If you read this blog even occasionally, you will know that I have been trying a lot of new things during this COVID period. From getting seriously into typewriters to exploring the world of cool stationery, I’ve gone deep (and spent some money along the way!) I guess given my love of paper and pens, journaling is a natural fit for me. And I want to share how to get started with journaling in an easy way. No huge commitments required!
The benefits of journaling seem to be getting a lot of press these days. I guess it’s no surprise, since there seem to be a lot of people struggling financially, mentally and health-wise. And along with meditation, all the cool people seem to be journaling. I’ve kept a journal off and on since high school… and it’s been a little more “off” than “on” recently.
But in my recent efforts to keep my sanity and work on being a better person, journaling seemed to something to consider re-adding to my tool kit. So a few months ago, I picked it up again. And I’ve got some tips for dipping your toes into it, without a huge financial or time commitment.
Work with what you’ve got
Of course you don’t need a fancy notebook or pens when you are journaling in an easy way. If the urge strikes, just use whatever you’ve got on hand and start writing or creating. Since I am stationery crazy, I have more than enough notebooks, paper, pens, etc. to start a new journal (or 20) at the drop of a hat. But if you’ve just got a half-used spiral and a random pen, that works too. Just get started….
But upgrade to something better, if it inspires you
Let’s get real- one of the joys of journaling is (at least for me) the paper, pens, and all the other fun “accessories” of journaling. Once you are (fairly) committed to journaling (this post is about “easy” and “low commitment” ways to get started- so take it with a grain of salt), it’s worth finding the tools that will give you pleasure when you use them. It’s a good way to reinforce the habit- if you love the feeling of the paper and pen you are using, it’s more likely that you will journal on a regular basis.
Here are a few things I’ve been using to make my journaling habit even more satisfying. Of course this can lead to a bottomless pit of wonderful stationery products!
Tomoe River notebook, dot grid
I love a fountain pen, and the TWSBI Eco holds a lot of ink while not being too expensive. It’s a good, reasonably priced choice if you are still deciding on whether fountain pens are for you.
You are going to need some ink for that new TWSBI (or any other fountain pen you might choose). Fountain pen ink is a whole world, but this Waterman ink is a classic way to start your soon-to-be collection.
I could go on and on about paper and pens (and I have) but it’s fun to have add some color to your journal… a good place to start is with these Zebra Mildliner brush pens.
Manage your expectations
This post is about journaling in an easy way, not “how to add stress to your life through journaling!” Yikes, the commitment of having to write something high quality and revelatory every day can seem too daunting at first. But then I realized that there was something soothing about just putting pen to paper and closing out the day with a few reflections- and they didn’t have to be earth-shattering!
And there will be days when suddenly, you are inspired. And the words will come tumbling out. On those days, just go for it and try to capture it all. But recognize that those days will be the exceptions- on many days, you may just write about how annoyed you are by X, Y, and Z. And that’s ok!
Don’t be too constrained by preconceived notions
This is your journal. It doesn’t have to look (or read) like anyone else’s. Hopefully, no one else is reading it (unless you want them to), so you can do whatever the hell you want to. I must admit, this is a hard bit of advice for me to follow. So I started following the Reddit journaling crew, and it has really expanded my mind. Journaling can be whatever you want it to be, and sometimes it’s a little doodle, a poem I’ve found, or a lovely quote. There really are no rules. And for some reason, that’s been a hard concept for me to get my head around 🙂
Refer to some journaling prompts when you aren’t sure how to start (or want to shake it up)
While writing about my days and thoughts can certainly fill up a journal, it’s fun to use some prompts to take my thoughts in a different direction. There are tons of sources for journaling prompts out there- a few of my favorites include: Goop’s guide to journaling exercises, All about Planners’ 12 monthly review questions, and Rancho La Puerta’s tips for journaling. There are tons of resources out there- one that looks particularly interesting is this Skillshare class, which I have been considering…
I particularly like the idea of doing thought exercises that I don’t do often. It can really break you out of your usual rut and give you a boost of inspiration. Wit & Delight has a great list to get you started, and there are tons of other resources online.
At the end of the day, just get started…
Just writing a few lines in a notebook or in an email to yourself might be the most you can do right now. And that’s ok! We’re all about easy and low commitment these days, right? But I really do think that journaling can be a great outlet and can help you feel better about what’s going on right now. It’s cheap and it’s easy. How can you beat that??
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