How to Help People Start Journaling

HOW TO HELP PEOPLE START JOURNALING

Reeta Banerjeereeta@alumni.stanford.edu

PEOPLE WILL JOURNAL IF YOU…1. Show it’s helpful.2. Make it easy. 3. Remove obstacles.

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SHOW HOW JOURNALING IS HELPFUL

WHY IS JOURNALING HELPFUL?

Gain clarity on

your skills, interests, and goals

make better decisions for yourself

later

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HOW CAN YOU CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT JOURNALING IS HELPFUL? Show them research or examples. Introduce them to someone they

respect who journals and likes it. Have them try it out and see what they

learn.

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AFTER YOU SHOW THE IMPORTANCE,

MAKE IT EASY TO JOURNAL

HELP THEM PICK A GO-TO METHOD AND MODE OF JOURNALING

Integrate journaling into a system already being used.

Evernote, Dropbox, Hardbound journal

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MAKE SURE ALL THE JOURNALING SUPPLIES ARE WITHIN REACH Keep the supplies in one

place. Use them when it’s time to

journal.

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START PEOPLE OUT WRITING ONLY ONE THING A DAY

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Write down just one thing learned every day.

The harder people think it is, the easier you have to make it.

HELP PEOPLE CREATE A JOURNALING CALENDAR Every day, focus on a different area to

write about: Monday—a strengthTuesday—an interestWednesday—an experienceThursday—a skill Friday—an epiphany

Put reminders on the calendar

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NEXT, REMOVE OBSTACLES TO JOURNALING

OBJECTIONS TO JOURNALING“Too egocentric”

“Too cheesy”

“Everything I know about myself is in my head, so why write it down?”

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OVERCOMING OBJECTIONS TO JOURNALINGYou need to know yourself to help others

You can make journaling practical by giving yourself concrete objectives

Write to remember.

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MORE OBSTACLES TO JOURNALING

Busy schedule No uninterrupted time

or space to reflectConstantly around people Constantly engaged in

tasks with immediate due dates

Overly taxed by current commitments

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YOU ONLY NEED A MOMENT IN TIME TO JOURNAL Block off just 15 minutes in your

calendar, so you have it penciled in. If 15 is too long, make it 5.

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RUN AWAY TO A QUIET AREA

Where you can’t be interrupted

Where you won’t be distracted

Where you can think

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THAT’S THE RECIPE FOR JOURNALING

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IPE1. Show it’s helpful.

2. Make it easy.

3. Remove obstacles.

THROUGH THIS PROCESS, I’VE REALIZED A FEW THINGS

IT’S HARDER TO START

Once people start writing out a thought about themselves, they get engaged in the process. IN

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THE MOST TAXED PEOPLE NEED JOURNALING THE MOST. Surprisingly, the people who have the

least time for journaling are the ones who need it the most.

Why? They’re moving so fast but haven’t considered whether they’re going in the right direction.

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THE HIGHER THE INVESTMENT, THE HIGHER THE COMMITMENT The more that people put into

journaling, the more that they feel committed to the activity and the more likely they are to make it a habit.

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COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS? I want to hear them! reeta@alumni.stanford.edu

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