by Jessica Leibe
We’re told that keeping a journal is one of the best things we can do as writers.
Journaling allows us to rant, plan, and even plot. I don’t know about you, but I’ve taken quite a few experiences from my journal and used it for my stories.
But how many of us tried keeping a daily journal only to let it fall through the cracks? This happened to me after a time. I tried prompts to inspire me, but when they no longer worked, I knew something had to change.
I started by asking myself a single question: Why do I journal?
The answer? To clear my head. And it didn’t matter how much I wrote. If the clutter was gone, I had accomplished what I wanted.
Building on that realization, I created my own “One Page a Day” method. I decided it was a good idea to write in my journal every day. But it didn’t need to be long or profound. The “one page” meant I would start each day on a new page. That’s all.
It was on the twelfth day when I noticed I was sleeping better. My productivity increased and I wasn’t bogged down by things that bothered me. That proved to me this method worked.
If you’d like to try it, here are the steps I recommend:
1. Start with a fresh notebook.
Don’t continue writing in a journal you’re currently using. It’s better to start this method with a clean slate. Because you’re going in with a different mindset, a new notebook works best.
Besides, who doesn’t love the feel and smell of a brand new notebook?
2. Label your journal.
Write “One Page a Day” on the inside cover. You can also write it on the outside. Decorate it with stickers, washi tape, whatever. Make it your own, but don’t make it so clustered and pretty that you won’t want to write it in.
I made the mistake of over-decorating a journal. By the time I was ready to use it, I didn’t because I didn’t want to ruin the aesthetic.
3. Track your journaling progress.
Use the Reminders app on your phone or another way to track the days you write. I use an app called Productive. You pay yearly, but they offer a trial period.
I used to track my habits in my bullet journal but ever since downloading the Productive app, I’ve been using that. Whatever way you usually track progress will work, because the next thing you’re going to do is set a goal.
4. Set a goal for your writing.
Committing to any new daily practice is not easy. As adults, it takes us longer to get comfortable with a new habit than kids. Thirty days is the norm. So commit to writing in your journal for at least 30 days.
It’s also best to journal at the same time every day. Dedicating the same time every day will make you more likely to sit down. If, after the 30 days you don’t feel like it’s working, stop. If you do, keep going.
5. Reward yourself.
We should always treat ourselves when we do something big. Go ahead. Buy that purse you saw on Amazon or have that bowl of ice cream — only after you’ve journaled for ten days straight.
Reward yourself again after 30 consecutive days. 50. 75. 100!
6. Share your journaling progress.
When I reached Day 100, I shared a post on my social media. In the caption, I wrote about how I started the practice at the beginning of the year. I also included a video of me flipping through the pages.
Sharing your progress is a great way to influence other people. You’re telling them “if I can do it, you can do it.” Not to mention, you’ll receive a lot of positive feedback that’ll inspire you to keep going. Which, is the final step.
7. Keep going.
If you find that this method agrees with you, by all means, keep at it. And on the off chance that you miss a day, don’t fret. You haven’t ruined your flow.
Life happens. Write about it on the next blank page. Whatever you do, just keep writing.
Remember, your journal is for no one else but you. You don’t have to fill five pages with deep thoughts and wisdom. You’re simply cataloging the day’s key facts. And those can be a lot or a little. If the only interesting thing you did today was eating Chinese food, write it down.
I learned with this practice that a journal is not meant for people to find in dusty attics. Journals are for the benefit of the owner. They give you a place to let loose, vent, understand, and celebrate. And declutter.
Doesn’t it feel great when we declutter our minds?
It leaves room for all the stories we have to share with the world.
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Jessica Leibe is a Personal Growth & Wellness writer. Her articles have been published on Medium, She Did What She Wanted, and Fangoria.
She works at a non-profit organization that aids local senior citizens with home repairs and grocery shopping. She lives in New Jersey where she is currently writing her memoir.
Long-time journal keeper here, but inconsistent. The page-a-day method sounds good and doable without being intimidating. I have many untouched notebooks (people give them to me…I buy them…) so I’ll sort through the stash and find one suitable for this project. Thanks!