​Next, select where to write them.  I prefer spiral notebooks because I can flip through them quickly, but any medium works, like your computer, computer tablet, or even a voice recording app.

 

PCs are great for structured writing, but they don’t always feel as natural for casual journaling. Digital diaries are an option, but might be on a device without a keyboard. Overall, I prefer a spiral notebook.

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Before writing, take a moment to set the tone of your page.

 

Decorate it with doodles or stickers that reflect your mood. This makes the process more enjoyable, helps guide your thoughts, and makes a blank page less empty. If I’m in a serious mood, for example, I might use jewelry stickers. For lighter thoughts, I'll add comic-style stickers, like my smiling suns.

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Think back to elementary school. Remember how rewarding it felt to get a gold star? That little touch of visual feedback still works for adults, even if you are the ones assigning them.

Keep in mind that your writing tools matter!

 

On paper a bad pen can bleed  and make forming letters clumsy. A stiff keyboard, of course, can make typing feel frustrating. If you use spiral notebooks, test your pen first. Thin-tipped pens keep writing neat, while thicker tips can feel bulky. The feel of your pen on paper can influence how easily your words flow!
 

Once your setup feels right, don’t overthink. Just write or doodle until words come to mind! And be honest. If you feel crappy, make note of that. If you don't know where to start unraveling your thoughts, describing your feelings is a start.

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The benefit to all this is that after your thoughts are written down, you don’t have to keep mentally repeating them and you’re free to move forward with a clear head and, perhaps, a renewed sense of purpose.


Tips:

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• Swap your membrain keyboard with a mechanical one. The membrain keyboard is the one that came with your computer. Mechanical keyboards are easier on you fingertips, making writing on your computer a dream!
   

• Dictate your toughts, but transcribe them, voice-to-text. This service is available on MS Word and several other recent apps.
   

• Even if you use a computer, print out your thought-notes you can review them when not at a computer. Storing them on a hard drive or in the cloud can lead to them being forgotten.

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