Why start a personal journal?
Keeping a personal journal has proven to be an effective tool in problem-solving, personal growth, record keeping, and can be an enjoyable hobby if you are willing to keep it simple. So, where do you start?
What format should I use?
There are a variety of formats available to start and maintain your personal journal. A journal can be as simple as a sheet of lined paper (or blank if you prefer), a pen, and your thoughts written down. A journal can also be via an online blog system such as:
Wordpress: This is an open-sourced, php based blog system. It is available to download at Wordpress.org to host on your own server or you can sign up for a free blog at Wordpress.com
Blogger: This is a free weblog publishing tool from Google. Google offers a tour of Blogger's features here.
This is not an exclusive list of available blogging platforms and the format whether online or offline is entirely your choice.
If you select an online journal, keep this in mind ....
Please keep in consideration if you choose to write a personal journal online in form of a blog (an online journal), your posts will be public and your privacy will be at risk. Another important thought to consider is the internet does not forget. Search engines compile links and they remain archived, forever.
Tips to keep you on track
- If you chose to keep a personal journal in a traditional manner (I.e., hard bound book, note book, binder, etc.) than keep it private. Keeping it private will allow you to write without fear of judgment or criticism from others.
- Write in your journal daily. If you lack inspiration or a topic to write about use a search engine to find a variety of journal topic prompts. Prompts will give you either question format starters or incomplete sentences for you to expand on.
- Proper English, grammar, and spelling does not matter in your personal journal. Write freely, thoughtlessly, and include all the slang and abbreviations that make your soul smile.
- Make your journal personal. Write in your favorite quotes, a list of all your favorite childhood movies, and describe your first kiss. You could also clip inspiring pictures from magazines and paste them in your journal, decorate the cover, or use various scrap booking kits to make the journal unique to you.
The most significant concept about keeping a personal journal is reflection. Being able to flip the pages back to the first entry you made and reflect on that day, the circumstances surrounding you, smile at accomplishments, or enjoy a grand moment in your life all over again.
What do I need to start my journal?
Traditional Journal
- Loose leaf paper, a binder, and pens
- Spiral notebook
- Composition book
Online Format Journal
- Wordpress
- Blogger
Ideas to make your traditional journal creatively all about you ….
- Purchase a scrap booking kit of choice and decorate the pages throughout your journal to express your personality.
- Make colored-copies of some of your favorite family photos and paste them throughout your journal in spontaneous places.
- Draw and/or doodle in your journal.
- Open random pages and place a series of question prompts for you to complete later.
- Open random pages and place your favorite quotes, scriptures, and/or psalms to reflect on later.
- Include various lists about all your favorite things in life. Repeat the list a year later and see if anything has changed.
When creating your personal journal make it a comfortable, inviting, and an inspiring thing. Allow it to be your confidant, friend, and place to share all your thoughts freely. Good luck with your personal journal experience.
Amanda Chase - Sometime in your life you will go on a journey. It will be the longest journey you have ever taken. It is the journey to find yourself
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