Thanks again to Pursuit of Wonder for sponsoring this video. You can find links to physical and digital editions of the journal here: pursuitofwonder.ck.page/jaredhenderson

I've found gratitude journaling at the end of the day, but at the beginning of my nightly journal entry as a way to almost help usher out the bad stuff of the day. It sets my mood for journaling in a much more positive light. The gratitude section, which takes maybe 10 minutes because I write out the questions each entry, is just such a pleasant way to start the act of journaling. I also like it because it gives you a jumping off point to write more. Sometimes the last question prompts me to talk more about my day, and I love leaving fun stories for the kids to find. I see my journals as letters to my kids that they get to read after I'm dead, so I love taking the time explaining how I wrap christmas presents so pretty like, or taking the time to explain things that they arent quite old enough to be told just yet.

For me, it’s extremely depressing to read about failures, fears and fragility. I look back in my journals for inspiration. There’s always something that can lift me and inspire my future self. Focusing outside myself makes me strong; introspection just compounds my insecurities and encourages intrusive thoughts. It’s healthy to be positive. Be careful what feedback loops you create.

One of the struggles of this generation is the lack of time to take self-reflection. This struggle causes people not to know their life's narrative. Journaling is a simple, yet challenging task to redeem oneself from being unreflective. It boosts not only one's productivity but also one's story and identity.

I suffer from depression (among a ton of mental health issues), so the GRADTUIDE journaling helps me look back to remind myself that I DO HAVE BLESSINGS in my life. I've been journaling (since I can remember), for the past 2-3 years (I fill up 2 notebooks per year) I started to DAILY journalling I LOVE IT! My journal is everything but coffee stained😝😝😝😝. Plus with gratitude you can also see ALL the THINGS I'VE ACCOMPLISHMENTS during that day 😁😁😁😁

Gratitude journaling works for me, I think, because of my personality. I have always been quite a negative person in life and a downer. It was so ingrained into my daily mindset all through my teen years and now through to my mid 20s. So, to me, having a journal where it's nothing but being positive and thankful has helped to keep my thoughts from always drifting towards the negative

My personal journaling looks a little like this: I use an 8.5 x 11 blank page journal I bought off Amazon. I use The Daily Stoic for a prompt. I start by thinking about all the things I need to get done today, and write them down. I then reorder them by what is going to be the hardest for me to accomplish. (Like a simplified Eisenhower Matrix). Then, throughout the day I can come back and physically check these off as these tasks get accomplished. I then take the remainder of the time i have to journal for that morning; read the prompt and write about it. Relating it back to my life, but also asking questions about the prompt. Sometimes there’s something going on that I just want to write about, and on those days I just ignore the prompt. Then it’s taking the dog for a walk, getting ready for work. Etc etc. At the end of the day, I look to see if there was anything I did not accomplish that I wanted to. If so I’ll collect all those and make a new list for me to evaluate the next day. But often I when I go to sleep and look at the list in the morning; I find that those few I didn’t get to aren’t worth the energy putting in, and I’ll discard them. I use to end it there, but I found that sometimes I’m pretty negative on myself for not accomplishing all the tasks that I had originally envisioned. So now, after collecting the new list. I’ll spend five or ten minutes hyping up my accomplishments for the day. Write about what I’m grateful for. Celebrate the wins. Been doing this since October 2022, and it has been the best decision. Except for those days where you spiral and are super negative on yourself. xD Love the videos as always Jared! Trying to be better about leaving comments!! :)

I am 20, I've been planning to journal for idk how long. But this time, 31st july just before midnight (i study till 6am and wake up at 12pm- temporary schedule) I started writing about what i am doing wrong and i feel and what i will be doing to improve it. Next day and days after that i just started to write whatever i thought that i needed to get out. I started writing about everything I've talking to myself about in my head all these years. 1st day it was kinda weird but just next day it got normal to me. I don't write everyday but i write whatever comes to my mind(mostly related to growth, my thoughts and quotes)

I was bullet journaling for a few years, and between late-2022/early 2023, I kept a daily gratitude log and I would always start with "Today I am grateful for..." per advice from another bujo content creator here on YT. Around April/May this year I dropped the gratitude journaling habit, and I noticed a big difference with my mental health. By not turning my attention to that which I'm fortunate to have/experience (even if it's as simple as a sunny day), I find that I get lost in my own thoughts -- the intrusive ones that I can wallow in if I'm not careful. Thank you as always for a wonderful explanation of all the benefits of journaling!

