How to Self Care With Journaling for Singles

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These are the top ways and methods of using writing and journaling as a form of self-care, and as a therapeutic tool, for a better single life.

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Art, in all of its forms, is very therapeutic, and I believe every person should practice some form of art, in one way or another. While I practise many forms, my main art is writing. Ever since I could write, it’s always been my escape and refuge. Just like any other art form, you don’t need to be good at it to do it, all you need to do is use it as a tool for release, fun, expression or anxiety relief. If you want to do it, and if it helps you, it is all that matters. Personally I found that daily journaling was one of the best exercises that helped me embrace myself and my singleness… Because it helped me understand the process better, and keep track of it, and learn what to focus on, where I need to improve and so on.

Journaling is also great for just keeping track of your life goals and habits that you want to implement in your life, or remove from it. This way you can document your process and track where you’re improving and what still needs more work. This is not only a form of creating a better single life for yourself, but also improves your self-care… Because you’re letting go of toxic habits, thoughts and things in your life. You’re also learning how to understand yourself better, and how you can be better, which is also a form of taking care of yourself.

Using prompts

WHY

If you find it difficult to know where to begin, or how to even journal at all, prompts are a great way to get started. They will give you a good starting point, and instruct you what to focus on, as well as trigger what you need to write. Having the right prompts is key, because they are your road-map to journaling. They instruct you through the process and help you stay on track, as well as prevent you from straying to irrelevant points.

WHEN

Prompts are best for when you’re trying to track a certain process or journey in your life, whether it be professional or personal. For example, if you want to track your journey to embracing your singleness, to make sure you do it right and keep moving forward… You can use prompts to journal your progress. Especially if you live a hectic life and don’t want to forget or neglect the process. Even more so if it’s something new to you, and you need to start from scratch.

HOW

If you want to keep it simple, you can just use any notebook. At the end of the day, what matters most is the actual journaling and being consistent. Yeah, having a cute notebook can help (as silly as it may sound), but it’s not what’s going to push you forward. Personally I like using Best Self Journals, as they are “stupid” and “lazy” proof (pardon my French). It’s a journal you can use daily, and already has built-in prompts to help you keep track of your habits, goals and anything else you desire. So if you tend to get lost like me, Best Self is a great option for you.

WHAT

Using the right prompts will help you track your progress properly. It will help you focus on what it is you actually want to focus on, and assure you that you stay on track. For example, if you want to track your journey to embracing your singleness, you can ask yourself the following questions.

Three bad things that happened today – This will put things into proportions, and may also show you that it isn’t as bad as you thought. Especially when you can’t think of bad things that happened. It may also help you see it in a different perspective, or with time how much they change and improve.
Three good things that happened today – This will help you focus on the positives in your life, and show yourself that you do have good things happening to you. It will also help you shed light on the things that make you happy and matter most to you. With time you may see how it’s growing, and won’t be able to narrow it down to just three things.
Things I enjoyed doing with myself – When you’re trying to find activities you enjoy doing with yourself, this question will help you shed light on what you want in your life and what not. It will also help you keep track of things you already tried and want to continue doing with yourself.
Things I didn’t enjoy doing with myself – It’s also okay to have things you didn’t like doing with yourself. It’s perfectly normal. This prompt will help you understand why you didn’t like it, and what it is you didn’t like.

Intuitive writing

This is great for when your brain is a jumbled mess, and you feel like letting it out, you just don’t know how and what to write. Or where to even begin. At times, we’ve already used our brains way too much, and proper journaling with prompts will only make it worse. Intuitive writing is perfect for when you just need to brain dump it all, without actually having to deep dive into any of it… Or add on more thoughts. So if you’re feeling brain fog, or just not in the mood to use any of your prompts… And you don’t want to think too much, if at all… All you have to do is grab a pen and paper, and just start writing.

Intuitive writing is just that, it’s intuitive, it’s anything and everything that comes to mind without dwelling on anything. This will help you flush out and cleanse your mind, and feel a bit lighter. Or let go of some of the weight on your shoulders. When you do this exercise, make sure to not pause too much… Don’t dwell or linger on any of it, just go with the flow of your mind.

