13 | How to start journaling and podcast breakthroughs
July 8, 2019
In this episode, I cover some changes I’ve made to the podcast, as well as, how to start journaling. Journaling Tools & Perspectives include: why I journal, writing vs. typing your journal, how you can structure an entry, what I include in a journal entry, when and how often I journal, and referencing back to entries.
Transcript:
I told you while I was off I would be recharging and redeveloping the podcast a lot. I did just that. During my hiatus, I was traveling, reading, journaling, and spending time with family and friends. I even did some things that were way outside my comfort zone like taking an improv class, which was super interesting, and reaching out to other podcasters in my area.
Although I wasn’t directly working on the podcast by recording or making content, I felt like taking this step back and doing other things that helped me get clear with myself on what I wanted this new season to be and what I wanted things to look like.
The things I got clarity on or made changes to from the last season:
I got clear on my mission and that is: I want to give you the confidence to put your best foot forward in your life. I want to connect with the go-getters out there that find themselves indecisive or unsure on the next steps to take in being their best selves. I want to give you unique perspectives and tangible tools that can give you the confidence to put their best foot forward in your life. Whether that is in health, work, passions, or relationships.
Those of you that listened last season, you’ll notice in my intro or description, I wanted to connect with early 20-somethings. Well, I’m growing up like the rest of us and I realized that a lot of the things I was sharing could be applied to more than just early 20-somethings. They can apply to many different stages of life. I want to connect with more people in different stages of life. Although I want to connect with those at all different stages of life, I’m excited to connect with all the go-getters that want to strive to be the best version of yourself.
When I started I was really scared of what people were going to think of the show. I was very scared. That is part of the reason why I had started a second Instagram account. I could feel that safety in posting. I will admit, I posted podcast things on a secondary Instagram instead of my personal instagram because I was scared what people were going to say about it. I’ve come to find that I really don’t care what a random person from high school I haven’t talked to since graduation thinks of it because I love doing this podcast, I love connecting with people, and helping people. That is why I’m sticking to posting on my personal instagram because I feel proud of the work I’ve put into this podcast and I would love to share it with you all. If you would like to, you can follow me on instagram @heyitsclaireedwards. I would love to connect with you guys there!
This season, I have some great guests joining me. They talk about a variety of topics and provide you the perspectives and tools to give you the confidence to approach your health, your work, your passions, and your relationship building in a new way. Also, I have some great solo episodes coming up where I share some topics that have been on my mind lately or questions that I have recently been asked to provide some perspective and tools for you.
While I was off, I started compiling a lot of the questions people were asking me, as well as, some of the hardships people were encountering. Based on that list, I’m going to pick out a few of them to talk about on my solo episodes. Ones that I’ve been getting a lot are regarding journaling. That is what I’m going to start off with today. “Why do you journal and how do I start doing it?”
If you’ve listened to my very first episode, you heard how journaling was a big thing that led me up to starting the podcast. If you haven’t listened to it yet, go listen its only about twelve minutes long.
Ever since then, I’ve had a lot of people ask me about my journaling practice and how they can start themselves.
Everyone’s journaling practice is different and every person has a different reason why they do it.
My journal is my safe place. I always tell people that if I was on a deserted island or I was in solitary confinement, as long as I had a journal to write in, I would survive. My journal is the place I can unload all the feelings and thoughts that are swirling around in my head. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Its that place that you can express your wildest dreams, those certain feelings you don’t want to admit to anyone else, and those thoughts you don’t really know what to do with. This is the space where it is more than acceptable to be a work in progress. How many spaces actually allow you to do that?
I can remember vividly the day I started journaling. It was a Sunday in the fall semester of my senior year of college. In those past couple of weeks, the idea of journaling kept randomly popping up in my life. In my classes, from successful people that I followed on social media, and more. It was like the universe was nudging me to start, but I was being stubborn and still hadn’t. On this particular Sunday, I was so overwhelmed with feelings, anxiety, and thoughts, I finally gave into the universe, drove to the nearest TJ Maxx, bought myself a cheap, yet pretty journal, with pink & purple flowers on it, and started writing. Fast forward a year and a half, I’m still writing and am so thankful that I took the leap.
A lot of people who have wanted to start journaling ask me how I organize my journal. Do I write or type my journal on my computer? How often do I do it? I know it feels uncomfortable to my over-analyzers and indecisive people out there, but there is no right way or rules to journaling. I know we like there to be a right way, but there is none. Remember this is an act about being a work in progress, not being perfect.
Since there are no rules to journaling, it can be extremely overwhelming to people to the point that they never start. I’m going to tell you how I do my journaling. That does not mean you have to do it this way. It is a springboard for you guys to feel more confident to get started.
