Productivity Tips: 5 Journaling Tips

Whatever your reason for keeping a journal — for self-discovery, for recording a diary, for tracking your goals, or for writing practice — here are some tips for starting your entries and keeping your writing flowing.

Don't Force It

You don't need to write in your journal every day. Sometimes, I skip entire weeks at a time. If you force it, it becomes a chore. Journaling should feel natural. Write when you feel the need. Write when you can, but don't beat yourself up if you're too busy today.

Also, let entries be any length. One day, you might just add a quote. The next day, you might compose a treatise. Don't require yourself to write a minimum amount or limit how much you write. Write what feels right.

Collect Prompts

Often, something that happens during the day sparks a need to write. But if you want to write in your journal and don't already have a specific topic, use prompts. Maintain a list of ideas to help you get started when you're stuck.

Sources of prompts and writing ideas include current events, books, movies, TV shows, and dreams. Jot down miscellaneous thoughts that occur to you during the day and add them to your list for later development.

Make It Private

Assume that you will never share your journal with anyone, that no one else will ever see it. That is the only way that you can let yourself be completely honest.

If you're concerned that someone else might read your journal, you'll censure your writing out of concern for what they'll think. Using software that offers password protection can help assure you that no one else will see it. Then let yourself open up.

Ignore Editing

Journal writing is for you and only you. You don't need to edit. Just let the words flow and get them down. I've written some of my best writing this way, with my inner editor shut down.

If you end up writing something that you can use elsewhere, for a story or a blog post or an article, that's fine. Later, you can copy it into your regular writing software and polish it up.

Pick a Medium

Use a writing medium that works for you. If you feel more comfortable writing with a pen on paper, then that's how you should keep your journal. If you're more comfortable typing (of if you want a medium that you'll be able to search later), you should probably use software. Whichever you choose, make sure that you can easily separate entries between writing sessions.

If you decide to use software, take a look at Personal Knowbase for Journaling.