Ask yourself questions like "how was my day?" and "how am I feeling now?"
Diary Entry Prompts Having trouble starting on a journal entry because you have no idea what to write? Perhaps you could give one of the prompts or diary template a try to start off your first entry! Write about something or someone that caught your attention Write about something interesting that happened today. Write about what you did today which make you a step closer to your goal. Ask yourself “What if… “ happens, would it help you to make the situation better? List the things that you need to do but have yet to do so. Then, rank them with its level of importance and/or urgency.
- Add details such name place of the event, date, time, and other important information. it will help you to remember the event better.
Write about the person you've been thinking about lately. Write about what this person said to you, and about what someone else told you about him/her. Write about what you think about this person. Write about what is making you happy. Write about what is making you sad. Write a story. The diary doesn't even have to be about you! Make up a character and write the first page of his or her diary.
Explain your relationships with people. In the first entry, when you mention people, write what relationship you have with them. Are they your best friend, worst enemy, or crush? This way, when you read back over your diary in years to come, you'll know what all of these people meant to you at this point in your life.[3]
Write down your likes and dislikes. Include your favorite and least favorite food; your favorite and least favorite drink; your favorite and least favorite musician; and your favorite and least favorite candy. Write about your favorite animal! This is just for fun. When you look back, you'll be able to see how your likes and dislikes have changed!
Keep writing. Just write down whatever comes to mind, no matter how silly it sounds. Filling your diary isn't about making everything sound perfect. It's about getting out all of the words that are inside of you![4] If you can't think of anything to write, then write about how weird it is to be writing about yourself. Write about why you can't think of anything. Write about why you want to keep a diary.[5] You can also try the stream-of-consciousness technique. Just let out everything that is on your mind at the moment. Another option is to use journaling prompts. Try setting a time limit for yourself. Set an alarm for ten minutes, and then start writing. This might get you going!
BE OPEN AND HONEST The idea of a diary is that no one can judge you for it—provided you keep it well-hidden, that is!
Log your deepest emotions, secrets and desires. Open up and let loose as this form of catharsis can be really beneficial for your mental well-being.
Starting a diary can have many benefits.
If you have stomach complaints, a food diary helps you understand which foods are causing you discomfort. Dream diaries are a tool often used by psychotherapists to assess mental well-being, and, in order to improve/track your general fitness, you can start a health diary.
Think ‘diary’ and you probably imagine angsty, acne-ridden teens scrawling down their every emotion and whim.
In fact, diaries range from one-year personal journals that reflect on each day in your life, to planners which track your day-to-day appointments and meetings. You can also keep an academic diary to log classroom experiences and assignments.
However, making a habit of keeping diary or journal is easier said than done.
For this reason, here at The Journal Shop, we’ve put together this article to help get you started.
WAYS TO START A DIARY Journaling is a great way to record your personal growth and development. The more entry writing you do, the more you’ll look back and see what has changed over time. Also, the earlier you start, the more thankful you’ll be later on.
Getting diary supplies that you like and will use, setting a writing schedule and deciding what you want to write can all help you get started on your new diary.
Scroll down for more ways to motivate yourself …
How to build a habit of writing a diary
Your diary is where you empty your thoughts onto a piece of paper. Your diary is a little part of you.
To build a habit of writing a diary, you need to do a few things:
Jot down your current feelings or mood. Don't worry about providing any context for your emotions, just focus on accurately describing what they are. You can then use those feelings and thoughts as prompts for creating detailed diary entries. Work on one thought or emotion at a time and explore it as fully as you can. For example, if you're feeling sad, you can write a diary entry about why you feel that way and any events that may have contributed. You can add a line from the lyrics of a song you are often listening to in your entry to preserve the current mood.
7 Use lots of details to preserve moments in time. Diaries help you preserve thoughts and feelings as they're happening. You're also able to record events immediately after they happen when details are still fresh in your mind. Since memories can become unreliable, especially as time passes, recording precise details vividly can help you preserve moments in time exactly as they occurred.[10] Detailed writing isn't for everyone, so don't feel like you have to write long, wordy sentences. If you find it easier to express your emotions in short bursts or even bullet points, feel free to do that.