I was not a teenage diary keeper. My pandemic attempt to keep a gratitude journal ended somewhat early and abruptly. Let’s be clear, the idea of taking the time daily to write and reflect is a habit I have struggled with.
The annoying thing is that I know that regular reflection is a powerful tool. It allows us to process and work through our thoughts, examine where we are and consider what’s next.
Time to think
In a world that gets busier all the time, this idea of pulling back and taking time to think feels unusual. More so when you consider that one of the core concepts of this kind of practice is not to create a record that will be revisited. You’re not necessarily creating to share or go back to at a later date. It’s just a tool for free-form thinking. A way of encouraging flow in self-expression.
We discussed journaling and reflection during the Advanced Coaching course I’m currently taking. This made me want to go back to this fail and puzzle out why I struggle with this. Could I find a way to build a habit of reflective writing?
After all, I know I can do things regularly. I attend a daily gratitude group online, have an unbroken streak on Pinpoint, write up notes after client appointments, do SSC reviews throughout my year and take the dog out for frequent walks.
Challenge Accepted
So the challenge was set. To find a way to make this a habit that I could stick with for at least a month.
Enter technology! I’ve been experimenting with using different bits of technology to make my life easier. For me, one that I absolutely love is the ability to speak to my computer and have it transcribe for me. I get to waffle and then can pull out the gems.
Now key to journaling is the recording part. Even if you’re not going to be returning to it, there’s something in getting words down that makes a difference. If I focused on the recording aspect rather than the medium, would that help?
So I gave it a go. I audio-journalled using software (thanks AI) to create a transcript for me. To my surprise, it worked. I found it was something that I was comfortable making part of my routine without the don’t-want-to feeling of resistance that had previously emerged.
Overthinking has entered the chat
Now, please don’t believe it was this easy. Naturally, I had to do some overthinking.
I spent at least a week considering whether I should journal every day or only on weekdays. Then I pontificated whether I should focus on work. After my brain had chased itself around in circles, I decided it doesn’t matter. I’ll make a point of doing it as part of my working day, Monday to Friday. However, if I feel the urge on a weekend, that’s fine. Likewise, I’ve chosen to primarily focus on work, but it’s my reflective journaling practice. There is no way I can do it wrong.
The main thing is to build up the habit and get used to my thoughts coming up to the surface. There’s something about recording your thoughts, even if you never revisit them, that helps provide a way to see things differently. So reflective journaling is fast becoming an important part of my scaffolding that helps me to celebrate successes, consider experiences and explore the choices I’ve made.
My teenage self would be amazed and definitely a bit proud of how far I’ve come.