Get more creative with a journal - 5 tips to get started

Start a diary, why would you? There are many reasons to start a handwritten diary, but this is the main reason : it makes you more creative. By writing in a journal , you focus on what you're writing without worrying about what someone else will think about it. By regularly writing something down, you improve your thinking processes and it has been proven that your way of thinking even becomes more creative. Just like meditation, it is a kind of fitness for your mind. Large swaths of text pens are not necessary, and these five tips will surely help you on your way.

1 - Why do you want to write a diary?

Think about your "why" first. Do you want peace of mind, are you looking for a way to release your emotions, do you like lists, quotes or keeping track of your thoughts? Think carefully about why you would want to start a journal. And remember that anything is allowed and possible. For example, do you need to let your creativity run wild and make more time for it. Then you can also draw in your diary, doodle or paste collages or make a combination of whatever you feel like at that moment. This is also called journaling by the way. 

2 - Determine the topic for your diary

If you choose a subject for your diary, you have a kind of goal with it and that works very well for some people, it keeps you focused. The possibilities are of course endless, but here are a few ideas to help you:

• Just Diary , things that happen and how you feel about them. A diary to track your child's development.
• Inspiration diary , also called a brain dump book. In this you write down all your fantasies and you can very well use a notebook for that.
• Gratitude diary in which you regularly list things for which you are grateful. This does a lot of good for your happiness.
• Training diary to keep track of your sports training and results.
• Food Diary , to help you keep track of a diet.
• Event diary , where you jot down things about parties and dinners you host. For example, keep track of the guests and the menu.
• Vacation diary for a specific vacation, to record your memories for later with photos and doodles.
• Pregnancy diary , for obvious reasons ;-)
• Creativity Diary , where you regularly share something creative.

Read also 👉 Start with a Bullet journal. Better late than never

3 - A practical diary is… an agenda!

Does a diary feel like a bridge too far after the above list? Then go for a nice agenda. There are plenty calendars which also provide space for a short scribble every day. There are also so many types and sizes of diaries these days. This way you can easily start with one diary. How easy can it be?

4 - Write as if no one will ever read your journal

One of the best tips for starting a journal is to write as if no one will ever read your journal. It really doesn't matter how you write things down, as long as you write them down as they come from you. Your journal is yours, and yours alone. Anything you want can go in. Keep your diary in a safe place, if the information is sensitive...

5 - Invest in a nice diary

Having a diary itself is of course one of the first steps. Make this a party and search until you find your diary . Because a diary is something that you will probably keep for a long time and a nice copy also invites you to use it! Whether you prefer large, small, blank, lined, dotted or checkered pages is, of course, entirely a matter of taste.

💛 Whatever you do, remember that writing down three things each day for which you are grateful contributes to your overall happiness. And that alone is worth it, right?!