Now I know what you’re thinking. You’ve seen the title and you’re already thinking one of these few things:

 

  • I don’t have enough time for a journal?
  • I know what my goals are. I don’t need journal.
  • I have my goals on my phone. I’m covered.

 

Writing a journal might not seem like it can help you at first. I thought that as well. When I committed to making it a habit, my productivity increased tremendously. It may take a while to make it a habit. That’s understandable. I can assure you that it is worth it.

I want to share with you why I think it’s important that you all start a journal.

 

Consistent writing keeps your creative juices flowing

Have you ever felt like you’ve reached a plateau? Has life become boring, or even robotic? Does it feel like you are just going through the motions?

It’s possible that your mind is just running on autopilot. You need to shake things up a bit. I have been in situations where I got up doing the same routine and 3 months have gone by. It was cyclical. Ever since I kept a journal, I no longer experience those lulls. Journaling helped me stay on track by refreshing myself with the actions of my day, week or month.

There’s an incredible amount of data about the benefits of journaling. So much so that many social workers actively encourage their patients to do it.

While the topics you write about in your journal play a role in your mindset, how you write plays a role as well. Writing about dreams, nightmares, personal relationships, ideas, social events, and gatherings can drastically change your perspective. I have experienced some aha moments while recounting some experiences. It helps you clear your mind while reflecting on your actions.

Always remember to put your best foot forward and keep a clear head. If your thoughts are clouded, your actions will be as well. Write it in your journal and achieve your goals!

 

Communicate Better

The act of communication is absolutely essential to every aspect of your life. Writing has helped me process ideas and communicate them in a clear and concise manner. It has saved me time and effort by getting my point of view across more clearly. I saw a reduction in the ping pong of emails for clarification. I also saw a big boost in my networking success as well. At networking events, your first impression is everything. If you come across unorganized in your communication skills, you might lose the interest of the person or the group. When you can give clear and concise statements, you show confidence in your speech.

Writing down your experiences will not only help you properly absorb them, but it can also help you identify new opportunities when they present themselves. You break down details quickly to digest the beneficial pieces of information.

 

It holds you accountable for your thoughts, actions, everything you’ve been taught and of all your failures.

This is one of my favorites. Owning a journal motivates and pushes us to think about our goals. Routine writing is a record of your failures, mistakes, and accomplishments. I have seen myself become more self aware of my opportunities. Holding myself accountable is a natural process but when I journal, I measure my progress every day. I look myself in the mirror or the page and ask myself, “Did I do enough?” This is a critical piece to giving yourself the proper mindset to and discipline you need to beat the crowd. Be honest with yourself in where you’ve failed and learn why you failed so that it won’t happen again.

It’s also important to know your own weaknesses and applying them to your strengths. Through knowing your strengths, you build better habits and are more conscious of your actions and behaviors. When keeping a food journal, you start watching what you eat, metaphorically and literally. You can also better your mood just by looking at the positive trends in your notebook. Follow up on those trends to find out what makes you happy. Continue doing it and always make room in your schedule for those events. It goes without saying but those bad aspects of your life are to be tossed like a bad habit.

So what are you waiting for? I think it’s time you started writing in that journal of yours!