Have you ever tried to start a journaling habit, only to quit a few days later? Personally, my problem was always starting and stopping. I'd get excited about writing a daily journal, and for the first week, everything would go smoothly. Then, I'd get busy one day and decide that "missing one day won't hurt." The next time I was busy, one missed day turned into two. Eventually, I wasn't bothering to write in my journal at all anymore.

How to start journaling. The biggest mistake I would make the first few times I started journaling was the fact I was journaling in reaction to outside things. I would feel happy, I might journal a bit about my optimism. When I would feel sad, I might journal a bit about those feelings. Or try to write a <a href="https://www.developgoodhabits.com/best-gratitude-journals/">gratitude journal </a>. It was always in reaction to something that was going on, and never part of a system. Now I follow a system, that I will share with you, and it makes all the difference.

How to start journalling

I understand how hard it is to make writing in your personal journal part of your everyday routine. It takes time and dedication to <a href="https://www.developgoodhabits.com/how-to-form-a-habit-in-8-easy-steps/">turn action into habits </a>, but once you do, journaling is much easier. That's why I developed this guide to updating your writing journal every day. It may seem like a minor part of your day, but journaling is more beneficial than you might realize. What are the Benefits of a Daily Journal?

Journaling has several benefits for your overall health. Particularly your emotional health. It's relaxing and helps you better understand your thoughts. Sometimes our minds are going a mile a minute, especially during periods of high stress. <a href="https://www.developgoodhabits.com/organized-habits/">Putting those thoughts and emotions down on paper makes them more manageable. </a> Your personal journal is a permanent record of your thoughts. It can records the events in your life.

 What are the Benefits of a Daily Journal?

During difficult times, journaling is a great way to reduce stress. Both a <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1467-9280.1997.tb00403.x">1997 study </a>and a <a href="http://apt.rcpsych.org/content/aptrcpsych/11/5/338.full.pdf">2005 study </a>showed that writing about traumatic events resulted in physical and psychological health benefits. A <a href="http://transformationalchange.pbworks.com/f/stressjournaling.pdf">2002 University of Iowa study </a>had similar findings, indicating that journaling focused on understanding the traumatic events made people see these events with an extra level of clarity.

When you keep a journal, you can look back on important life events to read about how you felt at the time. You may be able to learn from these past experiences, but it's also just nice to have a record of your past. Our memories become less clear and vivid as they fade farther into the past. Recording our lives helps us better remember them.

One of the essential points to how to start journaling isn't the writing itself, it's taking the time to do it. And doing it like it is an important part of your day - everyday. I mean it - no excuses. Start your daily journal off on the right foot by <a href="https://www.developgoodhabits.com/morning-routine-habits/">scheduling your writing </a>for a set time every day. The time of day doesn't matter, as long as it's a time that's convenient for you.

 Set aside time daily

Have you ever tried to start a journaling habit, only to quit a few days later?Personally, my problem was always starting and stopping.I'd get excited about writing a daily journal, and for the first week, everything would go smoothly. Then, I'd get busy one day and decide that "missing one day won't hurt."

How to Build a Daily Personal Journaling Habit

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