Journaling Series: On Starting a Journal
After finishing my previous journal I just started a new journal, which is both an exciting and daunting prospect whenever it happens. There is so much potential in a new journal – it makes me want to crack it open and fill as many pages as possible in the first sitting. Yet opening that first blank page also makes me freeze in fear of “ruining” a perfectly good notebook with my scrawls.
There are many tips on how to overcome that fear, ranging from deliberately destroying the first few pages to using various formulas to inspire you to fill those first pages. What I currently do is just open a new Stalogy 365 Days notebook, turn it upside down (so the header, which I don’t like, is at the bottom) and slap 2-3 stickers on the back endpages. This time I chose a 10th anniversary fountain pen day sticker and a Goulet Pens dream pen sticker to start off, but I usually add a few more stickers as I use the journal.
I then turned to the first page and started my first journal entry with the following sentence:
“New journal! My third Stalogy 365.”
After that came my usual daily gratitude list, and so I had most of the first page filled up in no time and had no problem moving on after that.
For those still in search for “new journal” inspiration, here are some pointers:
- Personalize your new journal in some way. It’s about to hold your innermost thoughts, so you might as well make it your own.
- Switch formats mercilessly if you find an old journaling format isn’t working for you – page size, ruling, type, etc.
- Have a starting formula for your journal. If you find it difficult to start journaling each day, then pick a formula that you can use each day – like a daily gratitude list, a quote, notes about the weather, your plans for the day.
- The first few entries are the hardest, but they’re also only 2-3 days out of the entire life of a journal. It’s worth remembering that and plowing through those days.
- When in doubt pick a quote from a book or article you’re reading and start a discussion with the author.
- If you’re really at a loss for starting ideas, use the first page, not the last one, as an ink testing page.
Do you have any new journal rituals or tips? Do you enjoy starting a new journal or find it daunting?