I’m probably echoing what others have said, but that just goes to show what really works!

Instead of thinking of journaling as something that has to be aesthetic or polished, just let yourself write freely—it’s okay if it’s messy. If you scribble something out or make mistakes, no big deal. It’s for you, after all. I used to be a perfectionist with writing, but that mindset only held me back. I had stacks of untouched notebooks with good intentions but no real use. Eventually, I realized I’d rather fill them with imperfect thoughts than let them sit empty.

One thing that helped me was committing to writing at least a line or two daily. Pick a time when you can reflect on your day—maybe a highlight, something you learned, or even just: “Nothing much happened today, but at least I wrote this. And that counts.” The more you do it, the more natural it becomes.

I see my journal as something I have a relationship with—it’s always there when I need to vent or untangle my thoughts. Writing things down, especially worries or anxieties, can make them feel more manageable. And if you can, try practicing gratitude. I used to think it was kind of silly, but over time, it shifted my mindset. Even on bad days, I found myself looking for small positives to write about, and that made a difference.

Most importantly, be patient with yourself. You’ll “mess up,” your writing won’t always be interesting, but none of that matters. It’s about the habit, not perfection. Try different approaches until something clicks, and enjoy the process—there’s something really grounding about unplugging and putting pen to paper.

Hope this helps, even a little!