Journaling can be a great way to get the things in your head out on paper! Processing emotions, writing about memorable events, or even just brain dumping all the things you need to make sense of can count as journaling!
There’s no one right way to journal.
But, why does it sometimes feel overwhelming to sit down with a blank notebook and pen?
Why Journaling Can Be Overwhelming for Moms
We’ve got a lot on our plates as moms. Not only are we navigating our own human existence (hi… first time human, here, anyone else?), but we’re also in charge of these little humans, and are the center of their entire world!
Plus, throw in the daily, never-ending tasks like laundry, dinner, bills, work, and who in the world honestly even has time for journaling?!
What would you even journal about? This private, escape of emotions can feel heavy, at least for me it sometimes does. I have to ask myself… do I feel like crying right now? Oh, the kids are playing outside and seeing their mom bawling writing in her notebook may not be the best visual… ok I’ll journal later. And then later turns into an unattainable time in the future.
Journaling Categories
If you’re feeling the urge to journal, but get so overwhelmed and stop yourself before you even start, here are a few journaling categories I like to consider when I sit down to write.
- Kids – Each of my kids actually have their own journal I plan to gift them one day (most likely when I’m gone). It has entries from my pregnancy with them, little milestones, and every day funny things they do. This is a BIIIIIIG emotional journal undertaking. To think of my kids reading these words when I’m no longer on this earth is quite heavy to process. But knowing they’ll have my handwriting and my thoughts unfiltered long after I’m gone makes it worth it. *This is a journal in bed, with the light dim, where no one can see me sobbing type of category.
- Daily Entries – If you want to get in the habit of journaling, daily entries can help build that muscle. About what, you ask?? Just simply about your day! I found that journaling is a lot like cleaning or working out… I know I need to, I don’t want to, but once I get started I think… wait, this isn’t so bad, and I always alwaysss feel better after. The breakfast that seemed ordinary did have that funny moment when the toddler proclaimed her love for my cooking, and I guess the baby tried eggs for the first time today. Sometimes we’re so IN it, we don’t even realize that these are the little moments that make up our lives.
- Goals & Progress – What’s a year without goals? I don’t know about you but I love goals, and plans! Check out our Vision Board Post to get some ideas for family goal setting! What do you want to work on this year, this week, or even today! Goal setting doesn’t have to be a big overwhelming goal you work on all year, it can be as simple as wanting to drink more water today. Maybe tomorrow I’ll have a goal to only drink 3 Coke’s instead of 5 (kidding). I like to separate my goals into different categories and choose at least one for each that I want to focus on. Family, Money, Travel, Physical Health, Mental Health! Again, this post here gives some great examples to think about!
- Reminiscing – In my old age (35 lol) I’ve found I don’t have the greatest memory until someone else brings something up, and then it’s like the floodgates open! I’ve started to create a list of old memories, situations, travels, or trivial things from my past that I want to remember!
10 Journal Prompts for Moms when you want to Journal but Aren’t Sure what to Write
- What is something funny your kid(s) did today?
- What are you excited about this week?
- What can you do for your spouse this week?
- Who are you grateful for?
- Who or what are you missing most today? (cue the emotions)
- What do you want to work on this week?
- How could you have handled a recent situation differently?
- What are you going to do for yourself today?
- What meal have you been craving? Who or what does it remind you of?
- What’s a meaningful activity you can do with the kids today?
- *BONUS * what’s something from your childhood you want to introduce to your kids?
Need Journaling to be Even Easier?
Something like the Five Minute Journal makes the entire process so quick! Because we Moms need quick! With prompts every day, it’s easy to just open it up and get right into writing! Grab a 5 Minute Journal Here!
