How to write a daily journal – techniques to consider

Journals can come in many forms, with a growing number of techniques gaining popularity and giving the whole practice a new lease of life.

Chief among them is the Bullet Journal. This is a concept that utilizes short, single sentences and a series of symbols to identify tasks that need to be done, notes on things you need to remember and events that you have occurred since you last wrote in your diary. This process is aimed at clearing your mind of distractions, as well as blending traditional diary taking with everyday to-do lists, putting productivity to the forefront.

For those reticent about writing down their feelings, one sentence journals are a strong option. This is as easy as it sounds. At the end of each day, simply write down one sentence about what has happened and how you feel.

Pioneered in the early 1990s, Morning Pages has become a cornerstone of the journal writing scene. This technique requires journal writers to put down three pages of stream of consciousness shortly after they’ve woken up, the idea being that the brain is less constrained by intrusive thoughts at this time of day. Julia Cameron, who developed this concept, says that pushing yourself to write three pages will reveal breakthroughs and help you explore problems in a way that a few short sentences cannot.

The joy of keeping a journal means that it isn’t just about writing lines of text, though. Expressive writing can also involve sketches, doodles and symbols, all valid ways to show a creative approach and get feelings, thoughts and ideas onto the page.