You don't have to be good at writing to keep a journal.
Writing on a daily basis can help you express yourself; Writing also reduces stress. It doesn’t matter what you write about or how much you write. Since the important thing is you are doing it to personally express yourself.
People often have trouble journaling because they can write about whatever they want. In our lives, we often write because we have to. A school paper, A report for work. But we are never free to write completely whatever we want. We are guided and told what subjects we must write. In your journal you can write about whatever inspires you. It can be silly things such as Grocery lists, To-do lists, or even random gibberish. You can even write hate letters to people and never send them.
It’s up to you whether or not you share your journal entries. I’ve been contemplating on sharing my journal entries on Steemit for everyone to read. But I haven’t decided if I want to share my whole life in detail to be stuck on Steemit, Forever.
Journal keeping is an effective way to vent your
- Anger
- Unhappiness
- Frustration
- It can also help you sort out problems. Sometimes when I write in my journal, I feel better, and I often find the solution to my problems just by getting the issue on paper. It's like a door opens up and I see it.
Most people find that even though they are harboring a lot of growing anger or frustration when they first sit down to write. By the end of their writing, they feel that the negative feelings have gone. The act of writing down your feelings and thoughts help you manage your emotions in a healthy, Constructive way. It helps you be happy.
Writing your life down helps you remember it. So many people are forgetful. And it's a known fact that sometimes you change your memory over time, By adding more events that never actually existed. So by keeping a journal, you see an authentic version of yourself. And a pure version of that memory.
Digital Or paper
Some Psychologists have said, that the act of writing out each letter has a bigger impact, But if you'd much rather type that is an option too.
I recommend the app "My Wonderful Days.", You can even upload photos. And the app stores it's data in the cloud for permanent use.
I use this one; The Lite version is free, But the permanent version is around 5.00 I believe.
If you decide to go with paper, I recommend buying something nice that matches your style. Get a nice leather one, Or a pretty one. You could even go with something scrapbook like.
Its your journal and it's about expressing YOU! Now get journaling. Or post it on Steemit! haha.
I guess Steemit will be my journal! I haven't written so much for fun since I've created a personal WordPress blog (and lost interest quickly down the road lol).
I know what you mean, I had the same issue. I think Steemit could be a journal for all of us, it could be like the old website mydeardiary
I keep a pad of paper for my thoughts next to my bed. LED light keeps me from sleeping so I scribble old skool. Nice article, Upvoted and following
@tee-em, the Artists Way - Morning Journal pages is what I use. Large book good fro scribbling.
Thanky ou! Morning journal pages? haven't heard of those! I use a giant sketchbook I found on Amazon with over 600 pages.
Yes, it's awesome. It was brought to my attention on a podcast. I did a post about the book. An artist created and designed it to help artists journey into their creative spirit without reservations
Artist's Way - Morning Journal Pages
I will have to look into it! It sounds amazing!
Yes, those are good. Also this: Professors as Writers by Robert Boice
Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00WQA9HW4
About working around writer's block.
Love this ! Thank you for the tip
I filled exactly one page of this diary every day for 2 years. It felt good to get the thoughts out of my head, and my penmanship had never been better!
Thats good plus you have something to keep! That is a cool diary <3
Great post, a couple other greats reasons to keep a journal is to track progress and to identify things. My husband uses one to keep track of his progress at the gym and I was getting sick to my stomach alot so he had me keep a journal of the foods and drinks i ate and at what time each day so we could find and eliminate what was making me sick.
💋 @halo 💋
I love this!! I see the benefits of doing that :)
Good idea! Also, many pro writers started off with journals. They got into journaling and then used their journals for practice. Practice makes perfect. :)
So true :) Journaling is a great practice and if you want to become an artist you can even do that.
Very thought provoking. In the last few days I have been chronicalling(is this a word?) my recent experiences and I feel wrung out afterword. I have broken my recent story into 3 parts not because it is overly long, but because when I write it, I relive the emotions I felt when it happened. This is a good thing, it has been very theraputic for me. Because of this I have thought that I should get some more of my history out. I am a little trepidatious about it though, because I have lived a pretty tragic life and some of my past is very sad. Getting it out for all these people to experience may help them on thier own journeys though so I probably will do it. Thanks again for your insight. Followed you.
I think chronicling is a word LOL It's just spelled differently, * I used spell check, I can't spell eitherLOL *
Thank you! I see how it helped you, It can be extremely helpful.
The Artist's Way - Morning Journal Pages is what I use if any other creatives are looking for something. It's a book. I do hand written. Spend enough time in front of my latop haha :-)
I might have to buy those!! They look so awesome. I love handwriting especially with bic pens
I also still use handwritten. I feel more connected and it gets me away from all the electronics for a while.
I do freestyle rap, same effect
That is awesome! Sounds like a great way to express yourself.
Right, writing is one of expressing one self.
Yup hehe.
I love writing in journals...in fact I have 3!
One journal is a daily journal covering my life, thoughts and general feelings. I also do 'Morning Papers' as per the book The Artist's Way where basically you just write to clear all the initial thoughts you have before you start the day...very powerful. My third journal is to work through any negative feelings I have or if I need clarity on an issue.
And then there is all my other notebooks and pieces of paper scattered all over my desk :-)
I love this!! I hope having three journals isn't too difficult to keep track of.
I write for a living...so no...it's just part of my life :-)
I love journaling! And years from now, when you read your work again, it almost seems like a different person wrote it since you can grow so much. (I love reading my old stuff every now and again, it is like I am sneaking a peek in a strangers diary)
Thank you