I have many notebooks.
I often have at least two notebooks going at a time.
I don't know everything about journalling, but I do think over the years I have learned some useful things.
Two things I wish I learned long ago...
1. Don't burn/throw out/bury/or otherwise destroy what you write.
You may be going through a hard time, journalling is therapeutic. You may have written down thoughts you don't want anyone else to see.
Hide them in a box if you must, but don't get rid of them.
Some time in the future you might be interested in visiting your younger self. It may be for perspective or it may be to have a good laugh. Whatever it is, your future self is interested in YOU.
2. Follow your own rules.
Don't fall into the trap that you need this or that before you begin. You don't need a leather bound professional journal, you don't need a special calligraphy pen, you don't need stickers or stamps. Just a pen and paper. Any old pen, and any old paper will do.
But...
If you want some ideas here are some of the things I do:
- Use a regular cheap notebook. I like Hilroy 300 page 24.1*15.2 notebooks. They are about half the size of a regular letter sized paper. I have had expensive notebooks in the past, they sit on my shelf unused because they are pretty and I can't bring myself to use them.
- Glue or tape stuff in. Its fun.
- Use pencil crayons to make boarders around quotes or draw or doodle.
- Write down interesting quotes.
- Make notes about your day in point form. (How many times do you get asked on Monday what you did on the weekend and end up having to think about it?)
- Don't fill the notebook completely. Who cares how many pages are left undone at the end? Do you need a fresh start? Has a life changing event happened? Going on a trip? New job? New outlook on life? (I journalled my feelings as my dad died of cancer... after he passed away I had to put that notebook away and start fresh.)
- Use the last page/s of the book to make a list of the books you read.
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