The Excuses
If journaling has so many benefits, (and even more Google results about said benefits), than why do only 8% of the population (according to a habitbetter.com survey) keep a journal? Here's some of the things that keep people from journaling:
I don't like to write.
This is true especially for kids and teens. Writing feels like work, like a school assignment or obligation. Journaling can feel like another obligation instead of a self-care practice.
Perfectionism
There are so many beautiful journal examples out there filling Pinterest boards with envy, that expectations to create journals of perfection keep people from even starting.
Time
Busy people are what Ryder Carroll calls "functionally overwhelmed". Busy people are already juggling so many things, to them journaling is just another ball in the air.
A Missing Why
Why would you start journaling if you don't know why you should start journaling. It seems simple and even silly, but most people who don't have a journaling habit, have no idea why they should.
I don't Like to Write
Dno't Wrorey Abuot Mstiakes
Isn't it interesting how your brain can fill in missing gaps, and can read the most jumbled mess without even thinking too much about it?
Can you read this little excerpt from livescience.com?
You might not realize it, but your brain is a code-cracking machine.
For emaxlpe, it deson’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod aepapr, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer are in the rghit pcale. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit pobelrm.
S1M1L4RLY, Y0UR M1ND 15 R34D1NG 7H15 4U70M471C4LLY W17H0U7 3V3N 7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17.
A journal is a place of freedom. It is a place to let go of all shoulds, even the shoulds of spelling and grammar. If you or (someone you would like to start journaling with) does not like to write because they don't think they are good at writing then this exercise is a must.
The Challenge: Write an encrypted journal entry. Mix up the letters, misspell the words, add numbers, symbols and even pictures. Who knows you may even invent your own secret code.
Perfection
Perfect is the enemy of Good
When you keep waiting for something to be perfect it is never good, because it is never done. Perfection is like grasping for air.
Watch the video below about the pottery teacher who split his class into two groups. One group was told to create a perfect pot and they would be graded on the quality of their products. The second group was told to create as many pots as possible and would be graded on the quantity of products they produced. See where I'm going with this?
Don't let perfection stop you. Start journaling. Who cares if you bump your pen and make a crooked line, who cares if ink bleeds through or you spell a word wrong. Who cares if your page is not a work of art. Get started, keep going, don't stop.
The Challenge: Hand it over. Before you even get started hand your journal over to a friend. Let them hide little messages, marks and scribbles through out your journal. When you approach their marks, it's your challenge to incorporate them into your plan.
More tips and tricks
1.
Stickers! Stickers are your best friend, they add color and personality and are great for covering unwanted mistakes.
2.
Test page. Test markers and pens on a designated page so you know ahead of time if they will leak through the page.
3.
Pencil. Seriously, I have at least 8 Bic pencils in my reach at all times. I journal everything with pencil and a trace over it later if I want it to look fancy.
4.
When in doubt you can always rip it out! Just remember, mistakes can lead to some of the most interesting and creative solutions, so leave this one as a last resort.
TIME
Stop Wasting It
When you are feeling busy, stressed and overwhelmed something like journaling just sounds like just another task to add to your very long list. It seems counter intuitive, but journaling can help you manage your time and help you create more. This one is a big one and you won't overcome this obstacle with just one challenge but here's a place to start.
The Challenge: Track it. Write down everything that happens in your day. Just for one day. Break down your day into hourly segments. Set a timer for every hour. At the end of the hour do a quick recap list of everything you did. This is just the research. In later modules we will take this list and start to turn it into time.
A missing Why
She who has a why to live can bear almost any how.
Friedrich Nietzsche
If you are journaling because someone told you to, or because it looks like a really cool Insta-trend, than honey this is not going to stick. You need to dig deep into why you are even considering journaling. You need to know what result you want to get from a journaling practice. THIS IS THE KEY! You must know this before you start. Knowing your why will also help you decide which method (or combination of methods) will serve you best. Ready for this challenge?
The Challenge: Be a 4-year old. Have you hung out with a four-year-old lately? They ask a lot of questions...one in particular: "WHY?" Start by asking yourself this simple question: "Why will journaling help me get the result I'm looking for?" Got that answer? Good. Now ask again. Why do I want that? Why? Why? Why? Keep asking why for at least 4 layers deep. Really dig into this. Your answer will either give you clarity on why you must start journaling OR it will give you insight into what resistance has been keeping you from starting a journaling habit.