7 Journaling Tips Towards More Positivity

How can you ignite positivity in your life? Getting your dose of happy vibes doesn’t need to be expensive. You don’t even have to leave your home! It can all start with something as simple as journaling. 

Keeping a journal has a lot of benefits and is recommended by mental health professionals. It’s a great way to develop healthy self-confidence and self-awareness. It helps manage your stress and improve your mood. It’s a form of emotional catharsis, allowing you to release negative emotions.

Stress, anger, and other forms of negativity, when bottled up, will eventually find a way to get out. For instance, prolonged stress can lead to a host of health problems while anger issues can eventually cause relational problems to erupt.

Journaling isn’t complicated at all. You don’t have to be an experienced or skilled writer. You don’t need any expensive materials. It doesn’t take the whole day or much of your time. Just block off thirty minutes or so in your calendar, grab a journal and pen, and start writing. Here are seven ideas to get started:

Autobiographical Entry

If you’re feeling lost or purposeless, this is a great exercise. Make a list of who you are, the things you love, and the things you’d like to achieve. A sample entry could start with this list:

1. My big dreams in life
2. Things that make me happy
3. Important milestones in my life and what I’ve learned from them
4. People who make/made me feel loved
5. My favorite hobbies
6. Things I’d still like to learn
7. Where I’d like to be in five years

Today’s Good News

Did something good happen to you today? Don’t forget to record it in your journal! When you need a quick pick-me-up, simply open your notebook to any entry with Today’s Good News and be reminded that life is not always bad. You may be experiencing an off day now, but there have been a lot of good days too.

Simple Things to be Grateful For

Sometimes, the reason why we feel down is because we’ve forgotten to be grateful. If you feel like there’s absolutely nothing good in your life, start by thinking of the simplest things you can be thankful for. Your list could include: another day to start over, a good breakfast, freshly brewed coffee in the morning, having comfy and clean sheets to sleep in, and the like. 

Favorite Quotes

Have you read a line from a book or from social media that you want to remember? Well, a journal can help keep those quotable quotes accessible. You can even go a step further and write your fave quotes in fancy lettering. 

Love Letter For Myself

There are just some days when you can feel insecure. When this happens, try writing a love letter to yourself! You can begin by affirming what you did or are doing well. You can also list down past and present achievements. Or you can try jotting down some words that you’d like someone else to say to you to make you feel better. 

Things You’d Like to Say Out Loud But Can’t

Is a boss stressing you out? Are you feeling so pressured that you just want to lash out at someone? Is there a family problem you’re dealing with? Let your emotions settle down by writing what you’d like to say in your journal.

Self-Care Statement

When you’re tired or down, you might need to take a break and just think of yourself for once. Try completing these sentences: 

• Today, I give myself permission to ____________________________.
• Today, I am not going to _________________, instead I am going to ___________________.
• Today, I will stop thinking about _________________ and start thinking about ___________________.

Try these journaling tips for positivity when you’re at home, and find more joy in every day!