I started journaling as a way to live with more intention and not let life pass me by without me noticing it. I generally have three sections in my entry. First section is writing about my current mental state with the goal of being more aware of it and understand it better. Second section is a recap on how the previous day went and the third section is my intentions and objectives for the new day.

I’ve also been journaling consistently for roughly a decade (15 to 25) and one very useful and enjoyable practice I’ve been doing for the past 3 years is keeping an audio journal in conjunction with my tangible writing journal. I prefer to write, but when I don’t have time, lack energy, have a thought difficult to structure, or have the urge to rant and brain dump, using my phone’s audio recorder and recording myself speak has significantly improved my thinking and speaking. And though I still greatly prefer writing and rereading past entries, listening to my past audio entries allows me to experience another side of myself that can’t be captured In a ‘physical’ medium. I write in my journal 3 to 5 times a week, while i very infrequently opt for the audio journal, but still after 3 years, I’ve compiled a decent library of audio entries that complement my physical journaling and have deepened my overall self awareness.

I made a common place book. I had no idea it had a name until recently. It had quotes from books, Reddit or even fortune cookies. 😊

I"ve gotten a lot out of gratitude journaling, but I've always combined it with other forms.

Jared, i’m a engineering student in Mexico, and the books you’ve recommended and journaling itself have helped mea lot, not just in the career, but in my life. I encouraged my gf to start Journaling because her existencial crisis and whatnot So all o can say, is thank you for this content.

I like a weekly planner to keep up with tasks/events that need to be done. keeps me focused without feeling like i need to account for every minute of every day.

Key Points! 00:00 📔 Journaling is advised for mental clarity, preserving memories, and personal enjoyment. 00:28 📝 Traditional journaling is simple, open-ended, and flexible, great for getting started. 01:10 📜 The "Narrative Method" involves structured writing about daily events, success, failure, and life's narrative. 03:18 📖 Guided journals like Ryan Holiday's "Daily Stoic Journal" provide quotes and prompts for consistent journaling. 04:27 🧠 "All the Ways Things Could Go" by Pursuit of Wonder offers a multimedia approach to exploring life perspectives. 05:54 📆 Keeping a "Daily Log" simplifies tracking tasks, events, and reflections for self-awareness. 07:21 😊 "Mood Tracking" and "Gratitude Journaling" can be helpful for introspection and positivity. 08:59 💡 "Brain Dump" or "Morning Pages" provide uncensored writing, aiding creative expression and self-honesty. 11:04 📚 "Reading Journaling and Commonplace Book" involves responding to what you read, reflecting, collecting quotes, and preserving ideas.

I have kept a gratitude journal for years and it helps my mental health when I’m feeling down. It is a brilliant practice finding the positive in even the worse day. However, I completely understand your statement on it all being about gratitude which is why I also keep a journal analysing my day working through problems. I think it works because of the combination of both. Love your content.

How I journal: I do a morning page everyday where I remind my self of certain things and a short update of what happened yesterday And anything else i do when needed( when i have some thoughts or want to comprehend my feelings etc) this i don’t do everyday, only when needed

I missed interstitial journaling / micro journaling... Especially for those who have trouble getting started these easy + short journaling methods are pretty useful.

I mostly do free journaling, reflecting on something that transpired or something that I've been noodling over. Occasionally I will include a sketch, especially at the new year. I also generally carry around what I call an "idea book," which is essentially what is termed a "commonplace book" in this video. My biggest struggle, however, is to develop a regular habit. Life tends to interfere.

I have another method to get started: drawing a card. It could be a tarot card (from an artist you like) or an art card or whatever inspires you. Start by writing down what you see, whether it appeals to you or not, why, what you feel and associate with it, and then from there everything that comes to mind. I use an image because I'm visual inclined, but a poem card can work too. I do this for over 15 years now and it works great for me.

Hey Jared, Thank you for your videos! I tried to start journaling for years and your guide on "Traditional journaling" helped me a lot.

Finally, a clear useful brief for journaling..I've been waiting for such a vid.. Thanks indeed! 🙏🙏🙏

amazing video and very helpful. you're the best! Traditional Journalling for life!!! totally agree that getting started is the hardest part.

Great video! I especially appreciate your videos on journaling and writing. I would love a video explaining more about how you journal in response to what you are reading, both fiction and non fiction. Thanks!

