Out with the Old - In with the New - Indexing your Journals

The end of another year!! Where did the time go? If you have written in your journal this year, you KNOW where it went! Some Journal Keepers - at this time of year especially - like to take a few pages at the front or at the back of their handwritten journal to index their entries. I like to index mine at the back - usually because I'm so excited to start a new journal that I forget to leave a few pages. I just want to jump right in and write on those lusciously creamy pages with my elegant new pen that I treat myself to every new year.

Number all the pages in your journal to start with. Handwrite the numbers using calligraphy pens or use some rubber stamps and coloured ink to print the page numbers. Stickers or your own handwriting in coloured pens also work.

While you are at it, you might like to continue throughout the journal to stamp patterns or designs in various spots on your pages or add washi tape ( a thin tape that has printed patterns in multiple colours - find it at your local craft store or office supply store ) for added interest and splashes of colour.

Then at the back I start on the very last page. I write one number on each line and work my way backwards into my journal until I have the right number of pages set aside. As you make an entry, note it in the back index on the appropriate line. An index may include the page number, a date when the entry was written and a short phrase or a word or two to describe the event or thought you are writing about. Another way to index is to write the page numbers as you make entries in case you need more space for your descriptions - or if you write very large!

After you have written for a year in a journal it can be difficult to find that quote you wrote down in a moment of inspiration, or that event you might need to look up again to get your details straight. And for sure, if you have kept a journal for a number of years, it will help you find what you are looking for through multiple journals you may have stacked on your shelf. It's also a great way to review memories with a brief scan of your journal index. I've found it to be a very helpful practice especially for my business journal where I keep track of notes from workshops, books I've read, podcasts I've listened to and ideas and studio hours I have logged.

At the end of each year, I like to read through my journal. I will use a highlighter to mark the quotes I especially like.
I like to highlight lessons I learned with another colour.
I make a list of especially memorable events, accomplishments, books I read and even things I bought this year. A review to close out the year helps me make decisions about what I want to do more of next year, complete what I started last year, and decide what new things I want to make sure I record in my journal for this upcoming year. Sometimes I realize I haven't added events in, or I haven't recorded very much for a very memorable day and I still want to capture more details. I can stick an extra page in and add more details if I want. It's just a great idea to look back and remember all the things that happened in a year. Where did the time go???

Have you ever indexed your journals? Do you have an interesting way to do your indexing?

Happy journaling
Debbie

A Journal for Christmas!

Do you ever have someone who is hard to buy for?
The gift of a blank journal and a nice pen is a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. Not only can the giftee use their journal for whatever they like to write in it - like lists and phone messages, but they may also reap multiple benefits if they DO start to be a Journal Keeper.

Consider purchasing a journal that a person might have a difficult time purchasing for themselves. Splurge on a journal that is a little more costly or a little fancier than the normal hardcover or spiral bound book that most of us started out with. The paper should be smooth enough for the pen to glide over the pages and perhaps the pages will be embellished with a small flourish to decorate the corners. For the person who is artistic, perhaps a blank book would encourage some sketching or artsy lettering. The covers I love are pastel faux leather - very soft and padded. Some are embossed with patterns and some have beautiful prints of paintings on the outside. A ribbon page marker is also a bonus!

Include a printed PDF of some great writing prompts or basic instructions for journal writing.
Download a free "Getting Started" page here.

Perhaps your should treat yourself to a new journal for the New Year while you are at it! :-)
It's a little affordable luxury...

Did you ever get a journal as a Christmas gift?
Write about the story in your own journal.

Have you ever given a journal for Christmas?
Who can you share your love of Journal Keeping with this year? Perhaps a grandchild, a close friend, or a relative whom you would like to encourage to write down their memories.

Share your stories below...

Happy writing!
Debbie

Types of Journals - Creativity Journal

I like to think of myself as a pretty creative person! I have WAY more ideas of things to do than time to do them.  So I have different ways to keep track of those ideas - and sometimes work out ways to accomplish some of the ideas that spring to mind.

These days Art Journaling is pretty popular. It's a fun way to play with ideas for my paintings - or just to have some fun with my art supplies finding out what they can do. Playing in a Creative journal or an Art journal can be very freeing and it can help you develop your ideas into something more.

