10 Quick Questions To Help You Start or Grow Your Journal Practice

When a client says to me, "What should I do about xyz issue?" I usually respond with, "I'd love to help you answer that question, but I'll need to ask you a few questions before I can answer that."  That's because there's rarely a one-size-fits-all solution to any issue, challenge, problem, or area of change.  The best way to find a custom-fit solution, one that is personally tailored for a client's unique context, is to learn as much as possible not only about the issue, but about the client's strengths, tendencies, resources and opportunities. 

Similarly, if you were here with me right now and you asked me, "Laurie, how should I go about starting or growing my journal practice?"      

I'd say, "I'd love to help you answer that question, but I'll need to ask you a few questions before I can answer that."    

Journaling is such a great tool to use to understand yourself, support yourself, and nurture yourself toward a better future.  You'll be so glad you have it on hand once you get the hang of it.  But here's the thing--journaling is deceptively simple to start (just write something anywhere!), but it often takes more effort, intention, and practice than you might expect for it to become a sustainable, consistent, reliable habit. 

And because we're all unique people living in unique circumstances, there's no one-size-fits-all pathway to a meaningful journal practice. 

There is, however, a fairly universal process that can help you learn more about what might be most likely to work for you as you start or grow your journal practice, and that's a process of self-assessment that can help you take inventory of the variables that may impact your journaling.  Knowing yourself, knowing what works for you, knowing what limitations you are likely to encounter--these are all important pieces of data to draw upon as you create and shape a journal practice that works for you. 
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Take a few minutes to read through this list of ten quick self-assessment questions.  It may be helpful to jot down your responses, but you can simply make mental notes if you don't have pen and paper handy right now:

1. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
2. Do you thrive on routine or do you prefer to go with the flow?
3. When in your day do you tend to have the most energy and mental clarity?
4. When in your day do you tend to feel the most relaxed and reflective?
5. How much free time do you have on a typical weekday?
6. Do you tend to fill your free time in ways that help you relax and re-energize or do you tend to use that free time in unintentional or unhelpful ways?
7. Do you have recurring responsibilities that you could take off of your plate to free up more time to tend to your own needs and self-care?
8. Do you have other people in your household who impact when and where you can find time and space to be alone and uninterrupted?
9. Are you usually able to say “no” to others when saying “yes” would drain you or detract from your ability to care for yourself?
10. Do you have a physical space set aside to journal that feels inviting and easily accessible?

If these questions spark other self-assessment questions, go ahead and ask yourself whatever else comes to mind.  The more you engage this process of self-assessment, the more guidance you'll have on hand to help you along your journal practice pathway.  

Now that you’ve given some thought to the areas above, here are two more questions to ask yourself (they make great journal prompts, too!):

• What’s the biggest barrier, obstacle, or challenge you’re facing when it comes to starting or growing your journal practice?
• What’s one step you’d like to commit to taking that would help pave the way for you to journal? (I’d love for you to share it with me in the comments below!)

Whatever steps you take from here, remember it's okay to take it one day at a time, one word at a time.  It's going to take some trial and error to find your footing with journaling, so give yourself permission to start imperfectly and to make some mistakes along the way.  This list of questions and this process of self-assessment is here for you, anytime you need it as you keep experimenting, learning, and refining your unique journal practice.  

Happy journaling!  

Need more help getting started?  Check out my mini-course, Start Journaling!, it will hold your hand as you start journaling with ten whole days of inspiration and easy-to-implement instructions.  

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