How to Start (and Sustain!) a Journaling Habit

Where Do I Even Begin with Journaling?!

Getting into the practice of putting pen to paper came with a lot of pressure. I’d sit with my fresh new notebook, looking at the bright white page thinking “Where do I even begin?”

It felt like I needed to write something meaningful, fill an entire page, and make sure I do it right.

What I needed to do was take the pressure OFF.

So when I was creating the Female Founders Journal, in order to make journaling beginner-friendly, I laid it out in a way that was simple and accessible.

Here are some tips for newbies to start journaling for self-belief.

Three Tips for How to Start Journaling 

1. Start small.

There are SO many benefits of journaling for entrepreneurs. And doing journaling ‘right’ doesn’t mean filling out an entire page with deep, insightful thoughts, written out in perfect penmanship. 

It can be as simple as writing out a sentence on how you’re feeling, or even setting a two-minute timer and allowing yourself to write in a free-flow style. A lot of creatives swear by Julia Cameron’s morning pages, where you write three pages stream-of-consciousness style first thing when they wake up, but personally, I’m not there yet. Maybe one day, but for now, progress over perfection.

Giving yourself the space to express yourself bit by bit on a consistent basis is the perfect first step.

2. Allow yourself to be messy.

Omigoodness the number of times people who’ve purchased the Female Founders Journal tell me that it looks so pretty that they can’t bring themselves to crack the book’s spine and write their name in the first few pages!!!

If you feel like you don’t want to deface your brand new, pristine notebook, you are NOT alone! But with love, you will need to get past it 😊

It’s hard enough feeling the pressure to look perfect to the outside world, let’s give ourselves the grace not to look perfect on paper. At some point you’ll miss a day, misspell something and need to scratch it out - it’s okay.

3. Let prompts guide the way.

Recently, I completed my journal therapy coach certification and it was so interesting to learn the different styles of journaling! I learned journaling styles like:

• Stream of consciousness

• Letters to oneself / others

• Life inventories and lists

These are some techniques I’ve incorporated into my online journaling workshops and maybe will play around with in a future physical journal that we create here, but in the meantime, we made beginner journaling prompts for an easier experience.

Personally I love a mix of consistent prompts to stay grounded and focused with new prompts daily that get you to think just a bit differently.

The way the Female Founders Journal is structured, there are weekend and weekday pages. The weekday pages all begin with: “My vision is…” to stay locked in and focused, and the pages end with “Today I’m proud of myself for…” to stay connected to daily wins. 

The other morning and evening prompts are different each day, so that you can stay engaged and challenge your thoughts in fresh ways.

Then on the weekends, there are prompts, plus blank pages, allowing you to get creative, dig deeper and go further into your journaling practice without running out of space to let it all out.

Start Your Journaling Practice Here

Ready to get started with journaling? Treat yourself to the deluxe experience with our Female Founders Journal Deluxe Bundle where you get our Signature Pearl Pen, Pearl Sticker Sheet, and free shipping!

It comes with a 90-Day Confidence Guarantee so you can begin journaling risk-free!