There are many reasons to keep a daily journal. Tracking your mood or health can help treat mental and physical health issues. It gives you a private place to process difficult ideas and feelings. Daily writing also fosters creativity! The benefits abound, but it's still hard to start a new habit.

Here are four tips that will help you get used to journaling every day, so you can reap the rewards!

1. Get Started With Less Writing

writing in a journal with prompts
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If you aren't used to it, spending a lot of time on a complex journal entry can be hard to do on a regular basis. Beginners and busy people should aim for lightweight journaling. For instance, writing one sentence per day.

Using a journal that provides prompts and templates can be a big time-saver. You can buy a journal that's pre-formatted, or print off pages and keep them in a small binder. Using a journal app saves even more time!

2. Pick the Best Time

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The good thing about habits is that you can use one to build another. Choose a part of the day that you already have a routine for. For instance, bedtime or waking up. Make sure it's a time when you have room and energy to journal.

This takes advantage of the structure. You're already paying attention to a sequence of tasks, so if you add a new one, it feels less awkward. If you try to add journaling into a part of your day that is usually free-form, it's easier to forget.

Once you've picked a routine, add journaling to it. Eventually, journaling will feel as natural a part of your day as making coffee or brushing your teeth. For an extra boost, use a habit-building app with reminder notifications.

3. Choose a Style That Suits Your Needs

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There are many ways to journal. You could keep a journal on your computer, or even online. Just be careful of privacy. But format isn't the only thing you can customize.

The reason you're keeping a journal should inform the type of journal you keep. For instance, recording the events of your day is good as a creative exercise. But that's not the only way.

If you want your journal to be a record or tracker, consider a bullet-points or tally-marking style. Thanks to online bullet journal resources, there are many creative tracker templates you can use. Fill them in a day at a time until you succeed!

For a journal that works as a venting space to process difficult thoughts, try letters. Write your entries as letters to a real or fictional person whom you trust. For short-form, use postcards. This can be a good way to get things off your chest.

Experiment with different types of journals and find one that feels rewarding to you.

4. Build the Habit With Positive Reinforcement

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Rewards are important for building a new habit. You could add a tracker to your journal, and treat yourself to something once you fill it up. For instance, in a paper journal, try putting a tab after 14-21 pages. This gives you a literal point to progress towards!

It's important to choose a reward that actually motivates you. It can be as simple as picking up an extra treat at the grocery store or binging a favorite TV show for an afternoon. You could also coordinate with a friend for a celebratory coffee date when you reach your goal.

Reap the Benefits of Daily Journaling

Starting a new habit takes discipline, whether it's getting in shape or writing in a journal every day. But if you reflect on all the benefits daily journaling can offer, it's worth the effort.