How to Keep a Notebook Journal
One of the best ways to understand who you are and to watch your personal growth over time is to keep a journal. Keeping a journal is not a precise science. Its power is in its flexibility. It can be as simple as a spiral notebook where you jot down your daily thoughts and experiences, or it can be as extravagant as a folio-sized hardbound tome. You decide because it is all about who you are.
Instructions
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Look at other people's journals for ideas: People get excited about their journals, and some will even share them with you. Look for journal examples on the Internet. You can see many styles of personal journals such as visual journals, daily diaries and artist journals. After looking at some of these, you will start to form ideas about what you want to do with your journal.
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Choose the right book: It is important to feel comfortable writing in your journal. If you are used to writing on lined paper, buy a cheap spiral notebook or a three-ringed loose leaf notebook. These are the easiest to write in because they open up easily and lay flat. As you progress you may want to try unlined paper in a hardbound journal. The key is to use a book that makes it easy for you to get your thoughts down. If your journal is cumbersome, switch to some other type of notebook. Experiment until you find what works for you.
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Develop a system for entries: You should read your old journals as if they are your favorite books. After a while you will find that you have enough of them to fill a shelf. It is important to have a system for placing your entries in time. The simplest way is to put the date for each day you make an entry. If you want to get more involved you can add the time and even cross-reference different entries. Just don't get so complex that you lose the freedom of the pure writing experience.
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Feel free to write whatever you want: In order to get the most out of your journal you should be comfortable writing anything on its pages. You are only writing for yourself. No one else has to see it. If you feel like drawing a picture or a doodle or taping a photograph onto a page, do it. Let your mind roam freely when you interact with your journal.
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Challenge yourself to improve: One of the reasons for keeping a journal is to improve yourself. This ethic should carry over into the journal. Be aware of grammar and penmanship. Work on developing your ability to use words. A dictionary and thesaurus are good tools to have to help you write effectively. However, don't let the systems of language interfere with getting your your thoughts and ideas down on paper. Don't rewrite. If you see areas where you can improve, incorporate those improvements into future journal entries.
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Tips & Warnings
Writing instruments are important too. Choose a pen or pencil that is comfortable and pleasing to you.
Resources
- Photo Credit journal and fountain pen image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
