3 Bite-Sized Journaling Habits I Can’t Live Without

Life gets infinitely better when you find the thing that keeps you happy, empowered, and emotionally well all at once. It can be anything really, but for me it’s journaling. I’ve been doing it since my senior year of high school, and I’ve filled over 10 journals since.

When people ask how I have the discipline to follow through on journaling, my answer is always “Because I have to.” 

If I don’t process through my experiences on paper, nothing else seems to go smoothly. I get all emotionally backed up, my mind won’t be clear, and I won’t feel centered. If you’re just getting started, journaling can seem overwhelming. Like many things in life, you just have to find what works for YOU and start small. 

Here are some ideas for bite-sized journaling practices that can turn into long-term habits!

1) A “Pixel-A-Day” Mood Tracker

This is hands-down one of my favorites, and it’s customizable to you! For me, I use five different colors for my mood of the day starting with red as an amazing day and blue as a really rough day.

It might be hard at first to assign one color to a whole day of moments, so do what works for you! Maybe you use multiple colors within a single day, or pick the color that you felt the most during the day. You’ll find a rhythm. After doing this for so many years, it’s really easy for me to say “Wow, today is a red day!” VS. “I’m gonna mark blue today and hope for a better tomorrow.” 

2) Pinterest Inspo

If you’re stuck in any way with journaling, turn to Pinterest. She will be your guiding force. You’re looking for prompts? Pinterest has your back. Quotes or affirmations? Got ’em. Pretty pictures for a collage? Check and check. Curate a board on your account specifically for journaling and let the inspo begin!

3) Daily Gratitude Calendar

This is another favorite of mine, because it helps me acknowledge the passing of time with intention. You can do this however you like: a list, a calendar, a page of doodles, etc. While every day doesn’t always seem “good”, there is always something good in every day! Some moments are bigger than others, but all of them are special to look back on. Soon you’ll have a collection of little joys that you might not have recalled otherwise!