LIFE

Let's set the scene: It's March of 2020, and the world is shutting down. My 8th grade year is suddenly cut short, and I have to erase *every* social plan from my cal. Believe it or not, this nightmare sitch became much more bearable when I discovered the art of journaling—and how therapeutic it can be.

When my English teacher suggested that I start a "COVID diary," I was hesitant at first. I assumed that it would feel like homework, but I soon realized that was far from the truth. Once I started writing about my weird days stuck inside and my mixed-up emotions in quarantine, I couldn't stop. It gave me such a sense of relief, and it felt like I was taking all of my worries and anxiety out of my head and putting it onto a page. I've been journaling every night ever since, and it continues to help me understand myself and my emotions.

If you're sold and are ready to get into journaling but don't know where to start, don't worry, bb! I've got you covered with your ultimate guide to journaling in the most meaningful and life-changing ways. 

Stream of consciousness 

My personal fave way to start journaling? Stream of consciousness. This basically means writing every single thought that pops into your head as you're writing—without *any* judgment. For me, this usually includes reflecting on the past day's emotions or experiences, but it can truly be anything. The most important part of stream of consciousness journaling is to make sure your pen *never* stops moving. Trust me, you'll feel like you're taking every anxious thought and worry out of your brain and processing it on the page.

Goals and manifesting 

Once you've done a few pages reflecting on your past, it's time to look toward your future. Write about your dreams—no matter how "out there" or unachievable they may seem—and then break those dreams into bite-sized goals to help you work towards them. Maybe one of your dreams is to drive a sports car. First, write about that dream in vivid detail as if it's already happened (that's called scripting, which is a type of manifestation). After you describe what your car looks like and how it feels to drive, break that dream down into concrete goals (think: getting an after-school job to start saving). 

Positive reframing

Another tool I swear by while journaling is positive reframing. All this means is that every time a negative thought shows up as I'm writing, I try to look on the bright side after acknowledging my feelings. For example, I was bummed about my sister going back to college after summer break. After I wrote about how upset I was, I added that at least we'll appreciate each other and our time spent together even more. Remember: positive reframing takes intention and practice! 

Gratitude 

It's true what they say: Gratitude is *absolutely* the attitude. Similar to positive reframing, practicing gratitude can help you focus on the good things in your life rather than always fixating on the bad. Every night in my journal, I write a list of things I'm grateful for and I *so* recommend that you try it too. From your fam to your bed, the possibilities of things to be grateful for are endless! Learn even more about gratitude journaling here. 

Consistency

It's super important to be consistent when you're starting your journaling journey. Tbh, it may be annoying at first (especially on those nights when you just want to go straight to sleep), but even writing one sentence still counts. Journaling every night is what makes the practice so rewarding—one day, you'll look back at your old thoughts, experiences and goals and you'll be *so* proud of how far you've come.  

What's your fave way to journal? Tell us on Twitter @girlslifemag!

Check out more journaling inspo, right this way:
✍️ Your official guide to gratitude journaling 
✍️ How to journal like a pro
✍️ 8 journaling prompts to better understand yourself 

All GIFs via Giphy

by Eva Mandelbaum | 10/13/2023