The number one thing I hear people struggle with their journaling is being consistent.
They’ll decide they want to journal, start off strong, then accidentally skip a day. They beat themselves up over it - feeling like a failure because they intended to journal every morning and fell short…again.
That makes it hard for them to show up tomorrow. One missed day becomes two, which becomes three, and before you know it, they’ve cast journaling aside.
Does this resonate with you? Have you been there?
To you, I say:
Our journals don’t judge. They’re not looking at us with scorn or taunting us because we skipped a day. They’re not offended.
But they are there for you, waiting for you to pick up where you left off.
Here are a few things you should know that may make journaling easier.
There’s no need to start your journal entry as confession - “It’s been six weeks and four days since the last time I journaled…” Getting rid of the guilt makes it easier to get back in the habit. Just jump in and restart. No explanations needed.
Don’t worry about recapping the days you missed. Doing so can lead to frustration and discouragement, feeling like you’ll never catch up. Start with where you are now. You can fill in the gaps later. You don’t have to keep your journal in chronological order.
Consistency doesn’t have to mean every day. Consistent for you could be once a week. Or every three days. Or every time it’s raining. YOU get to decide what consistency means for you.
Any time spent journaling counts as journaling. Even if you only write one sentence. Even if you create a short list of bullet points. Even if it’s just 30 seconds. It counts!
Give yourself credit for what you’ve accomplished with your journaling. You are doing better than you think. I’m proud of you. I hope you’re proud of yourself too!
Weekly Journal Prompts:
Use these prompts as written or as inspiration to uncover what you need in your life this week.
What does consistency mean to you?
Where have you seen consistency in your life?
Why is consistency important to you?
In what areas of your life are you consistent?
In what areas of your life do you want to be more consistent?
What keeps you from being consistent?
If I were more consistent with ____________, my life would _______.
One Journaling Idea I Love:
Journal with the phases of the moon. Use the natural phases of the moon to connect with both the universe and yourself.
New Moons symbolize new beginnings. Use prompts such as:
What would I like to bring more of into my life?
This month I hope that…
This month I need…
What growth have I experienced since the last new moon?
What is my wildest dream?
How can I make it happen? What action steps can I take?
Full moons are a perfect time to rest and reflect. Use prompts such as:
What am I grateful for?
What did I welcome in my life since the new moon?
What lessons did I learn this month?
What are my favorite creative practices?
What do I love about myself right now?
Where You Can Find Me:
I share journal related content on LinkedIn every day by 8 am Eastern. Visit me there for stories, journaling ideas, and more!
I have a website! Visit me at GoodThingsComeToThoseWhoJournal.com
I’m always reachable by email.
My teenagers are doing their best to avoid me on TikTok…
Need more journal prompts at your fingertips? I have a collection of more than 375 that I’ve curated that can be yours. Find them here.
Interested in Helping Me?
I’m excited to announce that I’m developing a new journaling coaching program to support people in building solid and sustainable journaling practices.
To be sure I have the greatest impact, and help the most people with the right solutions, I’m asking for your help in doing some market research.
My goal is to interview 50 people to be sure I get the best and most comprehensive insight into what they need to be successful with journaling.
My ideal interviewee describes themselves as someone who carries a lot of responsibility and hates asking for help. They set really high expectations for themselves and beat themselves up if they fall short. They are overwhelmed and exhausted when they look at their calendar but have a hard time saying no to anything because they don’t want to let people down. They are the trustworthy go-to person for others who need help and reassurance, yet they wrestle with imposter syndrome.
They ultimately want to find time to take better care of themselves, build confidence and recognize their accomplishments, and feel worthy of living the life they dream, but they haven’t been able to get there on their own yet.
The interview would only take between 15-30 minutes, and I promise, this is NOT a trick into asking people to be my clients. This is just market research, so I make sure my program is exactly what is needed.
So, if this is you, would you mind doing an interview with me? To make it super easy, here’s a link to book a call with me.
Thank you!
Happy Journaling!