3 Ways to Start — and Stick With — a Journaling Practice

Sometimes, what you’re thinking and feeling can seem overwhelming. But getting everything down on paper — or on your computer — is what helps you understand the full range of your needs and figure out how to begin having them met. So let your thoughts flow and write it all down.

If the idea of having to write every day makes you feel anxious, consider journaling just once a week or taking the weekends off. If words don’t come easily, or if you find yourself confined by lines on a page, a visual journal of unlined pages where you sketch or doodle is a great alternative. You can also speak your thoughts out loud and record them on a cell phone or recording device.

One of the great things about keeping a journal is that, over time, you can see how much you grow as a person. You see how your thoughts evolve and gain new perspectives on situations that may be causing you stress. Best of all, you develop a more in-depth understanding of yourself that may help you cope more easily when times are tough.