Are you a serial notebook abandoner who’s going to journal for real this year? Or a first-time newbie who
wants to start a diary? No matter what your motivations are, writing in a journal doesn’t
have to be a process that takes hours. In this video, we’ll share five, low-effort ways to start
journaling and stick with it in 2021.
Journaling shouldn’t be a stressful experience, but many people feel anxious
to see an enormous page that has to be filled with writing. If you’ve experienced the “fear
of the blank page” before, you’re not alone. An excellent solution to this problem is to use a
special journal that dedicates a page to the same day over successive years. Each day only gets a small,
defined space to fill in. You can journal every day without feeling overwhelmed by how much you
have to write. As an added bonus, you can read entries from previous years on the same page
to see how much you’ve grown. Line-a-day journals come in dated
and undated varieties. Undated diaries like these by Apica and Midori are available in
three- and five-year versions. You can start writing in these diaries whenever you like,
though you’ll have to write in the year for each entry. Hobonichi’s dated Five-Year
Techo has all the dates filled in for you, but starting late will have you skipping pages.
Write in smaller notebooks. While we’re talking about the fear of the blank
page, this deceptively simple tip can make it easier to write. Rather than using a large journal
with too much real estate, downsize to a smaller notebook that is easier to fill. An A6 notebook
like this one from Midori is half the size of an A5 notebook. You could even pick up a set of
pocket-sized Field Notes to always have on hand. Simplify your entries.
Instead of writing out elaborate journal entries, opt for something short
and sweet. It’s also useful for those who find it difficult to write an hourly play-by-play.
Choose small events that change frequently. For example, you can keep a simple log of
each day’s weather and meals. If you enjoy crafting, tabletop gaming, or letter writing,
you can record brief updates around your hobby. A quick, simple entry is also a great way to
warm up your writing muscles. If you feel you have more to say, your journal is already open
and you can jump right in!
You don’t actually have to write to keep a journal. It might actually be easier to keep consistent entries
by turning diaries into visual experiences. Scrapbookers can glue
found objects and ephemera into a notebook. Artists can draw simple four
panel comics to remember something funny or interesting that happened.
You can also write short entries and decorate the rest of the page with washi tape and stickers.
If you’re not sure what to write about, a list of journal topics and
prompts can be the inspiration you need. You’ll need to plan ahead for this tip,
but it’s really easy to do. Just jot down interesting prompts when you see or think of them!
Write them down on an index card or sticky note so it’s easy to move the prompts from page to page.
To get you started, here are some topic ideas:
Just use the ones you like!
Do you have any journaling tips? Let us know in the comments below.
Click the card above to watch our How to Journal video for even more ideas.
Or if you're like me, and you struggle to maintain a journal past 3 or 4 days
but you like looking at stationery videos, subscribe. See you next time!