Thanx for your compilation of journaling techniques. It inspires me! I'm a journaler, but an inconsistent one. I would like to be more consistent about it. My thoughts on a Gratitude Journal. I believe it is a VERY positive way to journal, yet it is a special way to keep positive thoughts in one place. I think it would benefit one to take 3-5 minutes and write 3 to 5 things that make one grateful for their day. It should be a separate journal and be only one part of a journaling program. It is a great thing to have when depression hits and one can't think of anything positive about living life. It's a great reminder that life really is worth living. Again, it should not be the only journaling practice.

When I first started I was like nah this isnt gonna work for me. It was overwhelming in the beginning it felt. I think the reason is because I was new to it. But I got back to journaling this year and its very therapeutic. I love how I can use my creativity. It's a simple easy habit to start. It really helps me connect with my mind. Nobody will ever read my journal I can say what ever I want I can do what ever I want with it. It feels easy now and I'm enjoying doing it. If you have a hard time set a goal I recommend using the smart technique. Write down why you started and what you want to achieve out of it. Journaling is not a chore its a place to improve your mental health and habits. Have fun with it. Write when you feel the most creative . Don't make your journal so negative .

Regarding gratitude journals--I've written in a gratitude journal every day for quite a few years, and have found it very helpful, especially during stressful times, or surprisingly, really mundane times of life. However, it is not my only journaling experience, like you suggested. It's a one sentence moment each evening before bed to sort of set my mind in a positive direction, but for true journaling, I agree--you've got to go a bit deeper.

I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole of journaling videos, and came across yours. Very straightforward and clear communication. Thank you! I would be very interested in hearing more specifically about your method for brain-dumping in Freeform on your iPad. And in general, what sorts of “rules” you put on what you use your digital devices for. Whenever I open up either my phone or iPad I’m immediately bombarded with all the junk my past me insists on keeping on these devices. Thanks!

I can talk about what is working for me. I started journaling 1 month ago and the strategy is not to overcomplicate. I try to write every morning and I try to make reflections about what happened the other day or about dreams. Sometimes I also write down some thoughts about what I'm reading or an idea of my own. It just works like a common place/freewritting book where I store almost everything. Idk if its going to get a bit chaotic after a while tho.

Fascinating topic! I’ve kept a journal on and off all my adult life, and consistently for the last 7 years. It’s become essential for my mental health. I keep a TN with 3 inserts: one is the Journal, the other a Commonplace one for any words that ‘speak’ to me, and finally a Reading Log for all that I read, thoughts as I’m reading and after, lists, TBR, future publications I don’t want to miss, etc. I’ve also always kept a notebook for work and again essential in that sphere. I used Moleskin but since I love writing with fountain pens, I switched to the Leuchtturm notebook A5 and incorporated elements from the Bujo system that work for me. Quite minimalist since I prefer that and I keep adapting it as my life changes. That one is for organisation, both personal and professional, or rather anything that doesn’t go in the TN.

Really great thanks

I have made journaling into my life since April 2023, even though I tend to skip or even forget to do journal. I started to follow journaling since 2018 during senior year in secondary school, however I was only experimenting on which method to use and I dropped them instantly. Now I’m in 4th year of bachelor degree, also an intern, I started to do journal after I had my counselling session. My counselour suggested to write something, and journaling came up in my mind after years of not picking up. Now I don’t feel bad on skipping days and I enjoy journaling more. Your videos also have helped me to change my mindset on the daily journal, Mr Henderson. Thank you.

I typically write my “ daily” journal about what is going on and my response and/or possible ways I could improve on something or handled something different. I usually end with gratitude as it allows me to refocus on what is good in my life and allows me to go to bed in a better frame of mind.

When I was taught about Journaling as a kid the method used was the letter or pen pal method. Basically, each post is a letter that you're writing to your future self. This would include the usual greetings and salutations, and you would write just as you would if you were corresponding to a friend far away. Nowadays I think of the style as being like training wheels because it definitely taught me what to write. Your censor would be there, but writing to avoid your inner censor is advanced and not necessary when beginning.

Thanks for the video!

5:07 that's super nasty to me for some reason, I love it! I think I'm repulsed by the idea of viewing myself outside of myself more than anything but it is very thought provoking and definitely can make you see things in a different perspective which is always important!

En un momento de la vida en que busco guías para encontrar y encontrarme, tú has sido una de ellas. Muchas gracias por compartir tus ideas. Saludos desde Sudamérica.

great video!

