Focus on your first journal entries to begin developing the habit of journaling. Once you are in the habit of journaling, it continues to get easier, where you are just writing on autopilot and do not even have to think about it. The hardest part is getting started and writing that first entry.
What should your first few journal entries be? You can write about anything, but here are a few topics that are easy to use on the first few pages of your journal. These topics will help get you started.
Top Reasons for Journaling
On the very first page of your journal, make a list of why you chose to start journaling, especially if this is your very first time using one. Your lists can be as short or long as you want them to be. Did you read an article online about journaling that piqued your interest? Do you feel like something is missing in your life? Do you want a way to memorialize the life and all those exciting events that take place? Or do you just want to explore by using the journal?
Whatever your reasons for journaling, they are specific to you. Those reasons for starting a journal now may become a motivator for you in the future.
Write About You and Your Life
Another early journal entry that may help to get you started with this new habit of journaling is to just write about who you are, what you want to do with your life, what your life is like now, or anything else that comes to mind.
Write down a few facts about yourself such as your name, where you were born, and where you live now. You can add age and relationship status, or what your job is. You can talk about what your dream job is, or if you are in school or college. What are things you enjoy doing in your spare time? Do you have kids or pets? What kinds of things are you interested in? This is a great way to just start exploring who you are and where you might want to focus your time when you begin writing more in your journal.
Your Favorites Things
If you get stuck early on with your journaling habit, try just writing a list of your favorite things. Here are a few ideas of favorite things to write about and can be fun to do:
What are your favorite local hotspots?
What was your favorite vacation spot?
What are your favorite songs or artists?
What your favorite movies or TV shows?
What are your favorite memories from high school?
What are your favorite ways to spend the holidays?
Who are your favorite people to hang out with?
What is your favorite restaurant or food?
These are just a few things that you could write about. These may give you other ideas too.
Lists
There are a variety of other lists you can start within your early journal pages. You can write out your bucket list of things you want to do in life or places you want to visit. Make a list of books you would like to read in the next few months or this year or books you have already read. You can make a list of your goals and some things you would like to accomplish this year, over the next few months or in your lifetime.
These lists can also be combined with your favorites list above. There are so many ideas. The possibilities are endless.
Brain Dump
One last thing you may want to try when you begin journaling is a brain dump. A brain dump is where you will be able to get all your thoughts out on paper and can really get to a place where you feel like you are starting fresh. Just start writing the first thing on your mind, then continue writing until you feel like you have exhausted the main things you have been focusing on lately. It might be your worries, errands you need to run, something stressing you out, things you have been trying to remember or forget, ideas you have, just whatever comes to mind – write it all out.
There are so many ways to journal and so many things to write about but focusing on your first few entries to try to establish a healthy journaling habit is a great way to get started especially if you are new to journaling and just don’t know where to begin.
Happy Journaling!
Pamela