Here are a few ideas of what you can write, or where to start (because you never know where it may take you):

Literally what you’re doing right now, or what you see around you.
Everything on your mind at the moment, or just nagging thoughts that won’t leave you alone.
What you did today, write everything from the moment you woke up to this point.
Write about an interaction or conversation you had, which is fresh in your mind.

Releasing your thoughts

Releasing your thoughts onto paper is similar to intuitive writing, except now it’s a bit more intentional. This one is particular for when you’re overthinking about something specific. Or just having nagging thoughts about something that happened, maybe a conversation you had. It can be regrets that you feel – either over something you did, or didn’t do. It can also be about a mistake you made that won’t leave you alone, and you keep wondering what if. Writing down all of these thoughts can be a great way to let go of them, or at least ease them a bit. It can also help you put them more into perspective, or shed a different light on the situation. It can also help you draw conclusions from the whole thing, which will help you improve and do better in the future.

Here as well, you don’t have to have prompts, but there are a few questions you can ask yourself to help you through the process. And to help you get to the route of the problem, and really let it go. As well as finding solutions for next time, or just how to cope with it better. All you have to do is just write down exactly what you’re thinking, feeling and what happened. Try to go as detailed as you can to get the best, most specific results and conclusions. Either way, this is just a great way to let out some steam, then throw it away and forget it.

Some question ideas:

What is it that happened, which led to my nagging thoughts?
Is there something specific in what happened that I can’t stop thinking about? Or is it just the whole interaction?
What are the nagging thoughts in my head?
Why can’t I just let them go? Why does it bother me so much?
Is there something I would have done differently in the moment that caused my nagging thoughts? How would it have changed the outcome?
How could I have avoided the situation that caused my nagging thoughts?
What have I learned from this experience? Or this moment that caused it?
What will I do differently next time?

Escape to another world

One of my favourite forms of journaling and writing is escaping my day to day life into my own imaginary world. This is a great tool for when you don’t want to focus on your daily life. Or just need a short break. It’s also a great way to relax your mind, and also train your creativity and imagination. All you have to do is write a story, something so far from your own reality… And go as wild as you’d like. This way you can also “live out” some crazy dreams you have. Or just escape to a whole other world for a moment.

You don’t have to stick to any rules, and you don’t need to really think about it too much. All you have to do is have fun with it, and let it heal you. Because allowing your mind to run freely, is very therapeutic. And can help it calm all of your nerves and nagging thoughts.

Bedside table journal

If, like me, your mind works overtime, especially when you’re trying to fall asleep in the middle of the night… This is a great tool to use. Often, we can’t sleep because our minds won’t shut off. And our minds won’t shut off, because there’s something on our mind. Whether it’s something that happened, a conversation you had or a storyline you don’t want to forget. It can be something as silly as remembering to buy an item you’re missing, or texting something to someone… Or anything else you don’t want to forget.

Having a notepad and pen by your bed, will give you easy access to let it out. Either write down a thought that won’t leave you alone, and let it out. Or write down something you want to make sure you’ll remember in the morning… Without having to worry about it now, as it prevents you from sleeping.

Self tracking

If you have any habits you’re trying to let go of, or habits you want to acquire… Tracking them is a great way to make progress. Every day, or every week and every month, write down the progress you made. Where you are, how far you’ve come and where else you want to go. You can also track your workouts, self-care and hygiene routines, your self-dates you go, healthy lifestyle… And anything else you desire to keep track of, so you can improve more efficiently. This is basically like checking your analytics on social media. It helps you understand what you’re doing right and wrong in your life or journey. What’s working and what isn’t. Where you’re doing well and where you need to improve.

Struggling to find the perfect journal for you?

There are so many great journals and notebooks out there, but one of my favourites (if not the favourite) is Best Self Journals.

They have a variety of journals, notebooks and planners, but without a doubt, the best one is their Self Journal. They are not just like any journal, and they are certainly not just a notebook to write in. The notebooks provide you with all the prompts and motivators to help you set, plan and track progress towards your better self.

So if you want to change your mindset and achieve your biggest dreams and goals… Do yourself a favour, and pick yourself up a Self Journal.

If you’d like, you can also check out these AWESOME journals my Mum designed!