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Keeping a journal can be a wonderful way to improve your life for a number of reasons. It helps you grab hold of your thoughts and helps keep you focused and present. If you're thinking about implementing journaling into your daily routine, here are five great ways you can do it.
Morning Pages
All kinds of people -- from business types to students, writers, and artists -- find benefit in doing morning pages. It's an activity where you sit down with your journal and write three pages of streamlined thought without stopping yourself. It helps you to kick the thoughts out of your head and get them down on paper, whether they are great ideas or just stuff blocking your way that you need to move through.
Gratitude Journal
Staying grateful is an important part of your happiness -- and it takes time each day to remind yourself of all that you have to be grateful for. Keep a gratitude journal by your bed and each night before you go to sleep write down five things you are grateful for. They can be as simple as a nice dinner that you cooked for yourself or as big as the next vacation you have coming up. It's just a practice in seeing the good around you.
Daily Snapshot
Your days can often pass by in a blur but a journal can help you keep a daily snapshot of what's going on in your life. At the end of the day or in the morning, write down the highlights of what happened that day or the day before. Did you get any big news? Go for a nice walk? Hear from an old friend? These little details are what add up to life.
Dream Journal
Your dreams offer important insights into your life and what is occupying your mind at any given time. Keep a notebook by your bed and jot down an outline of your dreams or any images or thoughts you had while you were sleeping. It can offer clues into what you are thinking about subconsciously that can help you make decisions and just improve your overall awareness.
Productivity Journal
If you have a goal you are working on, such as exercising, completing a project or saving for a trip, keeping a productivity journal can help you get there faster. What did you do today to work toward that goal? Have you gotten backtracked or distracted? Journals can help keep you accountable and provide a written record of your progress.
Treat yourself to a new journal that you love so you can start journaling your way to happiness and productivity today!
