The Joy of Journaling

I’ve always been an avid journal writer. It all started when I was nine years old, in 3rd grade. I was super sick with a fever for 17 days, so they decided to take me to the hospital to get medicine. However, my fever broke and I was feeling better, so they changed their mind and we got to go home. Before we left, they gave me a to-go care package. Some candy and one little journal. I was so excited and entranced by the idea of writing in a journal and being able to go back to the past and read where you were in your life at the time.

So my very first entry was about being in the hospital and being sent home. Then, from age 9 to age 13, I wrote and filled the little journal. I was super inconsistent at times and very dedicated at others. I wrote a lot during my 7th grade year, and that’s when I finished and filled every page.

Now I have 6 journals, all full to the brim except one. More recently, within the last 2.5 years, I’ve switched over to a digital journal. (This is the reason the last one hasn’t been filled yet.) I had one journal app that I liked and then when we switched phones, the app didn’t exist anymore! It was SUCH A BLESSING that my old phone hadn’t been wiped yet because I was able to email all the entries to myself. It. Took. So. Long. AGH!

Then I had to find a new journal app. Change is always hard and an adjustment, but I soon found Journey. I’m telling you, I should be paid because I’ve shown sooo many people this heaven-sent app! I know of at least 5 people who have downloaded the app and love it.

I’ll give you a quick run-down in case you want to check it out. The free version still gives you access to quite a few things, so I think it’s worth giving it a shot! If you don’t ever end up going premium, it will still meet your needs. Anyway, you can add pictures, videos, voice memos, (you can even draw in it!) and so many other wonderful things. It keeps track of what day you write, the time, the weather and location (with premium and if you allow it to). It’s really hard to explain without just showing you. So if you are really interested, email me and I will send you a personal video showing how it works. 🥰

Since I have paid for the premium, I have so many options and abilities unlocked for me. Whether or not you pay for it though, you can easily share them with the export button as a pdf or word document. This is all to say that…

Sometimes I share my journal with my friends. Then without much effort, they are all caught up and on the same page as me. Many of them have asked for tips and strategies, and if anyone knows the ins and outs of journaling; it’s me.

One of my friends said her new year resolution was to write in a journal more often, but she expressed how hard it was to be motivated, and she didn’t know what to write about.

My first piece of advice is sooo simple. Start small. Only write when you need to get something off your chest. Use speech-to-text Write when you need to rant. Write when you want to tell a quick story. Don’t give yourself the pressure to write everyday if you don’t have a desire to! Don’t do it! You’ll get burnt out SO fast. Then, over time, you will learn to journal more often. You will want to journal more often. You’ll find yourself journaling everyday without even trying to.

My next piece of advice is my favorite…and several of my friends agree that they think it is very helpful.

BULLET POINTS!!!

BULLET POINTS!

BULLET POINTS!!!

If you don’t want to write and make it all flow but have a lot to get out—bullet points. They are absolutely amazing and help so much. Then you can just list out all your thoughts and then come back and explain them later when you have energy/time. Or not. You choose!

Why bullet points are amazing:

• Easy and quick
• You start brainstorming and end up getting more off your chest
• Easy to read and follow
• Organized
• No expectations for proper grammar
• Short—then expound more later
• Easy to expand on
• They can stand on their own if desired
• No time commitment—not forced to wrap up your thoughts with a paragraph
• Highlights important themes/events
• Overall less stressful
• Less intimidating

So I want to show you an example…but bare with me because I’m going to make stuff up. Kind of. 😂

Bullet Point Example 😎

1. Glad I took on level
2. Songs in english
3. Feeling good
4. Messy messy
5. A little confused
6. Irritated
7. Hugs

Now explain. 🤩 (ONLY IF YOU WANT!!! THAT’S THE BENEFIT OF BULLET POINTS!)

1. I am a TA (teacher’s assistant) for my old math teacher. He is SUCH an amazing teacher, and I feel happy to be in there. I grade homework and cut paper for him. It’s really easy, and I enjoy it. The hour that I’m in there, he has an Honors Pre-Calc class. I took on level Pre-Calc last year, and I am so grateful I did so looking back because watching these kids struggle in this class is not fun! They can’t use calculators all the time and cannot use reference sheets. On level last year was nice because he let us use calculators and reference sheets for our tests.

2. We are reading Hamlet in my AP lit class, and for Act 3, we have to find songs for each scene and explain why the song we chose was a good representation of the scene. It was kinda fun. If you’re reading a book and are bored, consider finding some songs that relate to the chapter you just read. I don’t know it can be fun!

3. That’s it. Self-explanatory. (In fact, if I was entering this all into my journal, I would just skip number three.)

4. My room is super messy, and I need to get myself together and clean it.

5. The choir song we are working on today is tricky. I’m feeling a little confused, but I know I’ll figure it out.

6. I’m irritated with the way some people treat others. UGH! Stop shaming please!

7. I’m not normally a touchy person, but I love giving hugs to my younger high school friends when they’re having a bad day.

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I don’t know if that represents what I’m trying to say, but for me, bullet points are really helpful. I only use them about once or twice a week when I have a lot on my mind and want to organize it.

Journal writing is not for everyone, and if it’s not for you, that’s okay! However, I do suggest you get out your pent-up feelings somehow—whether that’s talking to a friend, going on a walk, exercising, etc. BUT to be honest with you, I think the best thing to do is to write something down. So ya, go on a walk, exercise, tell a friend about it, but write something down too. Write a quick 4-6 sentences about the situation and how mad or sad it makes you. You don’t even have to keep it. Journaling can be solely for the reason of releasing emotions.

I’ve always found a lot of comfort in the fact that I was never alone. Yes, there’s Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but I don’t mean them this time. I’m talking about always having someone who will listen, who will accept everything I have to say, who will love me no matter what, who will never judge me, and who will always be there…my journal! My journal won’t think twice when I write something really dumb down or when I say something mean. My journal won’t question me when I wrote so hard my page ripped. My journal won’t give up on me when I make a mistake and want to write about it. My journal has kept me sane. It helps me not feel alone. It will always understand. No matter what.

Journaling has taught me a lot about myself too. I think journaling is a good way to find yourself…and discover who you truly are beneath all the layers. When you can be open and honest with yourself, your heart truly opens up and lets you in.

Before I go, I want to dedicate this post to my wonderful grandma. She too, has always been an avid journal writer, and I’ve looked up to her my whole life. She has given me countless journals over the years, and I’m so grateful. We have a tradition—every time we are together, we both write in one another’s journals. I greatly appreciate looking back and seeing her handwriting in my journal along with all the wisdom she chose to depart with me at that time.

Finally, it’s interesting to look back. I do agree that sometimes it’s heavy to look back, and I don’t recommend reading entries that inspire negative feelings. Personally, I find strength from my old journals, and I laugh at the silly things I wrote. Below is a GREAT example. 🤣

I found this little gem a few days ago after looking for a few good entries to put in this post. My heart just felt so warm. I mean, wow! After all those doubts, here I am. My blog has grown so much and has brought me lots of joy. It’s better than I thought it could be…and hopefully, it will continue to grow. 😋