I hand write my journal. I do this because I know I am a perfectionist and if I journaled on a computer, I would delete, cut and paste stuff, and make it look super organized. With hand-writing, I write whatever is on my mind. If you think you would rather write entries on your computer, then do that. I know that method brings out the perfectionist in me. One thing that would be nice about journaling on a computer is being able to go back and find certain entries faster by searching keywords. Referencing back to entries is something I’ll touch on later. But yes, I hand write in my journal.
How do I structure an entry? Each time I journal, I turn to a new fresh page. I want you to visualize that blank page right now. At the top, I write 3 things: the date, day of the week, and the city I’m journaling in. Then I start writing. I usually start off the entry with how I’m feeling in the moment. Whether that is anxiety, excitement, contentment, exhaustion, etc. I start letting all my feelings out. There are no paragraphs or any structure as I write. I keep going until my brain is empty. I imagine my brain emptying slowly as I write to the point where it can finally breathe.
I also include things in the entry like what I did that day, ideas for things I may want to pursue in the future, an interesting thing I learned on a podcast I listened to, potentially prepping for a hard conversation I feel I need to have with someone, the people that brought me joy throughout the day, and much more. I jump from topic to topic without any paragraphs or transitions because remember, it isn’t supposed to be perfect.
In the last sentence of my entry, I say 3 things I am thankful for. It is a moment to bring me back to Earth and be thankful for the blessings in my life.
To finish up, I go to the bottom of the entry and write “events since last journal,” and write in quick bullet points the things that happened that day or since my last journal. I do these bullets at the end of each entry so that if I want to look back at a certain event, but don’t necessarily remember the exact day it was, I can turn the pages and look at the bullet points to help me find the spot where I wrote about the event.
That brings me back to referencing back to your entries. I do not necessarily go and look back at entries. Journaling is more of a practice for me than a piece of content. I will tell you I have looked back at entries when I am questioning, wondering, or want to remember why I made a decision. That could be anything from looking back at why I picked a job, why I initiated that breakup, or any other decision I made. When I’m questioning a decision I made, I am able to look back at what I was feeling and saying when I made the decision and use that to make more educated decisions going forward. A lot of times looking back it gives me affirmation or guided direction on my next decisions to make.
Although I don’t look back at most of the entries right now, It would be cool to look back when I’m older. It would be a satisfying and nostalgic to look back at what I was feeling and experiencing during these times. It is possible for our mental capacity to decline over the years, so it would be cool to be able to go back and read them. I think about the Ellis Grey journals on Grey’s Anatomy or Allie’s notebook that the entire Notebook movie is based off. Maybe I won’t look at it because I technically don’t have to, but I would love having the option. By having the bullet points at the end of each entry of what I did that day, I am able to reference back quicker.
That is how I structure an entry. Now for when I journal. I am a night journaler. I like to unload everything at the end of the day before I go to bed. I can tell that I go to sleep faster and sleep better when I journal before I go to bed. I’m not laying there awake with all my thoughts as I try to go to sleep. They’re all out and my mind is at peace.
I do not treat journaling as a task in my day or an obligation. If I am too tired to journal or I stayed up super late, I won’t and I don’t beat myself up for it. I journal when I want, which is pretty often. My usual check in to journal is at the end of the day, but if I’m feeling it in the morning or in the middle of the day, then I do. I know a lot of people do what they call “morning pages” and journal as soon as they get up. Whatever you like the best or the time of day you think you would benefit from, then do that.
That is how I journal. As I said, there is no right way to journal. This is just how I do it. Do what works for you.
A few other resources and perspectives you can use to you help start journaling that I like I will link in the show notes. Katie Dalebout has a book with some journal prompts you can use to start your journaling. It is called Let It Out: A Journey Through Journaling. I love it and I still look over it time to time. Another great resource to get perspective on journaling is an episode on the Tim Ferris Show podcast, its episode #373 with Jerry Colonna. Jerry has been journaling for decades. His perspective is super interesting.
If you are someone who has thought about journaling, but hasn’t yet, I hope this is your little nudge from the universe to finally go give it a try. Go to TJ Maxx, Target, Barnes & Noble, or wherever. I just got a really cute one recently from World Market. Find a journal that speaks to you that you are excited to write in. If you want to start writing on your computer, you can do it right now. You don’t need to wait until the start of a new month or the start of the new year. Start now. Start and see what comes from it.
If you make the moves to start journaling, let me know. Share pics of your new journal. If you have any additional questions about journaling feel free to DM me on Instagram.
I hope that if you’ve been thinking about it for awhile or have been nervous to start journaling, that this can be your final nudge from the universe that gets you going.