How I did it: I didn't want to count this goal as "met" if I only kept a journal for a week or two and then stopped. So I waited until the habit was established (since January 1 of 2009) to mark this as done!
I was inspired by the book The Red Leather Diary, about a woman in the early 20th century who kept a 5-year diary, never missing a day. I purchased a 5-year diary on Amazon and I write a bit in it before I go to bed: mostly about things that happened that day or what I plan to do the next day. The sections are short, so you can't write a lot, but that actually works for me because I'm less likely to get burned out and feel pressured to write more! When I do want to write more, I have a pocket Moleskine notebook that I write my thoughts down in every once in a while. I don't kick myself if I don't write in it on a regular basis, but it's there when I want to.
Lessons & tips: Don't worry about what you are writing -- just do it!
There are lots of websites that can provide journaling prompts that you can use to get the ideas flowing.
Resources: http://www.amazon.com/5-Year-Diary-Red-Cover/dp/0977648184/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244134933&sr=8-4
http://www.amazon.com/Kikkerland-MB710-Moleskine-Notebook-Pocket/dp/8883701003/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244134956&sr=1-1
http://www.geocities.com/papabear1701/prompt_library.html
Kim needs inspiration
I think you should only write in a diary when you need or want to. don’t force yourself. there’s times when i dont write in mine for a whole month, but i never forget about it. dont hide it otherwise you wont write in it becuase of that whole “out of sight out of mind” thing. (p.s. i think i may read that book :] )
Hestia74 is in a state of thanksgiving...
I think a daily practice is a great discipline, for whatever it is that you want to achieve. If you wait for “inspiration” to do what you want to accomplish, you will accomplish very little…
That said, the day will come when you won’t, for whatever reasons, be able to write on your journal. Don’t beat yourself up about it. If there’s something about the skipped day that you want to comment on, do it, and resume your journaling as if nothing had happened. Perfectionism is a killer…
