Why You Should Journal Daily
The benefits of journaling daily are enormous.
I grew up in a typical Nigerian home, and journaling is not an area that gets traditionally touched on during home training.
Sure, my mum spoke a lot about going to church with a pen and a jotter, but that was only as far as it got.
It wasn’t until my college days that I discovered the timeless benefit in journaling.
“Preserve your memories, keep them well, what you forget you can never retell.” — Louisa May
Why Should You Journal Every Day?
Journaling has tremendous benefits. Not only does it transform your mind, preserve your thoughts, and keep track of your personal growth and experiences.
It also helps you gain clarity.
As you write, you slowly traverse the clutter on your mind to find your voice.
When making a journal entry, you are forced to zoom in on an experience you had — probably during the day, or to articulate your thoughts on a subject, or narrate your progress, failures, successes, etc.
That specified focus allows your mind to process the experience faster. So, as you distill your thoughts, you gain clarity and receive illumination.
Follow these 4 Simple Steps to Begin Your Journaling Journey:
1) Get a Journal
You can’t journal without having a journal. Do not think too hard about it, get one.
2) Pick Your Journal Time
Mine is before I go to bed. You would most likely make entries if you decide on a convenient time to.
3) Commit To Writing One Entry Daily
Just one entry for a start. Don’t try to overdo it at the beginning. For example, five minutes before you go to bed every day, decide on your day’s highlight and enter it. If you had so many, you can write all of them. But, ensure you write at least one.
4) Write About Anything
You mustn’t start your entries with ‘Dear Diary’. Allow your thoughts to find expression naturally. Write about anything. Just make sure you put pen on paper every day. As you continue to do it consistently you would only get better.
You have a voice. If you are too shy to let the world hear it, don’t starve yourself of it too. Daily, listen intently to the voice of your essence and don’t rely on your memory. Get a journal and write.
“Journaling is a way to be a good steward of the Spirit’s illuminations.” — John Piper