About my type of journaling: in a notebook I combine a little of several of the alternatives you mention, and I put a distinctive icon or drawing on them to visually identify them more easily. In an index on the first page I index them according to the categories that I am inventing. I put dates in what I write. Thus, on the same page I can have a thought of gratitude and a little further down any crazy idea that I identify as Brain Dump

Great video! I want to get into journaling and this was very informative. But putting that aside, I have never seen someone rock circle glasses as well as you lol!

Can you tell us the brand of notebooks and pens you have?? Would love to know and where you bought them from! Thanks!

When I am stuck finding something to write about, I think of that sign in the mall, the one that says You Are Here. I write the date and try to establish where I am in life. What I’m reading, friends I’ve interacted with, my biggest worry (because it is great to look back and realize the worst never came true) what gave me joy, what I’ve cooked, the last relative I’ve called. The last question is what word is buzzing in my brain, because there always is one. Like Jessica Stein, I’ll wonder about using a specific word in a non traditional sense, like marinate. Do you ever use that in a non food sense? Well, let’s just let that thought marinate…

I find myself using Endless Paper a lot on my iPad. It’s weird because there are many more fully featured note apps about, just like Apple’s Freeform, but I like Endless Paper for the one thing it does brilliantly: infinite scroll and infinite zoom. There’s something about being able to write something quite monolithic and declarative and then to zoom into the space inside or between the letters and write something messy, scatterbrained and brainstormy while meditating on the idea. There’s also something great about the freedom the app gives me, like I’ve been given a whitewashed palace and a sharpie. I could write a first draft for a novel in the banquet hall, a crown of sonnets in the drawing room or some Joycean stream of consciousness in the bathroom (where else?).

Gratitude journaling is a weird one for me. I do think it’s good but i don’t think i could ever have a full journal dedicated to it At this point if im having a hard time journaling (in a daily practice) I’ll write three good things/ things that made me smile from the day or the last few days. It helps to give a starting point and to help get out the better things that i might not always write out From there i do just let the thoughts out however they want to!

I've been journaling since 1975, when it was an assignment in a high school class.

Like number 400 (: Great content. Thank you.

I loooooooooooooooove Obsidian.

I read a lot and I have a reading journal ,but what I noticed is I only rate books in it , I dont have many thoughts on the books i read and i am wondering why that is.

I do traditional journaling whenever I feel low... but I this the greatest insecurity of honest journaling is ..... that someone may read it ... 😅

what's that pen you're using at 2:10?

There is much to be said for just handwriting in a journal, the opposite of digging words.

9:12 I love some of your comments 😅

If you use a daily log for time tracking, I can see where you got burned out. My daily logs on bullet journaling was just a small, intentional list of tasks and events written at the beginning of the day, and then marking whether they were completed or whatever there status was at the end of the day. It was seldom more than ten lines. I did sometimes journal as well, but time tracking is not a task that I find value in.

Hey jared

Hey a bit of an unrelated topic but thought you have more chance of reading a comment on a recent video rather an older video I realised I’m a massive scatterbrain and before this year I’ve never read a book (at 23yro) I’ve started about 4 seperate books in philosophy and continue to intermittent a few books all day and then switch to other books on other days. Is this ineffective? I’m assuming so but I swear my brain just can’t focus… maybe I need to start journaling

how many times a day should you journal? ideally

Can you make a video on note taking digitial and analogue and what method do you use?

My wrist has been really hurting a lot lately especially when I do repetitive or dexterous tasks. Do you have any advice? Jo-

Great channel Jared. I am launching a new online radio station here in Perth Western Australia. Would love to promote your channel and restream the audios from your shows, with your permission. Regards Michael

If you have bipolar or borderline personality disorder, you will drive yourself crazy trying to mood track. I like to pick descriptive words to describe my moods for the day like "lazy" and "tired" and "unmotivated" or "accomplished" I write down words to match the different moods throughout the day. I wanna know what its like to have the same mood all day. I tried it once on meds and felt like a zombie. is that how it feels to only have one mood for the whole day? Like, what happens when things go wrong? are you only allowed to call it a bad day, even though your day was good before the bad thing happened? Life is much too complex and complicated to only be allowed to assign one emotion for the day and it feels like that is all that mood tracking allows for. Sorry, I'm too fat to fit in these labeled boxes people have created 🤣

Pilot Custom fountain pen?

What’s your idea of an idea

I feel like i still don't understand what to write in one ?

I’ve been journaling for 30 years. It’s one of the best things I’ve done in life. My advice is to write when you have something to say. Write about sex and desires and dangerous ideas. Don’t put in names unless they’re important. Leave out mundane facts.