Welcome to the Transformation Through Journaling column with Identity writer, M. Shannon Hernandez. As owner of The Writing Whisperer, Shannon coaches and motivates women to hone their writing skills, particularly in non-fiction and business writing. Join her on the journey to transform with creative journalism.
Journalers – get ready for the New Year!
As journal writers, we are getting ready to close out another year of recording memories (and just might be excitedly thinking about all that the New Year will bring to our journaling lives). Like all other aspects of our lives, there are plenty of ways that we can get ourselves prepared for the New Year, as a journal writer.
30 Ways Journal Writers Can Prepare For the New Year
- Buy a new notebook (or several).
- Review what you have written this year.
- Finish any unfinished journal entires. blog pieces, articles, etc., which speak to you.
- Reflect on why entires were left unfinished.
- Buy new journals for various projects to keep your ideas/writings organized.
- Set up a writing environment for meditation and journalling.
- Take care of any nagging health issues — emotional, spiritual or physical.
- Buy a sketchbook to map ideas or expand a writing in graphical format.
- Buy new pens, pencils and erasers.
- Note your most productive and creative writing times. Block them off and scheduled into your calendar.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
- Have a passion-based purpose for writing. (It will keep you motivated during dry spells and focused on your mission, rather than just your feelings.)
- Make a mini vision board that represents your commitment to journaling for 2014. (Look at it when you need a reminder.)
- Create a lovely environment to write in, complete with a rad new desk and decorations which inspire creativity.
- Prepare a music ‘playlist’, if you can journal to different types of music.
- Test out new productivity approaches to see if they might be a good fit for you.
- Put away the fear you have around writing.
- Consider partnering with a journaling coach to help you meet your goals and explore new methods of writing.
- Add tags to entries in your digital journal.
- Make a backup of your digital journaling entries.
- Add photos to any digital journal entries.
- Print digital entries and make a notebook of your writings for 2013.
- Gather your favorite candle scents and oils for the new year. (Your writing brain loves scent stimulation.)
- Stock up on your favorite coffees and teas.
- Set writing goals for 2014.
- Add some color to your journal! Purchase some bright markers or chalks.
- Research some new journaling techniques you’d like to try in 2014.
- If you are an art journaler, restock your supplies so you are ready to go!
- Join or head-up a journaling group in your town. Writing is always more fun when shared with others!
Do you have any other tips to add to this list? If so, leave a comment, because I’d love to hear from you.
I’d also love to have you join me for a word party in the Word Ambassador Circle! Experience some new journaling techniques, focused specifically on you!
Identity Magazine is all about empowering women to get all A’s in the game of life — Accept. Appreciate. Achieve.TM Every contributor and expert answer the Identity 5 questions in keeping with our theme. As a team, we hope to inspire and motivate ourselves and inspire you to get all A’s.
What have you accepted in your life that took time, physically or mentally?
I have accepted and embraced my journal as my friend.
What do you appreciate about yourself and within your life?
I appreciate all the small moments that make up who I am.
What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? What goals do you still have?
Writing has been an insightful and powerful journey for me. I want to continue writing everyday and meeting others who share a passion with writing and journaling too!
What is your not-so-perfect way? What imperfections and quirks create your Identity?
I can be extremely hard on myself when it comes to setting goals. I am working on scaling back…just a tad.
How would you complete the phrase “I Love My…?”
…passion for everyday life – and the ability to stop and record them in my journal so I can relive them every time I reread my entries.
