What is the importance of journaling?
Moreover, what is the importance of journaling for introverts?
Well, let's start with what I mean by journaling.
Bujo’s (bullet journals) are incredibly popular on Instagram and the internet at large, but this is not what I’m talking about here.
I’m talking long-form, ideally handwritten, dear-diary style writing.
I’ve been heavily influenced by the concept of Morning Pages, a term used by Julia Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way.
While the overall book is more of a 12-step program for recovering creatives who’ve, well lost there way and need to get back on the art-making band wagon, it’s this practise of Morning Pages that are at it’s core, and that most people I’ve spoken to benefitted most from.
Morning pages described by Julia:
Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. *There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages* they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes only.
Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page...and then do three more pages tomorrow.
And even if the Artists Way approach - which is very much inspired by God and the 12-step AA process - isn’t for you - there are tonnes of left-brainy people out there who recommend journalling - including fellow INTJ Tim Ferriss - you only need to google the term ‘Morning Pages’ to see a whole host of people raving about them.
But the underlying premise is this: journalling is a powerful tool for unlocking creativity, making sense of your own crazy thoughts, and I’m convinced is the number one backbone of my day - above meditation, even.
Yeah I said it.
Even when I’m on holiday or totally thrown off track, I can make time to journal before any of my other life-hacky routines and habits.
Today's podcast digs into:
- Why journaling is the cheapest form of therapy
- How it helps get sh*t done
- Why journaling regularly increases creativity
- Advice for journaling virgins
- How to easily make journaling a habit
- Trouble-shooting tips for the time-poor
Journaling inspiration:
The Diary of Anne Frank
The Diary Of Samuel Pepys
Captain Scott's Last Expedition by Robert Falcon Scott
A Writer’s Diary by Virginia Woolf
Conversations With Myself by Nelson Mandela
Runaway by Evelyn Lau
A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait
The Intimate Journal by George Sand
The Journals of Sylvia Plath
Bullet Journal inspiration:
Links mentioned:
Julia Cameron's Morning Pages
Debbie Millman's Life Visioning
Why writing things down > typing them
The League of Creative Introverts
My habit tracking worksheet example:
FREE RESOURCE: 70 JOURNAL PROMPTS
I’ve compiled my epic compendium of 70 journal prompts as a downloadable, print-ready resource for you, which you can grab for FREE below!
Get Your 70 Journal Prompts for Creative Introverts!
You can leave a rating and review on iTunes (here's how to do that) and I will be as happy as a clam (or sob into my pillow depending on what you write.)
