By now, most of us are well aware of how powerful journaling can be regarding your mental health. But did you know it can help you in the business realm?
If you look back in history, there are many examples of successful people who relied on daily journals to keep them on the right track. Ranging from Mark Twain to Marcus Aurelius and in present-day influencers like Tim Ferris and Brendan Bouchard —
All of these individuals have touted the benefits of keeping a journal.
The problem is, if you’re a busy entrepreneur, you’ve probably wondered how on earth you’d have time to sit down and write out your feelings when you’re constantly on the go. However, I encourage you to reframe your thinking — if some of the greats have time to keep a journal, so do you.
Journaling is so important because it can help you develop and reflect on your thoughts, which you can then use to create creative ideas — all of which are essential elements of becoming a successful businessperson.
Journaling has many other benefits
It can help improve your memory, accelerate your emotional recovery from stressful or traumatic events, improve sleep, increase IQ, and even improve your self-esteem.
All of these attributes are vital in entrepreneurship.
Journaling is a must if you’re looking to get ahead as an entrepreneur! When you’re constantly on the go, and your thoughts only exist in your mind, developing the practice of sitting down and writing it out can help you brainstorm the following steps, hone your skills, and reflect on where you are and where you’d like to go. In addition, since journals are naturally private, there is no subject off limits — which means you can jot down all that comes to mind.
However, rather than sitting down with a designated topic in mind, start with scheduling 5-10 minutes per day where you have no goal or agenda other than to write whatever comes up.
Over time, building your journal “muscle” will have a domino effect, where you will learn how to:
1. articulate your thoughts more effectively,
2. get your creative juices flowing and,
3. unlock that part of your brain that opens up your memory and helps you make goals and plans for your business.
When it comes to journaling, try to steer clear of using your laptop or phone and instead turn to the good old-fashioned pen and paper. Why? Writing takes more time than typing, which means you’re forced to slow down and be more reflective, which in turn allows you to process your thoughts on a deeper level.
The more you slow down, the better your writing will be.
Plus, distraction becomes too easy when using technology to document your thoughts. A notification pops up, you get the urge to refresh a feed, or you get lost doing another task. When you’re journaling, that should be your only focus, which is why the act of physically writing in a journal can be so effective.
Last but not least, remember that each person is different — so one person’s favourite way to journal might be much different from the next person’s.
Whether you prefer sketching your thoughts and feelings out in a visual way, using a bullet journal, or having a daily log, try out different methods to find what works best for you. As they always say, the only rule in journaling is that there are no rules, so keep practicing until it becomes second nature.
Then, your business will thank you! If you’d like help getting started with a journal — please check out the Lightbulb Moments Journal (5 ⭐️ Amazon Reviews) A perfect place to start!
Resources
Join The Storytellers Café – My free training community to help you create an impact through your story
Enrol in The 5-Day Content Experience – Learn how to repurpose your content like a pro…in 5 minutes a day!
Email: catherine@catherinenikkel.com
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