I’m notorious for telling somebody to start a journal. After my stepdad died, I suggested my mom start one. When a close girlfriend gave up everything to start over, I said it’d be a good idea to start journaling. Pregnant? Start a journal. Grad school? Journal.
We love reflecting. We love going through old photo albums and remembering back when. We love when Facebook reminds us what we posted two years ago. Journals capture exactly how you were feeling and what was going on and whatever else you happen to jot down. It helps you make sense of shit that once seemed senseless and overwhelming.
It’s a confidante, a counselor, and a co-creator that helps give you somewhere to vent without judgment, more deeply explore your feelings and experiences in order to better understand yourself, and is a safe space to flesh out new ideas. I used to keep all of my stuff in one notebook, but I later thought it a better idea to keep the thoughts separate. And it is. Here are the five kinds of journals I keep:
1. Dream journals
I wanna start being more consistent with this one because it’s really helpful. I used to wake up and run to some dream interpretation site to figure it out, but with my journal, it makes me slow down a bit to figure it out for myself. That way, the site is only confirmation. Also, while writing, I remember aspects of the dream that I totally forgot about before I started writing. And it dissolves my habit of checking email and social media the second I wake up.
2. Period journals
I just started this one, but I’m really digging it. After reading Queen Afua’s Sacred Woman, I started monitoring how my stress and diet affected my period (or “moon time,” as I call it). At the top, I write the date, moon phase, and day of my cycle. When I first started, I only used it on the days of my period, then I switched to the days leading up to the period and my ovulation as well. Journals evolve right ‘long with you.
3. 280 Daily journals
About three years ago, I Google’d online journals and found this one. With 280daily.com, you’re limited to using only 280 characters and it emails you everyday to remind you to add an entry. After submitting it, it shows you the current entry, yesterday’s entry, and a random entry. The random ones are my favorite! And you can use the search option for a specific date. I posted a random entry on my Instagram a couple days ago.
4. So Fundamental journals
This is where I scribble down all the ideas that come to me, my goals, fears, progress, and everything else that pertains to my business. I read through this one quite often, especially when I’m stressed and it’s feeling like shit is crumbling around me. Reminds me how much I’ve grown. It’s beautiful.
5. Any- and everythang journals
I keep this one in my purse. Though I could separate it, I don’t. I keep my travel experiences in here, poetry, prayers, no-this-bitch-did-not thoughts, yesss experiences, and any and everything else.
What kinda journals do you keep? If this list gave you an idea for one, lemme know.
Comments
4 responses to “5 kinds of journals I keep”
I love this! What a great idea! I tend to lump everything into one but now that you’ve suggested this, I’m going to start doing separate ones. I like the daily journal and the So Fundamental one as well. Glad you posted this.
Hey, Val! Thank you and let me know how it works for you. I actually just finished my daily one. I’ve noticed that I alternate, sometimes doing it in the morning and sometimes right before bed.
I usually try to do my morning pages but not as consistent as I should when it comes to waking early in the morning. I do jot things out throughout the day on whatever I can find. Now another form of journaling I just started doing is blogging. 🙂
I’m not consistent with the morning journaling either, but I do enjoy it when I do. Even when I don’t, I try to at least just “be” for a moment before doing anything else. Blogging is probably my favorite kinda journaling. Make sure you drop the name of your blog so I can swing by.