You might be familiar with keeping a journal or diary from when you were a teenager. Many of us wrote down our innermost thoughts when we were growing up, as a way to get through whatever we had to deal with, and also to keep hold of the memories of childhood.

Journaling as an adult is now seen as an important self-help tool which can encourage you to focus on a goal, stay thankful, or just clear your mind.

If you are out of the practice of journaling, don’t worry, these tips will show you how to get started.

Buy a beautiful journal

Try to find a journal that you’ll want to write in on a regular basis. Luckily there are several on the market to choose from that are smart, sturdy, colourful, leather-bound and/ or have room to write lots or just one sentence.

Make time to write

It’s important to schedule a time to write so that you’re more like to keep up with your journaling.

Put aside around 20 minutes in the morning or half an hour before you go to bed at night – whichever part of the day is best for you to gather your thoughts and get some quiet time on your own.

If you find it a chore to write, you could start journaling twice a week, and then build up from there.

Use sub headings

Thinking about what you want to get out of your journal should help with the writing process.

Alternatively, if you find it hard to get your thoughts and feelings down on to paper, you could create sub headings which will serve as a guide. These could include jotting down:

• Three things you are thankful for.
• One thing you want to happen that day.
• One good deed you intend to do.
• A lesson you’ve learned over the past 24 hours.
• A few words or a sentence on how you currently feel.

You could also include quotes or song lyrics that inspire you and then write down why they make you feel good.

Don’t set word limits

Try not to put pressure on yourself to fill a page or write a certain amount of words. Just let your thoughts and feelings flow and write as much or as little as you want to on any given day.

Remember, this is your journal, so there’s no right or wrong way to go about it.

Just try to stick to a regular schedule and enjoy the benefits that can come from taking the time to get to know yourself a bit better.

Sources: BodyLoveTribe,The Huffington Post and Journal Her.