One of the easiest things to do with your journaling habit, and any important habit, is to watch it fall away. Your life gets busy, and something has to give.

Here are a five steps you can take right now to keep it going.

Number 1: What Gets Scheduled Gets Done

When you have a meeting at work or a doctor's appointment, it's on the calendar, and you go. You can apply the same mindset to journaling. Create a "personal reflection" calendar block and treat it like an appointment. You can also make a recurring task on your to-do list.

I journal every night. It's like a ritual. Once the kids are settled and asleep and the evening chores are done, I go upstairs, brush my teeth, get into bed, and use my iPad mini to journal and read.

Number 2: It Doesn't Take as Much Time as You Think

You can write a meaningful journal entry in five minutes. You don't need to write a novel, just a few sentences. Just enough to fulfill this purpose: get the idea out and find some reflection.

Number 3: There Is No Perfect Journal

I've written about what I call the perfect journaling fallacy. It's easy to get in your own head, especially if you're using an analog notebook or diary. You may worry that it's too perfect, too expensive, too special.

Someone made that journal for you to write your thoughts in. You are worthy of its pages, and your thoughts belong within its binding. Don't let the Resistance keep you from doing what serves you.

Number 4: You Don't Need a Candle

I know the thought of sitting at your desk, the fire roaring in the background and candles lit all around you, is appealing. It's the stuff of magic, actually.

The truth is — and you know this as well as anyone — you rarely get to do what you want in such perfect circumstances. You can journal anywhere, as long as you have your tools, a little time, and the ability to focus. It's better to do it during your lunch break than to not do it at all.

Number 5: Your Journal Is for You, Don't Worry About Them

This habit is meant to make you better, so try to remember that when you're writing. It isn't meant to be performative. Your journal is a roadmap meant to help you make sense of the past, understand your present, and chart a course toward where you want to end up.

There isn't a perfect journal habit out there, but there is one that's best for you — and that's the one you'll actually use with any regularity.

If you like what I'm doing here, can you let me know by filling out this short survey? I'm asking you two things: what challenges I've helped you with, and in your own words, as if talking to a friend — why you like reading the newsletter.

Based on your feedback, this survey is different, shorter, and simpler than the one I sent you in the last newsletter. This should take you just a few minutes, and I'm grateful for those in my community who've already answered.

As you reflect on ways to keep going, use this prompt to take a few minutes to think about what journaling means to you.

If you've been journaling, keep at it. If your habit has fallen off, there's never a better time to get back into it than right now.

As always, I'm rooting for you.

If you know someone who might enjoy learning how to write their own story down, forward this email to them today. There's never any spam, and it's easy to unsubscribe. Join today.

Until next time, I'll see you on Threads and at 24 Letters. Thanks as always for your time. -Joe

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