One of my childhood holiday memories is getting a diary and later a journal, when a diary was too immature for my teenage self, every Christmas. At first it started off as my mom’s doing. But, as the years went by, I would add it to my Christmas list, or be surprised as a college-aged adult when my mom surprised me with a new leather journal for Christmas.
I remember being around 9-years-old and getting a Precious Moments diary with a lock and anxiously awaiting January 1 to start writing in my new book. I remember taking my new white Precious Moments diary out to the front yard and sitting in the grass—because I needed to be away from everyone to write down my secrets—and just feeling so peaceful writing outside under the sunshine about my expectations for the year and how my holidays had gone.
Til this day, this is something I look forward to. I spend hours picking the right journal to fit my mood that year or one with an inspirational quote. Then, I spend hours decorating the front pages because I have a personal rule about never writing on the first page of a notebook—no idea where that came from. The first pages always contained my name and the year, cut outs from magazines, quotes, stickers, or anything else I found inspirational at the moment. A few years ago when I started creating vision boards, I started to use those pages as my vision board. Every 31st of December for the last eight or so years, I sit at home in new PJs, wine in hand, candle burning, and work on what I want the next year to be like. After the clock strikes midnight, then is when I’m allowed to write that first journal entry.
During the pandemic I strayed away from this. I regret it now because the most recorded accounts I have about that time are my daily social media posts about what I was feeling. But, it felt like nothing was happening and every day was the same and I had nothing to really write about. When September 2020 rolled around and I turned 40, I decided to start my journal to capture this new decade and began it on my birthday versus the new year. But, I didn’t keep up with it much, I kept missing dates and planned to catch up on those backed special occasions I never recorded, but somehow never did. I kept this journal for about two years and those two years were some of the oddest and toughest years I’ve had. So I decided it’s time for a fresh start. Leave all the blank pages in that book blank and start something new.
Journaling in 2023
So, this year, I’m taking it back to my roots. On New Year’s Eve, I headed to Target to pick out my new journal, I spent the night decorating those first pages with things that inspire and motivate me, I created my vision board, which is on my computer desktop, and I printed out and included in my journal, too. And then. On New Year’s Day I began to write.
I don’t plan to write daily, because realistically I know that won’t happen. There will be days when I’m too tired or too busy or not feeling well. My plan is to at least write 2-3 times a week. Write when things aren’t going my way. I plan to write on happy days or about events that fulfill me and inspire me. I plan to write about roadblocks that might occur this year and how I’m going to tackle them. I’m going back to what I know because I figured out that not doing it had me feeling lost, overwhelmed, anxious, and unorganized. Writing things out and reflecting always makes me feel better and helps me work things out that are in my head.
In the first few pages I also included a spot to track all the books I will read this year, and a page of things I’d like to do. Simple things I can turn to on days I feel discouraged like: do yoga outside, start a garden, plan a spa day (one is being planned with my girlfriends), host a game night, get crafty and more. I used stickers from The Happy Planner’s Wellness line, which includes digital detox stickers and ideas, but you can create your own list and just write it down.
For me, my journal is a space where I can be creative. It might look like a younger teen’s journal filled with colors and photos and stickers at times, but it makes me happy. This is my therapy, my place to just let go. I also like to include photos in my journal and the Sproket is a quick and easy way to print small photos right from your phone. I’ve been using it for 4-5 years now and can’t imagine journaling or planning without one. I like to remember special moments with a photo. Just remember, whatever you do, keep in mind that this is yours. No one has to see it if you don’t want to. It can be casual. You can write in colors, add stickers, magazine cutouts, draw—do anything that makes your heart happy. If it’s going back to your younger days and making a collage or decorating a page, do that. If you don’t have time and just want to write a couple lines each day or each week, that’s fine too. This is your space. Your space to vent, to think things through, to work things out, to get perspective. However that looks for you, is the best way you can do it.
For me, writing is my zen; it quiets my mind, it calms me.
Do you journal? If so, how—do you write daily or keep a bullet journal, or a line a day 5-year journal? What do you do to relax?
