Journaling Tip: Write Less

Since I find longform writing tedious, I actually don't force myself to do that in my journal.

For a long time, I resisted the practice of journaling. The reason for my reluctance was simple: I believed that I had to journal in a very particular way. And if I didn't do it that way, it wasn't considered journaling.

I met a person who showed me their journal one day. It was incredible. It spanned pages and pages of entries that were all hand-written in paragraph form (like very long essays written down in a notebook). It was a beautiful journal. But I felt a bit overwhelmed at the thought of having to journal in that way too. So, whenever I thought about starting journaling, I would resist the idea because I thought it had to be done in the way she did—using longform writing. It actually made me dread the idea of journaling because longform writing by hand felt so tedious to me. What I didn't realize was that the style of journaling she was using was the one that suited her best. She enjoyed that form of journaling. It's OK if I didn’t feel the same way about it. I don't have to journal in that way and I could instead come up with my own style that would work best for me.

Here's what I've discovered works well for me (and it might work well for some of you too): I write less, not more. Since I find longform writing tedious, I actually don't force myself to do that in my journal. I write as little as I possibly can. For me, journaling is a tool to help me recall lessons I've learned and process information in my mind. Journaling is a tool that helps me live better because I'm spending quality time in reflection. So, I choose to journal in a way that will help me achieve exactly that. For me, writing as little as I can (but as meaningfully as I can) is a journaling strategy that will help me do just that.

If you look at the pages of my journal, you might be surprised by the content (or lack thereof). Mostly, I jot down words or phrases that I want to remember and ponder upon. It's not unusual to see drawings of arrows, boxes, and circles as I try to process information through my journal. I'm also repetitive. Something that's written down on a page might also be found on a different page as well. It just means that it's been on my mind more often.

This simple style of journaling also keeps me motivated to continue the practice knowing that I'm not doing something that I consider tedious. Therefore, I'm not coming to my journaling experience dreading the thought of doing it. Instead, I’m always looking forward to it because I know that it's both fun and useful for me.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who dreads the thought of having to journal using longform writing. And maybe that's stopped you from starting a journal in the first place. I want you to know that you can craft your own style of journaling that will suit you best. You don't have to do it the way others do. Remember, journaling is a tool to help you live better. Discover a journaling method that will help you do exactly that.

Barnabas the Monastic

Servant of Christ. Husband. Dad. Modern Monastic. I have a wild ambition in life: get as close to the Lord Jesus Christ as I can while on earth. I explore and integrate ancient Christian monk wisdom in modern everyday life. Lives in Canada.