Resolutions: Why Journal?

Resolutions: Why Journal?
Photo by Gabrielle Henderson / Unsplash

I'd start with a quote by Jen williamson. "Journal writing, when it becomes a ritual for transformation, it is not only life-changing but life-expanding. The reason why I'm using a quote is to give some context on why we journal. I've had many people tell me journalling is supposed to keep you organised both mentally and emotionally. Yes, I can 100 percent agree that journaling can somewhat keep you from steering the boat the wrong way.

My first Bullet journal

The first time I received a bullet journal was actually in 2018. At that time, I was only 15. I remember thinking to myself, "Why on earth do I need a journal?" But then I remembered hearing a friend talking about how Bullet journalling helped her overcome anxiety. So, I thought, "Hmm, let's give it a try." I went to the nearest stationery shop I could find. I grabbed a bunch of Mildliners and brush pens. Yes, I was trying to copy off these influencers who buy a ton of stuff to make their bullet journals aesthetically pleasing. Sadly, I wasn't able to follow through because I was easily unmotivated. So, tip 1: Don't buy things for the sake of hype.

What prompted me to get back into journalling?

I decided to get back into journaling at the end of 2020. For several reasons:

  1. I wanted a safe space to write my ideas down
  2. working in groups
  3. I wanted to give myself another chance to prove that I can follow through

So I thought the first one was self-explanatory. However, The second and third ones might be tricky to understand where I was coming from. So, I'll try to simplify it. I struggled to work with groups because of two things:

  1. Differences
  2. Lack of Structure.

So, I thought maybe it was best for me to create a safe workspace environment for myself. Instead of getting everyone to compromise since not everyone is on the same wavelength. So, I decided to write my ideas in a journal. On the second page, a log system to track everyone's progress. I can assure you that this method will ensure everyone's part to play.

Add journaling as your new year's resolution

If you decide to add journaling into your resolution, that's Great! The only thing you might want to consider the objective of creating a journal. Is it to track your mood? or is it meant to be a dumping ground for ideas? These can help narrow the scope. Here's how I planned for my journal 2021.

1.Create an index

It is like a table of contents in a book. You might have to consider what do you want to add.

The four main concepts I use in my journal are

1:Goal settings

2:Log reports

3:Updates

4: Monthly wish list.

The first two are essential in every journal planner. Without them, It is hard to track your progress for you to reach your target. The rest are optional. For me, I like to write them in my journal for keepsake. That's all I have for you guys. Let me know what habits would you want to include in your journal.