Jump-Start Your Journal

By Shanna Butler

There is more to a journal than just events and dates. Journals record who we are and how we are blessed. Try some of these fun ideas for keeping track of your daily blessings.

Type your journal, print it out, and keep it in a binder instead of writing in a book. You can also add handwritten notes about something you learned in church, or other items such as programs or magazine articles.

Use newspaper clippings to show what's happening in your world, and then write how the events have affected you.

Record your feelings through art, poetry, or music.

Print off and save emails you've sent that talk about your life.

Keep a joint journal with a brother or sister. Take turns writing in it each night.

Keep a travel journal of places you go or of places you would like to go. Include your tickets, brochures, and photos.

Write about what you read in the scriptures each day. Record favorite verses and how they make you feel or promptings you receive while reading.

Write entries from other people's perspectives, such as how your sibling view you after you've had a misunderstanding or how the day might look from your parents' point of view. You might talk to the people involved to see it your perspective of them is correct.

Keep a gratitude journal. Every day write down those things for which you are thankful.

Keep a journal jar (see Journal Jar sidebar to find out how).