Journaling 101

Since tomorrow is Quitter’s Day, the second Friday in January and the day by which upwards of 80% of people will have given up on their New Year’s resolutions, I thought I’d share a simple little guide for those of you who, like me, might be trying to do more journaling in 2025.

How to Start and Keep a Journal

Tips from writers, artists and a social worker that might make the practice less daunting.

The New York TimesBy

One of the best reminders for me was the second: Don’t be too precious about how your journal looks.

I’ve written about the silly-but-all-too-real anxiety I feel about the potential of “messing up” a notebook. This becomes especially acute if I’ve spent anytime on social media or Youtube and seen other journals, that even in their creator’s view might be “sloppy,” look like works of art to me.

I found the act of collaging (also one of the tips from the article) helpful in allowing me to be creative with a touch of randomness thrown in and overcome the inertia inspired by the blank first page.