Beginner's Guide to Journaling

Journaling is a powerful tool for managing stress and enhancing well-being.

Unlike keeping a diary where you might simply record daily activities, journaling involves writing down your daily thoughts, intentions, and gratitudes. This practice can have a positive effect on your well-being, helping you focus and creating space to relax and unwind.

Journaling promotes self-reflection, enhances self-awareness, and encourages creativity.

How to Get Started

Embarking on your journaling journey is simple. Follow these steps:

Choose Your Journal: Find a journal or notebook that resonates with you. It could be a simple notebook, a guided journal, or even a digital journaling app if you prefer typing over handwriting. We recommend The Positive Planner, read more about them further down.

Set Aside Time: Schedule regular intervals each day or week for journaling. Whether it's in the morning to set intentions for the day or in the evening to reflect on your experiences, consistency is key.

Create a Comfortable Space: Find a quiet and cosy spot where you can write without distractions. It could be a snug corner in your home, a peaceful park bench, or your favourite café.

Start Small: If you're new to journaling, don't feel pressured to write lengthy entries. Begin with just a few sentences or bullet points each day and gradually increase as you become more comfortable.

Write Freely: Remember, there are no rules when it comes to journaling. Write whatever comes to mind without worrying about grammar, spelling, or structure. This is your personal space to express yourself freely.

Meet The Positive Planner

We all love The Positive Planner journals here at Green Tulip.

Founders Ali & Finn are two busy mums who have faced mental health challenges themselves and understand the impact it can have on life. Their mission was to create a tool that infuses joy into every day, promoting daily positivity, self-care, and gratitude for a truly positive mindset and with that The Positive Planner was born.

We stock 5 journals from the Positive Planner range, each offering something unique. We especially love The Positive Doodle Diary – a lovely journal aimed at young children to encourage creativity, self-expression, and mindfulness.

10 Journal Writing Prompts

Stuck on what to write about? Here are 10 writing prompts to help you get started.

• 1) Gratitude Journaling: Write about three things you're grateful for today and why they bring you joy.
• 2) Reflect on a Recent Challenge: Describe a recent obstacle you've faced and how you overcame it. What did you learn from this experience?
• 3) Future Self-Letter: Write a letter to your future self, whether it's a year from now or even five years down the line. Share your hopes, dreams, and goals for the future.
• 4) Morning Routine: Detail your morning routine from the moment you wake up to the time you start your day. How do you feel during each step of your routine?
• 5) Mindfulness Exercise: Take a few minutes to sit in silence and observe your surroundings. Write about what you see, hear, smell, and feel in this present moment.
• 6) Bucket List: Create a list of ten things you want to accomplish in your lifetime. It could be anything from traveling to a new country to learning a new skill.
• 7) Self-Compassion: Write a compassionate letter to yourself, acknowledging your strengths and reassuring yourself during difficult times.
• 8) Favourite Memories: Reflect on a favourite memory from your past. What made this moment special, and how does it still resonate with you today?
• 9) Daily Affirmations: Write down three affirmations or positive statements to boost your self-confidence and motivation.
• 10) Weekly Reflection: At the end of each week, take time to reflect on your experiences, emotions, and achievements. What went well, and what could you improve in the week ahead?