Some people like to use various background treatments like layers of paint and collage. Some people just like to sketch a simple item. Some people like to do mind-mapping. Some people get creative with various types of pens, coloured pencils or markers.  Whatever you use on your pages, you usually do your creating without making a plan in advance - working it out as you go.

Click here to see my Pinterest board on Art Journaling. These are sample pages that others have created that inspire me as I create my own pages and I use them as a spring-board for my own creations!

I like to use a regular sketchbook. Others like Moleskine notebooks. Some like lined or quad-ruled grid pages. Whatever makes you comfortable!

Some days I will just list a whole lot of words or phrases or ideas and challenge myself to see how much space I can fill.

Other days I will work with my art supplies and sketch or paint my ideas. I use quotes or a pre-chosen colour scheme or a special new technique as a jump off point.

Then I will write on the page using pens of various colours.
I will often keep a record of all the colours of watercolour paint I have in my studio. Or I will sketch objects from magazines and art books to practice my sketching skills. Anything goes! It's your creative outlet!

The whole idea is to get the ideas out of your brain. To have fun with colour and texture. To come up with something that looks interesting. To expand on the ideas you have.

Being creative helps you to be MORE creative. So get out your art supplies and your fancy pens and pencils and make a fun mess!

Creativity is a messy business!!

Types of Journals - Spiritual or Prayer Journal

With the release of the movie "War Room" this summer/fall, there has been a renewed interest in keeping a Spiritual Journal. I personally love this kind of journal the best!
I have kept a spiritual journal alongside my daily journal for years and it is a blessing and an encouragement to me to look back over its pages from time to time and see all the things God has been teaching me as I have studied the Bible and kept track of book notes I have read.

Everyone needs to carefully nurture their own spiritual life. I personally believe that people are 3 part beings. Spirit - which connects to your Creator, Soul - which includes your mind, will and emotions, and Body - your physical being. If you ignore any of these three, over the long haul, you will not have a balanced abundant life.

A spiritual journal can include many things. Here are some types of things I record in my Spiritual Journal. (Some of these can overlap into the Soul area of mind will and emotions)
I often write about:

• notes I take while I am doing my Bible study each day. I find sometimes that verses will "jump off the page" and I write those out. I will take a few minutes to write down what that verse made me think about in my life, a lesson I learn from it, or I use the verse to write out a prayer asking for that verse to become real in my life. 
• notes I take while I am reading good books. There may be some excellent quotes, some interesting information about the history of the times, a word study that opens up the meaning of a passage of Scripture, or just something that reminds me of a time in my life when I faced a similar situation as the author. I will copy these into my spiritual journal and write my thoughts about what I read. These are lessons for life that I want to capture and remember.
• Bible verses I want to memorize or study more.
• Song lyrics that speak to me right now. There are many songs that have really meant a lot to me - they brought encouragement, or reminders of some truth that just fit my situation at a certain time of my life. I will write out the words and meditate on them - often writing out why they were special to me. 
• Ideas that come into my mind as I read - something I should do for someone.  People to pray for.  Ideas for a new aspect of my business or something I can do with my grandchildren. I believe God directs us as we quiet our hearts and absorb His words.
• Words God speaks to me. When I read God's Words and listen for His voice, He may speak to my heart. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice..." I write down what I think God is saying and pray about it more, maybe I will share it with a friend or my husband to ask for their input. Sometimes the words God speaks to my heart are simply encouragement, or words that let me know how much He loves me. I treasure these words and if I write them in the moment, I can re-read them and remember how it made me feel as I heard and wrote down those things.
• Quotes that make me think. 
• I write about troublesome emotions, joyful things that have happened and difficult situations I have questions about.
• I write out prayers. Sometimes I copy prayers others have prayed. And I write out my prayers - it helps me to focus and keeps me from getting sidetracked. I love to go back and re-read the prayers I have prayed. Having a written record helps me see when my prayers have been answered. 

These are just some of the ideas of things you could include in your spiritual journal. It will help you to see how you have grown, it will help you to overcome difficulties in your life and it will definitely see how God has spoken to you, taught and directed you, encouraged you or brought you comfort in hard times. 

Do you keep a spiritual journal? What do you include in yours? Can you share a story of how it has been a benefit to you? Leave a comment below :-)

Keep writing!

Deb E