Keep a Journal

• When you keep a journal, you can look back on important life events to read about how you felt at the time. You may also be able to learn from these past experiences.
• Writing about traumatic events results in physical and psychological health benefits. Journaling focuses on understanding traumatic events and makes people see these events with an extra level of clarity.

Start your daily journal off on the right foot by scheduling your writing for a set time every day.

• If you find your mind is most active in the morning, wake up 15 to 20 minutes earlier and jot down your thoughts then.
• If you prefer to record everything after the day is over, then make it an evening activity before you go to bed.

• Try Journaling: Putting words to our emotions often helps us understand them in a new way, and process them more effectively.
• Schedule writing into your routine: e.g. Morning pages.
• Find inspiration in music: Put on a random playlist and transcribe the images, memories and emotions that the music evokes for you.
• Practice letter writing: Unspoken thoughts or feelings can feel like a heavy burden to carry. Consider putting these sentiments into a letter.
• Expressing gratitude: Writing about people or experiences that we feel grateful for can help us maintain focus on the aspects of life that are hopeful and meaningful.

• Results come when you work at your craft consistently every day.
• It’s good to write first thing in the morning, as you are more creative upon waking.
• If you have a job, your writing should take place outside your work time. 
• Choose a “writing spot” and keep it consistent.

Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to follow advanced techniques early on. There is endless advice on writing, but in the beginning, all that matters is getting words onto the page every day.

Set small, easy to accomplish goals and build upon it. Focus not on the end result, but on the process.