I do this...
Here’s how it works:
First, you’ll need a physical journal and a pen. It’s very important to write by hand rather than keeping this journal on a computer.
Writing by hand forces you to slow down and reflect on what you’re putting on the page. This type of journaling is actually proven to be therapeutic.
Second, write in the journal first thing in the morning if you can (or, at least, before you turn on your computer or check social media). This journaling method is partly inspired by Julia Cameron’s “morning pages” technique in her book The Artist’s Way.
Cameron describes the “morning pages” as three pages of longhand, stream-of-consciousness writing that you finish before getting started on your work for the day.
She insists that the morning pages won’t be effective at clearing your mind of worries and filling it with creativity unless you write three entire pages, but I allow myself to write just a page in my journal if that’s all the words I have inside me for that day. I think it’s better to write even just a paragraph than nothing at all.
I also sometimes don’t end up writing in the morning but in the afternoon or whenever I have time and feel like I have something I need to write about by hand.
So, while the morning is best, don’t abandon the journal if that’s impossible for your schedule. Make time to write whenever you can, even if that’s only two or three times a week.
Third, then, what exactly should you write?
Well, I call this a creativity journal because it’s about boosting your creativity and positivity, not recounting the details of your day like a diary.
I might write about what’s worrying me with a project (or other worries that are sabotaging my creativity). Since my goals are usually related to my writing, I might reflect on a project I’m working on or I might jot down an idea for a new short story, personal essay, or blog post. I also often write out a prayer for the day.
Essentially, whatever is in my head, I spill onto the page.
I find the journal very useful for overcoming negative self-talk. For example, let’s say you wrote down something like: “I’ll never be able to write this novel to the end.” Pause and evaluate the statement and then contradict it: “I can write this novel to the end if I continue to work on it a little each day — I know I have the fortitude to do it.”
Ultimately, the mindset and creativity journal is a place where you can keep yourself excited about your goals and projects, reflect on what’s working and what’s not, note the things in your life that awaken your Muse or sabotage your Muse, experiment with new ideas, and give yourself pep talks when you grow discouraged.
