by L.C.

Created on: May 03, 2009

You may be aware of the many benefits of writing a personal journal. Journaling will give you a chance to vent and get things off your chest, as well as empty your mind of any worries or haunting memories, which can in turn diminish the amount of stress you feel. Journaling can also increase creativity and be a fun, restful activity. If these sort of benefits interest you, then the only thing you need to do is head over to the dollar store and pick up a journal.

While cheap journals are easy to find, you might want to buy something a bit fancier. I have a friend who complained that she could never continue writing in her journal, so I advised that she buy a very expensive notebook. Because it made such a hole in her wallet it encouraged her to write daily, since she didn't want to waste it. Alternatively, to start off, you might just want to buy a cheap notebook that looks cute and holds enough pages to get you started. Journals can be found at nearly any stationary, dollar or department store, so it shouldn't be hard to find one. You'll also want to buy a writing utensil you really like. I would suggest splurging a bit on a nice pen, as it will encourage you to sit down and write with it.

Now that you have your supplies, you'll want to decide where and when you're going to write in your personal journal. Some people, such as myself, prefer journaling before they go to bed, as they can write down the events of their day in full. This ensures that an hour isn't spent in bed going over everything that happened that day, and usually allows for more peaceful dreams. Others might want to journal during the morning, to create a "feel good" vibe that will stick with them for the rest of the day. They might want to write down goals and hopes for that day, which can create an optimistic mood for the hours to come.

If you have an area where you can sit quietly and write undisturbed, you'll want to do your journaling there. I personally journal in my bed just before sleeping, and since everyone else is asleep, I am rarely interrupted. In the morning it might be a bit more difficult, as others in your household may be running around and preparing for their day. In this case, it might be a good idea to get up a bit earlier so that the house is quiet. Alternatively, if you plan on writing during the day, you can listen to your favourite music or head to a quiet park or room in the house.

Finally, make sure to consistently write in your journal. What you choose to jot down is entirely up to you, but make a habit of trying to write at least one small entry daily. Also, find a safe place to keep your journal if you're worried someone might look at it; fear of discovery will make you less confident about writing down the more private details of your life, and the idea here is to truly get everything out. Good luck, and happy journaling!

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