10 Classes From 5 Years of Doing a One-Line-A-Day Journal

I’ve all the time discovered journaling to be each soothing and satisfying. Previously, it is helped me to course of feelings, discover a sense of gratitude, and create a document of recollections on which to look again later. However regardless of these advantages of journaling, I solely ever actually managed to maintain up the observe sporadically—till I heard concerning the One-Line-a-Day Journal, in 2017, and shifted my method to journaling within the years to comply with. The teachings I would be taught in consequence opened my eyes not solely to how I can finest method journaling as a daily ritual, however how I can higher set objectives, replicate, and plan for the longer term.

The One-Line-a-Day Journal initially caught my eye in January 2017 as a result of I believed writing only one sentence a day can be a better behavior to maintain up and a great way to recollect issues from on a regular basis life that I’d in any other case neglect. However I solely made it till April of that yr earlier than I began to lose monitor of my observe and in the end drop it altogether, as I’d finished previously.

It wasn’t till I restarted the journal in January 2018 that I noticed what saved me from sticking with it: I had been placing an excessive amount of strain on myself to put in writing one thing profound every day. As soon as I dedicated to letting go of this strain, I discovered it was a lot simpler to make my line-a-day journaling a constant day by day behavior—one which I saved for the next 5 years. Some days, my entry was a easy day by day abstract, and different days, it recounted a humorous dialog. On days once I felt dreamy and impressed, I sprinkled in quotes and music lyrics, too.

Reflecting on journal entries has helped me to realize perception into how I’ve framed my ideas and experiences at completely different moments in time.

After finishing the primary yr, I additionally began rereading my previous entries every month. Reflecting on this method has helped me to realize perception into how I’ve framed my ideas and experiences at completely different moments in time, and the way I’ve modified the way in which I take into consideration issues.

Associated Tales

Now, in hindsight, 5 years and a whopping 1,825 sentences later, I can see how the journal has grow to be a priceless useful resource for my private progress, by means of each the expertise of writing and reflecting. Under are 10 classes I’ve discovered since beginning my one-line-a-day journaling observe.

1. Put “dangerous days” into perspective

After I first started my journal, I might concentrate on my “dangerous days”—the times on which my entry included one thing upsetting or irritating, or the times that I simply felt completely uninspired. However once I began to overview entries within the following months, I noticed that I didn’t even often bear in mind the “dangerous days” that had taken up area in my journal. As of late didn’t have an effect on my life in the long term, which was a poignant lesson that, generally, a nasty day is simply a chance to remind your self that sure issues are out of your management, and these occasions do not outline you or your life.

2. Prioritize the stuff you’re enthusiastic about

As a result of lots of my entries occurred throughout the pandemic lockdown interval or the months following (when it was nonetheless troublesome to exit and stay life), I discovered a standard theme upon reflection: I, like so many others, actually missed the actions in life that I’d lengthy taken without any consideration, like going to artwork displays, live shows, and reveals; taking journeys; and hanging out with mates.

Pre-COVID, I spent a whole lot of time reveling in “busyness” and utilizing it as a cushty excuse to place off doing issues that have been only for enjoyable. I’ve since realized that, when you may, it’s essential to carve out area and time for these actions, if for no different motive than that they’ll convey you pleasure. In latest months, I’ve discovered myself making extra quick plans for the issues that excite me, like shopping for tickets to see Six on Broadway, for instance.

3. Be sincere with your self about your capability for output

My first try at day by day one-line journaling did not final as a result of I put an excessive amount of strain on myself to put in writing one thing considerate, witty, or profound every single day, ultimately main me to grow to be exhausted by the observe, unable to stick with it.

Upon restarting, I resolved to have cheap expectations for my very own output: As an alternative of pushing myself to be eloquent consistently, I took a extra sincere, low-maintenance method. Some days, I simply did not really feel that profound, and I wanted to honor that. Trying again now, there are some entries which might be so simple as, “In the present day, I ate pizza,” or “In the present day, I used to be drained.” This honesty is what enabled me to remain constant for 5 years.

