We hear so much about journaling but why? What makes it so valuable and what does a journaling practice look like? That’s the second life hack that I’m going to tell you more about today.
The Value of Journaling
Journaling is one of the best self development tools that you can use to help you get more grounded, more self-aware and in tune with your highest ideals. It also commits you to the practice of writing, which in turn helps you become a better thinker and communicator.
When we write and arrange our thoughts on a page coherently, this practice helps us organize our thinking process. Ultimately, this translates into efficiently communicating your ideas to others. If you want to be an epic communicator, start journaling!
Starting Your Journaling Practice
A way to start is to take thirty minutes at the beginning of your day together with a pen and paper. Use a pen and paper versus a phone or laptop, not only because it gives you a break from screen time, but it’s also shown to be better for creativity, reflection and brainstorming. And that’s always a good thing.
Use the first ten minutes to review your schedule and what you have planned for the day both personally and professionally. Some engagements may not be as relevant as they were when you booked them and can now be removed. For the important ones, plan how you want them to go, how you’re going to show up, and what you want out of them. This will bring a more proactive sense to your days rather than reactive.
Prioritise Your Tasks
Use the following ten minutes to look at your priorities, what you want to do and get out of your day ahead. Perhaps you might be expecting a little too much from yourself. If this is the case and you’re spreading yourself too thinly, it can become overwhelming to even start getting anything done at all.
This is why it’s important to prioritise and zone in on the key things that you want to achieve in the day ahead. Or maybe you find it’s the opposite – you might have little to do in your day ahead, in which case seize this chance to do something good for yourself. What could you do today that’ll set you up to be that bit better off tomorrow? This will help bring greater value, productivity and achievement to your days – and help you to get ahead smartly rather than constantly rushing.
Now I want you to take some time to explore what’s on your mind. Consider the following:
- What’s coming up for you?
- What’s taking up space in your head?
- What’s on your mind now and is it something that’s been on your mind a lot recently?
With your pen and paper, explore these thoughts. Give them some room to breathe. Sometimes thoughts that have been weighing heavy on your mind for weeks only need a little time to be thought through to help them disappear. Others might help inspire some action that will ultimately make your life more authentic and aligned.
This daily journaling practice helps to remove mental blocks and allows you to use all of your brainpower to better understand yourself, others and the world around you. Journaling enhances self-awareness by helping you understand your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It’s a mirror reflecting your inner world, making it easier to recognize patterns and make positive changes. This self-awareness is crucial for personal growth and development. As noted by psychologist Dr. Tasha Eurich, self-awareness is a critical trait for success and fulfilment in both personal and professional life.
Ready to start journaling?
Don’t just take my word for it – even Richard Branson finds the time to journal and understands the value of keeping one. As he once said: “My most essential possession is a standard-sized school notebook.” If you want more techniques for a calm and focused mind, check out my previous article here.
Investing in yourself is the first step to growing a thriving and sustainable business. The more you prioritise your own wellbeing, the more you’ll elevate your decision-making, performance and overall success.
I really hope these tips have helped you today and I’d love to know how you get on, so please drop me a comment or message on Instagram or message me here and let me know. I’d really welcome hearing about what’s working so well for you.