The 3 Types of Journaling That Helped Me Build Focus, Confidence, and Resilience

My first attempt at journaling was in 2017 after hearing various great thinkers and creators talk about how this simple routine helped them gain clarity.

I always loved reading, learning, and making sense of what I consumed, so I started by taking notes of lessons I learned, quotes I found inspiring, and things I wanted to try.

Over the next five years, I continuously experimented with new forms of journaling and note-taking.

I tried bullet journaling, Julia Cameron’s famous morning pages, dream journaling, and many more.

And even though I first disliked most of the popularized forms of journaling, I stuck to it.

Natalie Goldberg once described journaling as having a relationship with your mind, and that’s exactly how it felt like for me.

As a 19-year-old juggling her studies, an internship, a recently started business, and a new relationship, lots of thoughts, ideas, and fears have kept me awake and alert.

And sometimes, talking about them just confused me even more.

Writing them down, however, gave me clarity.

Journaling helped me improve my emotional and mental wellbeing by better understanding myself, my desires, and my fears. It also helped me become a better thinker and decision-maker because it forced me to approach most problems in a strategic, non-emotional way.

Here are the three different types of journaling I’ve been practicing and how each of them helps me:

My day-to-day journal

When we talk about journaling, most people think of a blank page. And that’s what makes it so frightening to start in the first place.

Even though I’m a professional writer, I sometimes don’t feel like journaling for long periods every single day.

Sometimes, I just don’t want to write a lot. Sometimes, I don’t even know what to write.

However, I still want to document my thoughts and emotions each day, and luckily, I found a great way to do that: A 5-year journal.

This is a tiny journal with just a few lines of space, so you can jot down the highlights of each day — for five consecutive years.

By doing so, you’ll be reminded of what you did or thought in the previous years, which helps you reflect on who you were in the past and who you’re becoming.

This type of journal is also referred to as “one line a day.”

Even though it doesn’t help you explore your thoughts and emotions in-depth, it’s a great daily companion that enables you to reflect on your journey.

If you don’t want to purchase a 5-year journal, you can, of course, also just grab a typical notebook and summarize each day in one line — that’d lead to the same outcome.

For gratitude, productivity, and clarity

I like being well-organized and effective, and I dislike most digital tools for personal growth.

After spending years looking for a journal that gives me both the structure and the space I need, I eventually created my own Personal Growth Journal in 2020.

That’s the journal that helps me achieve my goals, focus on the essentials, and stay inspired.

I use my Personal Growth Journal twice per day:

• In the morning, I set goals for the day, reflect on my to-do list, and write down what I’m grateful for.
• In the evening, I write down what I learned, what I could’ve done better, and which great things happened.

Additionally, each day comes with enough space to take notes and two inspirational quotes from my favorite books.

At the end of a week, I reflect on the last seven days and create a plan for the week ahead.

By repeating this same simple process day after day, and week after week, I find it easy to stick to my promises, track my progress, and achieve my goals.

My journal is designed to last for exactly 91 days. At the beginning of each journal, I set goals for the next 91 days and think of habits that might help me achieve those goals. An integrated habit tracker helps me track my progress and review my journey.

Even though this might sound like a lot, I usually don’t spend more than five minutes per day writing in this journal.

Yet, the value I get from it is immense because it helps me structure and validate my entire life.

Last but not least

The most popular and common way of journaling is so-called “free flow writing”: You open a blank page and just write.

As mentioned above, I just don’t feel like doing this every single day.

Sometimes, I want to keep it short and sweet, which I achieve through my Personal Growth Journal.

On other days, however, I feel like I have much more going on in my mind, and I do need more time and space to express myself.

That’s when I grab a typical notebook with empty pages and just write.

A famous journaling concept popularized by Julia Cameron is morning pages.

The purpose of morning pages is to put your anxiety, distractions, and negative thoughts onto a piece of paper, so you can let go of them and continue with your day.

Sometimes, writing your morning pages might lead to interesting thoughts and ideas, but the primary purpose is to help you let go of fears and discomfort by getting your thoughts out of your head and onto a piece of paper first thing in the morning.

Tim Ferriss once called his practice of morning pages a brain vomit. According to him, the purpose of this type of journaling is not necessarily structured thinking and gaining insights.

Instead, he says it helps him reduce stress and gain clarity — and that’s exactly why I use this type of free-flow journaling as well.

However, I don’t necessarily practice this in the morning. Instead, I do it whenever I feel like I need it.

Final thoughts

The most beautiful part of journaling is that there’s no right or wrong. You can just sit down, open a notebook, and start scribbling.

The only goal of a journaling routine is to help you be reflective, so you can stop every once in a while and look inwards.

It took me several years to develop a journaling routine (and a journal) that suited my needs, but the trial and error were worth it.

My five-year journal helps me put my life into perspective by showing me how quickly time passes and how I personally change within a year.

My Personal Growth Journal helps me stay grounded, inspired, and productive throughout the day.

And my free-flow journaling sessions help me learn more about myself, my fears, and my desires.

The only downside of my 3-journal method is that I need to carry all three journals with me whenever I travel, but compared to the benefits I gain, that’s worth it.

If you’re brand new to the world of journaling, I recommend that you start with one simple routine and see how it goes for you.

You can try my Personal Growth Journal, order a 5-year memory journal, or just grab a notebook you already have at home and start scribbling.

If you don’t know what to write, type “journaling prompts” into your search bar and use them to start your first inspired journaling session.

Happy journaling! :-)

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