How to Create a Daily Journaling Practice (My Favorite Prompts Inside)

My journal is my church.

It's the place I go to have a daily conversation with myself, to tap into what’s beneath the surface and to get real on the page.

It is a grown-up “Dear Diary” from my younger years and it’s the place I feel most clearly connected to what I know to be true for me.

I get asked on a very regular basis what my daily journaling practice looks like, so I thought I would throw out a few tips and prompts I love to use to help you get started with yours.

1. Grab a rockin’ journal + pen.

I’m a stationary fan girl...nothing makes me swoon like the right paper texture and sensation of the perfect pen gliding over the page.

Who's with me?

It may seem silly, but the more you LOVE looking at the beautiful textiles that will be home to your dreams and thoughts, the more likely you are to get excited about sitting down with them daily and spending some time making them your own.

THIS classic is my favie fav in the journal category.

2. Carve out quiet time for just you and your words.

This part is vital. If we don’t make the time, we won’t find the time.

In a world where our to-do lists can run a mile long (and mine always does), writing down our deepest thoughts might seem like more of an afterthought.

But the clarity and the understanding I glean from spending time daily with my pen and paper not only helps me become more joyful and grateful for the items on my to-do list, it helps me condense time by recognizing what is most important so I can focus my energy and attention there.

I encourage you to get rid of distractions while you’re in process as well, be sure to put your phone somewhere where you won’t be tempted to look at it, find a quiet little nook where no one is around, and just be present with you and your thoughts.

3. Curate the experience with an inspiring playlist

Music is so powerful. So many moments of my life are accompanied by soulful lyrics and powerful memories prompted by song. Music plays a significant role in my live events and speaking opportunities, so you better believe it’s an integral part of my writing practice.

Make a playlist for yourself on Spotify or on your iTunes that brings up feelings of peace, courage, serenity and abundance. Make this time sacred for yourself so that the practice fills you up and invites you to keep coming back daily for more.

Here’s one of my favorite writing playlists

4. Start with an easy prompt that brings you inward

Let’s face it, we won’t feel inspired all of the time.

I find it immensely helpful to use journaling prompts on some days that allow me to ask myself meaningful questions that can be answered on the pages in front of me. Sometimes when we don’t know the answers, it is because we aren’t asking the right questions… so this is a beautiful way to go deeper into ourselves and uncover thoughts and feelings we may not have known were living within us.

Here are a few examples of prompts that help me connect with the page + my heart:

• What does my soul need today?

• What am I most excited about in my life right now?

• What am I ready to welcome more of in my world?

• What am I most grateful for today?

• If I were not afraid, what would I say yes to right now?

This simple daily practice has assisted me in creating a devotional practice that allows me to better understand and step into myself more completely and fully.

It is also the practice from which I birth content for my blogs, podcasts and courses.

In putting this into place, I have found space in my life to devote to understanding who I am and what my deepest desires are. It is in this practice, that I then can go back into my life a more present mama, and more caring wife and a more inspired entrepreneur.

So what about you? What does your journaling practice look like?

I would love to hear about what inspires you and what keeps you writing daily, and if you haven’t found anything that has worked yet- give the prompts a try and report back with what comes up for you.

Happy Dreaming!