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Are you wondering why you're not motivated to journal? Maybe it feels like journaling simply isn't working out for you. Don't worry - you can get your motivation back and reap all the rewards of journaling with this easy fix. And it won't feel like just another thing to add into an already busy day!
The problem
Most likely, your problem is that you're journaling in a way that might suit someone else just fine, but doesn't suit YOU. So you haven't failed, you're just doing a type of journaling that is not particularly helpful to you. Don't worry, this is totally fixable!
The solution
To fix this, simply change your type of journaling - I explain more about this below. First a concrete example though, so you can see how I went from no interest in journaling to it becoming a huge help in my life - just by changing the style of journaling I was doing. You can reap the rewards of this in your life too. So don't worry if you're struggling with your journal, this is something you can fix.
A real-life example
I decided to journal for self-development. The journal went nowhere. I had no interest in writing in it - it became an unpleasant chore, and in the end there was no point in continuing. I'm sure you can relate to these feelings!
Then I tried creativity journaling, and this turned out to be a HUGE asset to me. It gave me a boost in my everyday life. Finally, journaling really helped me. I'd jot down creative ideas as they came to me (sometimes more than once a day, sometimes not for a week). I'd also jot down ideas of creative projects I wanted to do in the future. This journal became like a gold mine to me, because when I had time to work on a creative project I'd simply open up my creativity journal and find a project I wanted to do. It also meant I didn't have to re-invent the wheel each time I wanted to work on something, I'd just consult the notes I'd made about that project earlier.
So while journaling for self-development didn't work out for me, journaling for creativity was a huge success.
There are many different types of journaling which I cover below - it's not limited just to self-development or creativity. Once you find your type, you'll be able to journal effectively.
What this means for you
You simply need to find your approach to journaling. Fortunately, I've written another article where I go into detail about each type of journaling you can do and how to do it, including plenty of awesome prompts in each style for you to get started. The 5 types of journaling that are covered in depth in that article are:
- diary or life journaling
- self-discovery or personal journal
- scheduling or to-do's - for office-oriented options, I recommend Best Self. Co, or if you're looking for something more fun and decorative, take a look at the to-do journals at Amazon.com
- creativity
- therapeutic or self-care
Also covered is how to approach it if you want to journal but you don't know what type is best for you, so don't worry, that's covered too. You'll never have to stop and wonder what you should write about in your journal.
Conclusion
Yes, journaling really helps. You'll quickly become naturally motivated to journal when you're journaling in a style that works for you.
If you're currently unmotivated or struggling to write in your journal, rest assured you haven't failed! It only means you've tried an approach that wasn't the best fit for you. Instead find out here about different approaches and pick one that's best suited to you. You'll also get to see examples of daily journaling prompts to get started quickly and easily.