The Basics of Beginner Journaling

How to Journal for Self-Discovery

Dec 9, 2008 Brandi Rhoades

Learning to journal is an excellent way to get in touch with your inner needs and feelings.

As a beginner at journaling, you may find you are unsure how to journal or what to write about in your journal. Getting started journaling isn’t as difficult as you may imagine. The biggest hurdle for most beginner journaling enthusiasts is simply to sit down and begin.

Reasons to Keep a Personal Journal

A personal journal, as opposed to a work-related journal, has several key benefits. First research on mental health suggests learning to journal is vital to good health and wellness. Journaling reduces stress because it allows us to unburden ourselves through a safe outlet. Beginner journaling works very well for someone in the throes of depression, for example, by allowing the journal writer to work through any lifestyle problems to find good solutions.

Learning how to journal also helps because it serves as a way to expand our minds. As people age, keeping the mind active plays a significant role in overall health. Using a journal, especially if using journal prompts, allows one to think about different topics and write about them. Sometimes a prompt on an inanimate object, such as “green bowl,” will help jog a memory of baking a birthday cake for Mom as a child. These memories help keep the mind active and alert.

How to Journal When You Don’t Know What to Write

Journal idea websites, such as Journaling World, and books have what are called journal prompts. A journal prompt is simply a spark. You read the spark and then write whatever comes to mind. When you journal, there are no rules. Journals are very individual, so write about whatever comes to mind. The point of using journal prompts, particularly with beginning journaling, is that you learn to clear your mind of clutter to get to what’s important.

Where to Find Journal Ideas

Journal ideas are all around you. Perhaps you see a man with mismatched shoes at the supermarket, or maybe you overhear an argument between mom and daughter that unearths feelings about your own mother. Learning how to journal means taking these everyday experience and using them as journal ideas to explore your world and feelings.

As for personal journal topics, start writing about less controversial topics. Writing what is wonderful about one’s sister and then general dislikes about one’s sister can lead to writing about the way she has influenced your life. Sometimes starting big and working down to smaller problems helps when working through major turmoil through a journal.

The copyright of the article The Basics of Beginner Journaling in Mind/Body Fitness is owned by Brandi Rhoades. Permission to republish The Basics of Beginner Journaling in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Personal journals are wonderful tools.