Journaling Can Help Your Creativity Emerge
Journaling is good for creativity and mental health, establish or deepen your relationship with the still, quiet voice within, and journaling can also help your creativity emerge. Do writing in your journal a part of your daily life, focus on getting in the habit of writing and being creative.
Here are some tips about how to journal every day and keep it going.
1. Keep your journal handy. One of the hardest parts of daily journaling is merely getting in the habit of writing every day. An easy trick for getting in the practice is keeping your journal somewhere comfortable to access and visible. Many people like to keep their journal with them wherever they go, in a pocket, purse, or backpack. This way, you can write in your journal any time you have an idea for something to write or remember. I suggest keeping your journal in an accessible spot in your home, such as next to the bed or personal dedicated space – it helps you remember to write every day.
2. Schedule time for journaling. Many people find it helpful to write during their morning prayer and devotional time as well as before bed to reflect on the day. Having a scheduled writing time helps you to develop a routine of writing daily, making it easier to remember, and gets your brain in the habit of writing at a particular time. Of course, you can write in your journal at any time. Having a regular time doesn’t mean you can’t stop, and if inspiration strikes you – write as you are moved to do so.
3. Don’t worry about other’s opinions. Journaling or writing is just for you, not for anyone else. Don’t worry about the rules of spelling and grammar or how other people might judge what you wrote. Getting bogged down in “perfectionism” serves to distract and slow you down, hindering your creativity. This form of personal writing, journaling can help your creativity emerge, can help you get to know yourself better, reduce stress, help you process difficult emotions, and find ways to resolve disputes with others. What you put on paper can be the healing balm on both your mental and physical health.
4. Create a template for journaling “entries.” Some days journaling will flow smoothly and naturally. Other days though, you may find it harder to get started. On these days, I find having some pre-established questions you can write answers to, a sort of writing template, can help you get started.
Here are a few suggestions:
- Inspirational quotes or scripture
- Letters to yourself, God, or another
- Lists – goals, fears, gratitude, tasks for that day, problems
- Eating plans + exercise routine
- Appointments
- Friends messages
- Pictures, doodles, drawing, or creative expression
- Answered Prayers
- Where did I sense, feel, hear, or see God in action today?
- How well did I love today?
- Was I others-centered or self-centered today?
- Where could I have done better?
- Is there someone I need to speak – something I have kept to myself that I need to discuss with another person?
5. Use bullet points and make brief journaling entries. Some days, you may be short on time, or may not feel like journaling. Use quick entry bullet points about the events or thoughts you had that day. These bullet points are the springboard for a more extended entry. You can write at another time. Hey, it’s better to jot down a few words than to skip a day.
So you missed a day, don’t give up, and know that you don’t have to “feel” like it to do it.
If you, for one reason or another, forget or are not able to write in your journal one day, don’t get discouraged. Your diary is for you, and no rule says you entirely must write every day.
Remember the days when we filled in our diaries with dreams, secrets, and plans? They were our safe places to spill out our emotions and feelings. Still today, in the process of growing up, we find our time spent journaling can become the very place where we connect with our insides and find answers that our soul craves.
Let me wrap up with this: Do writing in your journal a part of your daily life, focus on getting in the habit of writing, and being creative, knowing that journaling can help your creativity emerge.