Is a Daily Journaling Habit Only for Those in Tough Times?

Photo by Estée Janssens

By now, many people already know that my book is really just a compilation of stuff that I shared on daily blogs during the pandemic. It still gladdens me to hear them say they got out of a pinch during quarantine because they read something from “Dr. Theresa Wee’s Parenting and Wellness Tips.”

On the other hand, you could say it was like a daily journaling habit and that I was also helping myself. The blogs were my way of connecting with others social media when it was otherwise incredibly difficult to do so. There was also the death of my husband still hanging over me. Interacting with others online was, in some ways, therapeutic.

Still, some might think that stuff like a daily journaling habit is only for those undergoing some kind of crisis. That’s not necessarily the case! You could be one of the more well off, happier people on the planet, and it would still benefit you to starting putting entries in a journal. You don’t have to wait for a therapist to tell you to start!

Journaling can be very handy (and that goes on top of all its mental health benefits).

They Help Practice Writing

Photo by Aaron Burden 

For those who might want to be an author (like me), then writing regularly on a journal is definitely helpful. And compared to say, writing a novel or even coming up with a daily scripture guide like what I did, pure, private journaling is very easy on beginners. You don’t have to think too much about a topic, or worrying about how others might react if they read what you wrote. 

You also don’t have to worry about an editor or making too grammatical mistakes (there are a lot of tools online for that anyway). It is all about cultivating a regular writing habit. 

It doesn’t matter if you are just ranting in a journal for one day, then putting in a poem for next and maybe even pen a few songs along the way. These are all your thoughts and what matters is that you are committing them to the page. 

For a beginning writer, getting the feel of that is what is most important. Doing it regularly helps your mind get used to the process. The sooner you do that, the sooner you can get to writing faster, better and more naturally. 

Sure, you may think that just writing everyday with very little guidance means you could pick up other bad habits. But think about it this way instead: These bad habits are best addressed when you already have a solid writing foundation. Practicing it with journaling certainly does the trick!

Entries Can Also Come in Many Forms

Photo by Noémi Macavei-Katócz 

Now, what about those who really don’t feel cut out for writing (or at least writing for more than five sentences). Is a daily journaling habit still for them? 

Answer: Still yes. 

Again, you don’t need to be a master wordsmith to make a habit of putting your thoughts about the day on a page. There is also no rule that says you can’t supplement what you have written with pictures or drawings you have made. 

Have you heard about the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series? It is said to be the fourth best-selling book series of all time, and it combines both writing and cartoons. The very first page has its main hero (in all caps) saying that he is writing a journal.

If a book with that kind of format can end up a massive best-seller, then there is no reason to say your journal can’t at least use a similar approach. 

You can even try recording yourself and then use software to turn it into text (even Google has something like that these days). There is no need to limit yourself to this image of journaling as somebody with a pen hard at work jotting down on a fancy notebook. It’s very easy to get creative with it!

Creating Something Valuable Over Time 

As you cultivate your daily journaling habit, you are not just getting better at the skills you are using to create it (be it writing, drawing, poetry etc). 

The beautiful thing about any habit is that it builds up something over time. I’ve seen more than enough proof of this when it comes to exercise, and it is no different with creative habits like journaling. 

Think about it: my book wouldn’t have existed if I didn’t blog daily during the quarantine. There are probably dozens of other authors and content creators out there who have done something similar. 

Of course, there is no telling exactly what you will end up with after, say, 30 journal entries. Some might think that all you’ve made is a compilation of the most embarrassing intrusive thoughts. 

But you know, that’s okay too! That means you have a previous self to look back on, and you will still be amazed by you different you have become throughout that time. 

So, why wait till things get tough? Today is already a good day to start writing your daily thoughts down. 

And if you are still looking for journaling ideas, you can find some great inspiration in my books. Both “My Covid-19 Diary” and “The Happy, Healthy Revolution.” They’re available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and ReadersMagnet.