Gaining Clarity, Word by Word
Journals come in all shapes and sizes!
In today’s world of smart phones and devices, we have apps for everything – our calendars, our to-do lists, etc. – but for many of us, taking a high-tech approach to our lives doesn’t always help. Are you feeling more overwhelmed than ever before? If so, keeping a journal might be a good option for you.
There are a number of benefits to writing things down. Science has demonstrated that we learn more effectively when we read, say and write things down. Many of us took this approach to learning during our school years, but it’s just as valuable in our day-to-day lives as it was in the classroom. Whether you are trying to remember what you need to do each day, working out a problem or just trying to jump-start your creativity, keeping a journal will help! Journals can also help us remember details that might otherwise get lost in our busy lives.
Winter is a great time to start journaling, since we tend to hunker down more indoors and have fewer distractions outside our homes (I know, it’s 2020 and we’ve all been cooped up inside – all the more reason to write about the experience. I’m still hopeful for the return of normalcy in 2021). Regardless, journaling helps us slow down and destress, something we all need this year!
Not sure how to start a journal? It’s simple: Grab a warm blanket, a blank notebook and a pen, pencil (or crayon!) and snuggle in and start writing. Your tools needn’t be fancy, so don’t get hung up on those details. A simple notebook and something to write with is all you need.
We’ve compiled a list of prompts to help you if you’re stumped:
Write about:
Talk about your day. What did you do? What worked and what didn’t?
Your favorite childhood friend: What was your favorite thing to do together and what made it so much fun?
An adult in your life who left an impact on you. What made them special?
Your favorite holiday – what makes it important to you?
Your favorite movie – why you love it and when you first watched it. Who was with you?
A book you’re reading, even if you aren’t enjoying it.
A problem you’re facing – who is involved, what the options may be for solution and what you may need to do or say. Sometimes, doing a brain dump on paper helps with clarity.
Do you have a favorite concert you’ve attended? Capture the memory!
A vacation (your favorite vacation ever, one you want to take, etc. If you’re going on vacation, grab your journal and take daily notes about your experience!
Make lists:
Top 10 things you’d like to do post-COVID (aka your “bucket list”). Think big!
Daily to-do lists (check things off when you’re done).
Places to visit, movies to watch, books you want to read, etc.
Bands you’ve seen in person.
Other ideas:
Jot down an impactful quote and what it means to you.
Find a recipe you don’t want to forget? Capture it in your journal.
Copy the lyrics of a song you love (listen to the song while you do it!)