Do you feel like you missed your chance to be someone who journaled regularly? Maybe you feel like your age, phase in life, or the time of year makes a difference. None of this is true! The beauty of journaling is that it is completely versatile. You can start at any time with any writing utensil or form of paper you have on hand.
Here are a few things to remember when you feel it is too late to start journaling:
There is No “Best Time” to Start Journaling
Don’t listen to other people if they tell you that you need to start writing on a specific day, beginning of the month, or start of the year. Journaling is flexible and versatile, so you can start at any time, no matter what is going on. Just like dieting, you sometimes feel like you need to “start on a Monday” or if you didn’t start your journal on January 1st like you meant to, you should wait until next month or next year. This is not true!
Start today, right now. Get out a notebook or piece of paper and just start writing. The more you write in a journal, the more you see how beneficial it can be.
Journal as You Can
You can stop worrying about taking days off or if you missed a day or two. Just because you promised yourself you would journal every single day, does not mean things do not come up. We are all busy. Just pick up where you left off and journal when you can. Some people put far too much pressure on themselves, even with something as simple as writing in a journal. Keeping a journal is meant to help you, not cause you stress. If you don’t write for a few days for whatever reason, just pick it up when you can, and start writing again. There is no perfect time to get back into it, except whenever it is most convenient for you.
Freedom and Versatility with Journaling
The great thing about journaling is that it is so versatile. You have more freedom with journaling than many other habits, where you benefit from doing it more often, but you can start at any time. This might be writing first thing in the morning, before you go to bed, during your lunch break, or on the train during your work commute. Think about when you have time or when you tend to have the most thoughts that you want to get out on paper. This is when journaling is best for you.
No Timeframe
There is no timeframe for when you begin journaling. If it is the middle of the week, middle of the month, or the middle of the year you can begin journaling. Journaling is all about the experience and writing down your thoughts keeping up with your goals or accomplishments or recording your memories. Begin journaling anytime and do not miss out on the opportunity that you have now to write down the things you are thinking about or the memories you would like to capture. Journaling can be a very relaxing habit so remove the thought that there must be the perfect time to start. There is no timeframe for getting started.
It is time to pick up a notebook and a pen and get started. It is never too late.
Happy Journaling!
Pamela
