The Value of Journaling

It’s easy to get caught up in the daily routine of meetings, emails and phone calls. The longer you’re in a position of leadership you can mistakenly develop the attitude of “been here(sic)done that” while you problem solve at the default level; “Here’s how I solved that problem before.”

If you’re not careful you can quickly fall into a rut, develop overconfidence and get tripped up on the little stuff. To gain deeper insight into problem solving takes an intentional effort of slowing down and seeing issues at a deeper level. But in a hectic overextended schedule you may ask how do you dedicate time to reviewing past matters more carefully? Just as importantly what do you do to slow down decision making to make sure you are appropriately reflecting on the issues, people and mission?

I was encouraged years ago to spend regular time “journaling” my thoughts, experiences, personal challenges and observations. Journaling is not keeping a diary, although it may contain aspects of daily experiences. More significant is the quiet intentional time dedicated to slowing down life and reflecting upon personal and work issues. There is something about putting pen to paper in a way that allows the thoughts to roll freely from the brain through the ink on a page at a regular and dedicated time and place.

Journaling forces the user to talk to themselves rather than just listen to themselves as if peeling the layers back from the days distractions and can help provide clarity in problem solving and learning. You see life is to be experienced more as a participant than a passenger.

I’ve personally benefited by developing clearer plans for myself, my organization and most importantly genuinely capturing life’s lessons in practical and tangible ways that appear before me on the pages of my journal. The hope and goal is to see each day as an opportunity to improve or to be transformed.

Let me list five tips on how to get started and what you might try to capture through regular journaling:

1. Have a fresh notebook or “Moleskin” to start and if you’re slightly obsessive, that favorite pen.
2. Pick a regular time and place to journal. Quiet mornings may be best, but it’s more important to be intentional. You may have to turn off the TV and don’t require yourself to do it daily (or you may create false expectations with the process). It could be a few days a week or simply a time on your calendar dedicated to the process. Don’t determine an amount of time, but let it be natural. Some days may just be a few sentences while on other days you may fill pages.
3. Let your journal reflect what you have been learning, experiencing or dealing with in life or the workplace while considering solutions or maybe just asking appropriate questions.
4. You should periodically review the journal to remind yourself where you’ve been and what life has taught you. It’s okay to challenge yourself in the process of journaling setting goals or expectations. There is something about setting a plan to paper that makes it more tangible.
5. While you may do some quiet complaining in the journal if you see your entries are consistently negative you’re on the wrong path. I believe one of the most important rules of journaling is to spend some time in gratitude and thankfulness. I consistently conclude my entries with a “prayer” or word of encouragement. This exercise helps me to slow down, put issues in perspective and frankly forces me to focus on truth with a positive perspective.

Life flies past us with each fleeting second. Those who slow down to capture the experience often gain a deeper appreciation for the journey. In return the process can provide lasting changes that you can share within your circle of influence. Lastly, that journal may one day be a part of your legacy to be shared with those in the next generation.

This post was originally published on May 4, 2016 on Sheriff Martin’s blog.