4. Embrace creativity at any time when it strikes

After I first started my journal, every entry began with “In the present day, I…” The redundant sentence starter quickly impressed me to search for extra artistic methods to start, which turned me right into a extra considerate observer of my environment. I began preserving quick, significant conversations I had with mates, members of the family, and the scholars in my class, and together with tidbits in my journal. On different days, I might write a brief quote that had caught with me and that resonated with how I felt that day. And infrequently, I even experimented with creating easy rhymes.

Discovering these other ways to interact myself within the writing course of didn’t simply make recording my recollections extra thrilling; it jogged my memory of the sweetness in approaching any day extra creatively or with a special outlook.

5. Reminisce with family members to strengthen these relationships

A number of months into my journaling journey, my now nine-year-old niece started insisting that I begin studying a few of my entries to her on a month-to-month foundation (particularly those that talked about her). Sharing entries with my family and friends allowed me to listen to their views of the recollections I’d preserved, which frequently included household and group occasions. Reminiscing collectively proved a chance for laughter and camaraderie, which confirmed me the connective worth in getting nostalgic with family members.

6. Take small steps towards an enormous objective

Although it won’t appear to be a lot, writing only one sentence in my journal every day had a big influence on me over time: It reawakened my love for writing. The enjoyment of fascinated with what to put in writing and the right way to specific my ideas was one thing I started to sit up for every day.

The enjoyment of fascinated with what to put in writing and the right way to specific my ideas was one thing I started to sit up for every day.

Over time, I noticed how a lot I wished to pursue writing in my free time. I started to carve out blocks of my day to put in writing creatively, analysis, and pitch concepts to editors. These steps, in flip, led to the publication of a number of of my articles final yr. And looking out again, I now know that this all began with the straightforward behavior of writing one thing—once more, even only a single line—every day, which is a significant lesson in taking small, actionable steps to realize a objective.

7. Search for repetitive habits as a sign to modify issues up

All through the journaling course of, I often discovered myself caught in a writing rut. Throughout these durations, usually happening in winter months, my entries would learn, “In the present day, I went to work,” or “In the present day, I learn a brand new e book” time and again.

Each time I seen these writing redundancies, I might see they have been emblematic of redundancies in my life, typically. And I started to take them as an indication to modify issues up and check out one thing new, whether or not by taking a barre class with my sister or going to a brand new restaurant with a buddy. These adjustments gave me each new issues to put in writing about in my journal and a brand new sense of function.

8. Use reflection to establish recurring patterns

As I continued to journal and replicate, I started to note useful patterns in what I used to be writing that nodded to cycles in my life and the way I used to be feeling. For instance, in most Februarys, I reported extra tiredness, which turned a clue to prioritize self care and consuming nourishing meals in that month. I additionally seen that my temper appeared happier throughout the instances I discussed doing yoga, Pilates, or dance.

All of those are patterns I won’t have noticed with out the self-reflection prompted by my journal, and by tuning in to them, I grow to be more and more able to utilizing the previous to plan for the longer term.

9. Perceive that non-public change is important for progress

Everyone knows, intuitively, that change is inevitable, however generally, it may be robust to acknowledge how a lot we’ve modified over time as a result of we see ourselves every single day. By capturing a small snapshot in my journal of who I used to be every single day for 5 years, I now have a time capsule that’s allowed me to actually see and admire how a lot I’ve modified.

The data in my journal let me see how my experiences have formed me over the previous 5 years.

My handwriting has modified, my hobbies have modified, my model of writing has modified, the language I exploit to precise my feelings has matured, I prioritize various things, and there are new individuals in my life. The data in my journal let me see how my experiences have formed me over the previous 5 years, which displays a robust life lesson: For those who can’t see how far you’ve come, it’s more durable to ascertain how far you may actually go.

10. Know that endings can usually result in new beginnings

Alongside the adjustments of life come endings, too: For the reason that starting of my journal entries in 2018, individuals have exited my life, family members featured in earlier entries have handed, and relationships have ended, as have hobbies, just like the embroidery hoop I started throughout lockdown however by no means completed. Moderately than mourn these endings, I’ve come to look again on entries with fondness for the altering experiences of my life and the methods they will stay on in my recollections.

Wrapping up my five-year, one-line-a-day journal has a equally bittersweet style to it. Whereas it actually displays the tip of an period, it additionally poses the chance for me to start a brand new one—and, sure, a brand new journal, too. It’s at present stuffed with clean pages, and I’m desirous to see what fills them within the years to return.