Two years ago I'd never have thought that I'd be committing my thoughts to paper on a daily basis.

How I started journaling

In April 2020, a few weeks after going into full lockdown in the UK, I started listening to the Daily Stoic podcast on a daily basis.

Ryan Holiday would often talk about starting a journaling practice and after several episodes, I decided to give it a go.

All I needed was a pen and a notebook. I also needed to find the right tools to make sure this became a regular practice.

Finding the right pen...

My handwriting is terrible, so I needed to find the right pen. Initially, I started writing with a biro, a Mont Blanc, and a Cross rollerball.

I finally settled for a Uni-ball Rollerball 0.5mm tip in black. Simple and very effective at making my handwriting legible. This pen also gives me a good writing experience.

... and notebook

My first journal was a leatherback notebook with nice thick paper. It was a pleasure to write in, but not quite the right notebook for me. I also tried an A4 & A5 sized Black n' Red notebooks, which were ok.

Then I tried a large Moleskin notebook - a great choice. Good size, nice paper quality, and made writing a joy.

The benefits of journaling

It has made me more intentional - from choosing the right pen and notebook to carving out time every day to write.

Journaling has also helped me become more reflective and self-aware. Writing has been a great outlet for sharing what's on my mind, good, bad and indifferent.

It's also helped me start a daily gratitude practice. Focusing on the little things in life that I am grateful for has had a positive impact on my mindset.