Feel Good

How to start mindfulness journaling

HLN's wellness expert Hannah Bullimore talks us through how to journal, specifically for mindfulness, including a downloadable workbook to help you get started.

Written by High Life North
Published 19.08.2022

Gratitude journals remind us of all we have to be thankful for, and creative writing offers a new hobby to keep our minds busy.

We’re taking a deep dive into the different forms journaling can take. We’ll cover. everything from creative writing prompts to daily mindfulness journal writing and weekly goal setting.

Download our journaling guide to help you get started…

Have little ones? We’ve got a guide to help them practice mindfulness too.

Why journal?

Journaling has been popular for thousands of years, but gone are the ‘Dear Diary’ days of recording every little thing about our day – that’s what social media is for, right? Now, daily journals are sleek, to the point, and offer a wealth of benefits.

  1. Writing a mindfulness journal can help you stay calm in difficult times, tuning into the things you have to be grateful for.
  2. Writing creatively or about the day can help improve your writing style and boost your memory – it’s possibly the most accessible ‘brain workout’ as you only need a piece of paper and a pen.
  3. Journaling can also help you de-stress and realise just how hard you’re working and how much you can achieve.

Journaling can be added to any self-care practice you already have, whether that’s yoga, meditation, walking, or simply writing after a nice bubble bath before you go to sleep.

How to journal and when to do it

Everyone is different, and just like practising meditation might work for you at different times throughout the day, journaling is the same. For some, starting the day with journaling is the best way to get into a positive mindset, while for others, journaling before bed will help them get a good night’s sleep.

You can also enjoy weekly and monthly journaling rituals to look back at what has happened and make plans for the following week or month to help keep on track with creative, personal, and career goals.

Here are some tips to help make daily journaling a habit that sticks:

Write a little every day.
Perhaps each morning, you write down something you hope to achieve that day, or at night you write down one thing you’re grateful for. Start small, and soon you’ll find yourself writing more.

Get creative.
Writing creatively is a great hobby for everyone. You don’t have to want to be published, just write for yourself and free your imagination to take you anywhere in the world!

Remember…
Writing about memories can also be a lovely experience, looking back on cherished childhood memories can really give your mood a boost.

Plan, plan, plan
Journaling really can help you to achieve more with your days and weeks. Begin with the big picture – what do you hope to achieve in a month? Then break it down into weekly and daily goals. Be prepared to change things up as life happens, but keep an eye on your to-do list so that you know you’re on track.

Add to your self-care routine.
If you’re a yogi or practise meditation, perhaps consider journaling just before or after your practice to reflect on whatever emotions have come up during your practice. If you don’t practice yoga or meditation, what about journaling before sleep to free your mind of any pesky thoughts that would otherwise keep you awake all night?

What should I journal in?

The truth is that all you need to journal is a pen and a piece of paper. Any old notebook will do. However, if you want to create a ritual out of journaling, then you might consider investing in a special notebook just for your own thoughts and musings.

There are some products on the market that can give you daily prompts, we love this one: Intelligent Change: The Five Minute Journal – Daily Gratitude Journal for Happiness, Mindfulness, and Reflection.

For a normal notebook, try lines so that your writing doesn’t become too messy as your thoughts take over.

Smaller notebooks of A5 are great for journalling on the go.

How to begin mindfulness journalling

Many of us feel the fear of the blank page. It might be that you don’t want to spoil those crisp white pages with a mistake, but it’s important to remember that no one else will be reading your work, so you can just let go and have some fun.

If you’re not sure how to get started journalling for the first time, then you’re in luck.

We’ve designed our HLN Journaling Guide with lots of prompts to help you. From mindfulness journaling to creative writing prompts. There’s something for everyone. It includes a weekly print-out that you can use as many times as you like to create structure in your journaling.

Journaling Guide

Everyone will enjoy different aspects of journaling so try out a range of approaches and find the ones that work for you.

Happy scribbling…

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