Journaling is an effective way to document your hopes and dreams for your business and your personal life

So many people cringe at the idea of putting their thoughts down on paper. Some equate all journaling with keeping a diary and they don’t want to revert back to their 10-year-old self. Others worry about keeping a journal secret or prevent themselves from being honest and vulnerable for fear that others will read their words.

Are these fears weighing on your mind? Don’t talk yourself out of experiencing the power of journaling; the benefits certainly outweigh the likelihood of someone finding your journals and passing judgment. Like anything else in life, you need to find a form of journaling that works for you and that you enjoy doing; otherwise you won’t incorporate the habit into your daily routine and will miss out on its many benefits.

The Benefits of Journaling 

The biggest benefit of journaling is to dump all your ideas and dreams onto paper so your mind remains clear and ready to focus on your action steps. If you want to achieve your goals and dreams, taking action is mandatory but it’s very easy to get lost in distractions if you don’t journal and create an action plan.

Another benefit to journaling is the ability to revisit older entries and compare them with where you are today in your business. Did those older ideas come to fruition? Did they morph into an even better idea? Did you follow through on action steps to reach those goals or milestones? Use these older entries as a reminder to revisit ideas or to learn more about yourself and your motivation.

Bullet Journaling

If you’re not into writing pages and pages of notes, bullet journaling is a quick alternative. The idea is to write simple bullet notes that are a combination of a to-do list, a diary, and list of upcoming events. Part of the appeal of bullet journaling is creating your own journal with your own handwriting, bright ink colors, doodles, and unique pages that will serve your needs. In addition to business action plans, some people find it useful to include gratitude lists and workout schedules. 

Multimedia Journaling

If you’re a born talker and get stumped every time you see a blank piece of paper, create a multimedia journal using your smartphone. Record voice messages about your day, your plans, and your dreams or record videos with those same thoughts. Transfer these recordings to a service like Dropbox to free up storage space on your phone.

Privacy

There are private online journals available such as Penzu or keep your journal in your car or a locked cabinet for extra security.

Brain Dumping

Take a blank piece of paper – or open up a Word document – and just start writing ALL the things that are occupying your mind. Include business decisions that must be made, projects or goals you want to achieve, as well as personal items or errands to remember. There’s no thinking allowed while doing this; don’t judge if an idea is crazy or silly, just write it down.

After you complete your list, add these items to your calendar or delegate some of these tasks to your partner, friend or family member, or even a virtual assistant. If multiple items fall under the same general heading, block out some time to complete them all at once. Ignore the phone during these time blocks so you can focus your attention completely.

Stream of consciousness

No script, no prompt and no judgement.  A pen and paper, and write a page, or until it’s all on paper.  Some of what we know to be true cannot find its way out on its own, and this can be a safe way to purge and release some inner tension.

Journaling also provides another way to practice mindfulness. When you reflect on things – either as you journal them or later, on re-reading (or re-watching or re-listening).  It alerts you to patterns, good or bad, allowing you to learn from yourself. And trying to put your thoughts and recollections into words raises your emotional intelligence and awareness.

Law of Attraction proponents often promote journaling as a way to give reality to dreams. Writing it down (or recording a wish or goal in audio or video) gives it reality; makes it more tangible and measurable.

And psychologists will tell you that journaling can also be good for your emotional and physical health. Verbalizing fears or frustrations helps dissipate their power over your subconscious. The simple act of giving voice to setbacks or problems can also help you gain flashes of insight into new solutions or steps forward that you can take.

Plus, journaling is a potent memory aid. (Want to recall the URL of that great podcast you listened to? Check your journal. Want to remember the name of that book your favorite expert recommended? Check your journal.

Journaling can be an essential aide to controlling scattered thoughts or recalling what you need to in a way that works best for you.

“I have revisited journalling when I needed support through hard times and this is a safe way for me to be creative, be free and release mind blockages when I am finding it difficult to think and feel clearly.  It’s a daily practice for me.  I hope that this may encourage you to let go of the judgement and start writing.” – Susan Fysh

About Susan Fysh

With over a decade of dedication to holistic health and wellness, Susan has immersed herself in the world of complementary therapies. Her journey began with a leap of faith into full-time study, and her passion continues to grow, fuelled by ongoing learning and her connection with clients.  Her qualifications and training span a wide range of disciplines, including various massage techniques, naturopathy, yoga, meditation, life coaching and kinesiology, all of which she seamlessly weaves into her sessions to support your healing and growth. Find out more