easy.

Why Is Daily Writing Important?

Do you know what prevents most people from journaling? It’s their adversity to writing. They think “I always hire someone to write a research paper for me at https://edubirdie.com/research-papers-writing-services because I hate writing. Now you want me to write every day?

Yes; that’s exactly what I want you to do.

Writing is an important skill for people in all industries. Even in military, proper expression is important. Without these skills, you won’t be able to get a job in the first place. You have to write a resume and cover letter to get a job.

But you don’t have to be brilliant at writing to start writing a journal. Who cares if you can’t write well? No one will read it. You’re good enough to express your thoughts and emotions, right?

The only thing you need to figure out is what to write in a journal. Let’s help with that.

16 Personal Journal Ideas to Inspire Daily Writing

1. Describe a Challenge

Is there something you want to do but you’ve been avoiding it? How about a 30-day reading or exercise challenge? Write about your motivation in the journal. Then, you’ll write about your activities every day.

1. Inspirational Quotes

Find a list of inspirational quotes. Choose one per day and use it as a prompt. Start by writing the quote and continue with the thoughts it triggers. You’ll be surprised with the words a single quote can inspire.

1. Your Favorite Books

Make a list of your favorite books. Then, write about them, one day after another. Write about the characters, theme, the author… if you love reading, this is a great way to preserve the books in your memory.

1. Answer a Question

Do you use Quora? Even if you don’t have an active profile, you can still get inspired by the questions. You can use your profile as a journal; you’ll write one answer per day. But you can also borrow some questions and use them as prompts in your actual journal. Choose your favorite categories and Quora will serve an endless source of inspiration.

1. Set Goals

Where do you see yourself in ten years? Where would you like to be in a year from today? What are your monthly goals? What do you plan to achieve tomorrow? It’s important to set your mind to something specific, so you’ll focus on achieving it. The journal is a great place for setting goals.

1. Think of Solutions to Challenges

Is there something that really challenges you? Maybe it’s academic writing, a project at work, or a personal goal. Think how you can overcome the challenge. Write down the potential solutions. Eventually, you’ll come up with an action plan.

1. Events

Did you just attend a wedding? Write about it. It was your grandfather’s birthday? Write about the emotions it triggers. Any kind of event can inspire the daily writing practice.

Figure 2. source

1. What Are You Grateful for?

Some days are bad. We wake up unwilling to face the day. We get from one uncomfortable situation into another. It’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we have to make an effort. In your journal, write about the good things. There has to be something you’re grateful for today.

1. Capture a Moment of the Day

What was the highlight of your day? Write about it!

1. 10-Minute Freewriting

When you feel you’re out of fun things to journal about, this technique always works. Get to a blank page. You don’t need a prompt. You don’t need a theme; you don’t need anything. Just close your eyes for few seconds. Open them and start writing. Whatever comes to your mind is good enough. You’ll get in the flow.

1. Your Favorite Character

It may be a character from a movie or a book, but it may also be someone you know. Write about this person. What makes them so special? Do they have any flaws?

1. A Memory

Are there any moments of your life that you remember vividly? Write, so you won’t forget them.

1. Your First Love

This is always a nice theme. Everyone remembers their first love. This feeling was the most special discover in your entire life. It was innocent and unconditional. It definitely gives you something to write about.

1. Your Dreams

Did you have an interesting dream last night? Write about it as soon as possible, since it’s easy to forget about it. You can also write about the things you want for your future. You know; your dreams!

1. Your Highs and Lows

It’s not easy to write about the low points of your life. But journaling can relieve part of the stress. When you write about the problem, it seems more manageable. Don’t forget to write about the highs, too. Journaling is a balancing act.

1. Traveling

Always bring the journal with you when you travel. If you’re not traveling at the moment, you can write about the trips you’ve had.

Get That Notebook and Start Journaling!

It doesn’t have to be a notebook if you don’t have one at the moment. Start a blank document on your computer and write away. You can use an app on your phone, too. The important thing is to write. You don’t have to be good. You don’t have to be especially motivated. Choose any motivation from the list above and set it up as your prompt.  

Journaling may be hard at first, but it will soon become a habit. You’ll enjoy it!

BIO:

Michael Turner is into psychology, reading, and journaling. He writes a blog that helps students cope with daily challenges. You can follow his tweets if you want to know more about his activities.