Writing problems out is the quickest way to get them solved. Only most of us don’t write nearly enough, and instead keep having the same circular conversations in our heads. Keeping a daily journal solves this problem. And then some.

Not to mention the fact that our lives keep passing us by, day by day, and we have no real perspective of where we’re going other than our memories. The easiest way to keep track is to have a journal you can look back to, and kind of get a third person perspective on who you are, and where you’re going.

But maybe you don’t need any convincing of the worth of keeping a journal at all. Maybe you just need that first push, to get started and stay with it, for the rest of your life. Well, I’m here to help.

I started (and quickly stopped) writing in 6 journals before I finally stuck with writing in one every day. For me, there just wasn’t a compelling enough reason to keep writing. I didn’t know where I was trying to take it, didn’t know how I should be writing, and really just felt lost. Every time I would think about writing, I’d get scared of the prospect of filling up a whole page.

Then I decided to try a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. It’s a 2,100 mile long hike from Georgia to Maine, and one hell of a personal growth tool. I knew I had to keep a journal of my progress, and so I committed to at least 30 days of writing in it every day. I didn’t finish the trail (only did half), but in the process I learned so much about myself that the journey was priceless anyways. I kept writing every day after the trail, and to this day (over a year later), I do the same. I now have 8 journals filled with ideas, sketches, and dreams. I’m proud of every one, and I see my writing and my thoughts get clearer from book to book.

How You can Start

Get a journal that’s aesthetically pleasing to you. When I first started trying to keep a journal I used just any old spiral notebook that was laying around. That didn’t work long. I ended up buying a nice Moleskine journal eventually, and it was just such a pleasing experience to use that I wanted to write in my journal all the time. So spend the extra money on a decent journal. The inclination to write more is worth more than the price of some fancy paper.

Get a decent pen too. That’s right, a pen, not a pencil. Having a nice pen makes writing so much more fun. I use the Pilot G2 religiously, and they can be found everywhere for dirt cheap. Some people use fountain pens or just plain rollerballs. Find one you like, and stick with it.

Then to actually write in the thing. Write down the full date before every entry. Then write whatever comes to your head first, whatever’s on your mind. If you have a problem you’re trying to solve, write it down, and then approach it by writing different solutions. You’ll quickly get the hang of it, and figure out your own style. Remember, you’re writing for yourself, and no one else. Don’t be hard on yourself if you’re unclear at first.

Make sure there are no distractions while you write. That means no television, no people talking to you, zero interruptions while writing. If you can’t find a quiet place, put some headphones on and drown out conversations around you. It’s so important to eliminate distractions if you really want your journal to be a big help.

Finally, commit yourself to 30 days of writing in your journal every day. It helps to have another goal you’re trying to achieve at the same time, like excercising every day. Write about your trials and tribulations of incorporating a new habit into your life, and you’ll see how writing helps you stay on task. It helps to have a set time to write at. For me, clearing my thoughts and getting focused is more important than any task, so I decided to make it a morning ritual. Maybe you’d rather write before you go to sleep.

Either way, get to writing. Keeping a journal is the best gift you can give to yourself.

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So, I’ve been working on a project with my friend Josh. Both he and I have traveled around the world while running an online business. We made a lot of mistakes in the process, but also learned quite a bit. We got together all of our knowledge and put it into a little book.

Now, we were planning on selling the book, but we think now it’s more important that it just gets out there. So, without any strings attached, here’s the book (Right Click and Save Target As). If you don’t want a PDF version, here’s the book in HTML.

If you love it, like it, hate it, just leave a comment here. I’m open to suggestions and here to help. Cheers!

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