Feeling lost? Put down your phone and pick up a pen.

I’ve been observing lately how a few small habits are starting to have a big impact on my life. Daily meditation, sending text messages of appreciation, eating fewer croissants…

But if I had to pick the most powerful one, it would be the habit I started last year of writing everything down.

When I fall into a bit of a slump, I’ve found that nothing helps me find clarity like putting pen to paper. Not finger to keyboard — specifically pen to paper. So I thought I’d share my personal journaling system in case it inspires you to start a purposeful writing practice for yourself.

I currently write in 3 notebooks on rotation. Each serves a role in marking my past, present and future and they are the glue that holds everything else in my life together.

Here’s how…

PAST

Rhodia Webnotebook A5 lined

My first foray into journaling as an adult began in January 2018. For a long time, I had thought “journaling” was a frightfully narcissistic activity, and far too close for comfort to the cringe-worthy diary entries of my youth. The idea of writing down my feelings filled me with dread. And god forbid someone found it and read it!