How to Start Journaling (and Grow) Your Business
The new year arrives at full speed for most of us as business owners. It tends to trigger all the intention and goal-setting sessions, gym memberships, and planning meetings. While it’s great to look ahead and boost your inspiration, focusing on the future without taking some time to look back will hinder your goals and growth.
It’s important to review the past year to clarify what went well, reveal what didn’t work for your business or team, and check in on your performance overall. Once you understand where you’ve been, you’ll know exactly how to move forward.
This is why creating a consistent journaling practice throughout the year is so impactful. If you have that personal log in place, you can look back and know exactly where you were emotionally spent or burnt out, what your team needed most, what kind of clients you’d like to avoid or include, what needs to shift, and the list goes on.
Journaling throughout the year will set you up for success in every area of your life, your business included. So how do you integrate a regular journaling practice into your daily to-do’s? And what do you even write down? Here are a few tips to get you started…
1. Get intentional about the time.
If you want to begin journaling with intention this year, make the experience a habit in your routine. We suggest writing in the morning or evening when you’re in a more reflective state. Take the next 30 days, commit to a structured time, and then honor that commitment to yourself.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to spend hours or even minutes on the journaling process. Just jotting down a few notes on what’s working, not working, and how you feel will do the trick. If you have the time and feel inspired to keep going, then write to your heart’s content! Just be sure to show up for yourself every single day.
2. Try a variety of journaling styles.
Many assume that journaling is a free write on a cutesy notebook where you paragraph out your life events, feelings, dreams, etc. But there. are actually so many unique ways to catalog your life as you journal, so embrace that freedom to explore!
Bullet journaling is a fantastic way to begin if you’re an avid doodler or simply operate better by bullet point listicles. You could begin your journaling journey with just a daily gratitude list or a series of prompts and questions from Pinterest visuals (or the Fill Your Cup blog! 😉) There is no “right” way to journal, so find what feels best for you so you stay consistent.
3. Make the process an experience.
Once you’ve got the time in place and you know the style of journaling you’d like to try, set up your space. What does this mean? An easy way to form a journaling habit is to make it an enjoyable experience. Don’t just sit down at the kitchen counter and write a few notes on the paper. Create some positive triggers to make it something you look forward to.
Maybe you light a candle, create a cozy space, then reach for the same coffee mug and blanket each morning before you begin. You also make it a part of your 10,000 steps goal by doing a walk and talk in an audio journal. Just surround the practice with a simple but meaningful setting and you’ll be biting at the bit to pop open that notebook each day.
Including a daily journaling practice in your routine will make such a difference as you step into this fresh year. If you’re not sure where to begin, look back at 2022 and just ask yourself some intentional questions about how it felt, how you can improve, etc. Don’t overthink the process, but do set some intentions to formulate the habit. Getting honest with yourself each day and digging deep will not only transform your business, but it will also transform your life. Start strong this year! We’re here to support you every step of the way.
If you’re ready to get more intentional with your business this year and build a brand you love, we want to connect with you. We have been booking for 2023 and have limited spots left for the year. Click here to start the process or be added to the waitlist!