Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Tip Tuesday

Alex's journaling tips.
I have been writing a journal longhand since I was 17 years old. A lot of people tell me that they wish they could journal and they have tried but they don't keep it up. Journaling for me has become my most stress relieving experience and if you would like to try to journal too please read my tips.

1. Don't feel like you have to write everyday.
Write everyday if you want but don't get discouraged or defeated if you don't have the time, desire, or discipline to do that. Write once a week, once a month, any time you feel you have something to say.

2. Don't feel stupid about anything you are writing.
Your journal is yours and yours alone. It's the place for your voice. Write anything you want in here, in whatever form you choose. Write down song lyrics you liked, a quote that inspires you, your thoughts, your dreams, or even just your day to day occurrences. It's your life and it deserves to be documented.

3. Pick a time and place where you won't be distracted.
When you want to write be in a place where you can commit to your journal for as long as it takes to get your thoughts out. Try even listening to music when you journal.

4. Get something to keep all of your entries together.
I like to write longhand in a medium sized, hardback, spiral notebook. Each one takes me about 4-6 months to fill. Whatever it is you choose to write in make sure you keep everything together so you can go back and read it later if you want. Some people may even like typing out their journal entries.

5. Just let it all out.
The journal is something that will truly never judge anything that you do or say. It can be a place to speak frankly and uncensored.

Your journal may be about documenting your life to go back and read later or to relieve stress by getting all the thoughts bouncing around in your head out on paper. For me it's both. Sometimes I laugh when I go back and read entries from the past. I laugh at the things that upset or worried me. It shows me how much I've grown.