How to Journal: Start Here | Kati Morton

[@skashax777x]

Journaling is something I want to learn to do so this vid is helpful, many thanks Kati and many thanks to the person who asked the question

[@ihartevil]

Jambio.com that might help so you can also use it from the computer There sadly isnt a cellphone compatability yet You can do it from a tablet and bigger Also there is the have you ever and it saves up to 50 of those if you need help it will give you questions to think about

[@t.blckthrn7073]

Same goes to me. Now I know what to write down on my journal. Thanks kati. ♡

[@entaw7zk]

Journaling has helped me alot with my depression and low self esteem. The way I journal is: 1 - I write 5 good things that happened everyday. It can be small things like: I ate chocolate today. 2- I write 3 good things that I did every day. It could be simple like:I made my bed or cleaned my room. 3- sometimes I use journaling to write about daily events. But I don't do that daily. 4- I write my dreams and try to find the meaning behind them.

[@Katimorton]

Thank you so much for sharing!! xoxo

[@kjtamf]

Haneen Qa 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@spoons7354]

I am definitely going to try numbers 1 and 2. Thanks!

[@Ghost_In_a_Sock]

thank you for helping me getting started!

[@maliniroy3]

I'm going to try this. Thank you so much for sharing..😊

[@nerezza6517]

I write journals like letters, because writing to "someone else" helps me to put what I'm thinking into words. Or I write poems

[@Katimorton]

I love that!! Thanks for sharing :) xoxox

[@lindsayguillen7]

I journal as poems

[@krystenk3888]

I write random stuff and doodle all over the page. If something pops in my mind while I'm writing one thing, I add that too! I figure, the doc. Can figure it out LOL 🤣

[@nerezza6517]

@@emeraldqueen1994 thanks! Some of my irl friends call me Owly because of it 😂

[@KP-rh5qz]

M I like this idea

[@singinwithceline]

I began journaling at 9 years old. I was the only disabled kid in elementary school and had no real friends, So I decided to make my diary my friend. Each journal over the years had a new name. I've been writing to Melody for 12 years. For me, the letter format gets mixed up with scrapbooking, poetry, favorite quotes, and art therapy. Over the years, I've tried various formats, but paper and pen works best for me. Bullet journaling is part personal journal and part creative customizable planner. I use mine to track homework, to do lists, appointments, books I'm reading, and random stuff and help me get organized.

[@Astharia]

I love that you didn't let those circumstances bring you down and found a smart way to deal with this. I feel like the most lonely or difficult times in my life a the ones I journal the most so I can relate why this helps.

[@ElleS572]

💞❤💞

[@neversaw]

I have my bullet and my writing ones for things I don’t want others to ever see if it’s more personal as people often ask to look at the bullet and since I do a lot of decorating I’m happy to. It is so helpful hey

[@skinni_the_P00hBear]

Giving each journal a name is a nice idea 😊

[@melodyfox3918]

my name is melody too

[@jimhayhurst1201]

I start with the date and then: 1. Grateful (list what I'm grateful for) 2. Review (Events of past 24 hours or so ... as little description as possible. I'm just revisiting the past day or so and not writing about feelings or reactions, though I can't help it sometimes) 3. Anxious (what is currently worrying me and why? I may expand on my feelings or the details here) 4. Upset (what/who has me upset and why? I may expend here too) 5. Excited (what am I looking forward to or really happy about? Again, I'll go into detail) 6. Optional--People (who am I concerned about or want to think about) 7. Optional--Questions (I will ask myself questions about whatever topics come to mind. I will also try to answer questions from past entries that I've thought about) 8. Resolutions (what changes do I need to make or what changes that I have made do I need to keep up?)

[@KayKayBayForever]

JJ Ken-Hay This is cool. Thanks for sharing! I think I’m going to try doing a modified version of this.

[@AD-ye6mw]

@JJ Ken-Hay this was an excellent guide.

[@JacstewartStewart]

Thank you for that

[@tomgreen6841]

So helpful , never kept a journal but am going to give it a try 💚🇬🇧💚

[@Kjkeele1025910]

I’m definitely going to try this! Great idea

[@millebabette9507]

I love how she says "we" so that you don't feel alone 💗

[@xtanzmitpalmerx]

Something I’ve done with my clients is using a planner as a journal, so they don’t feel overwhelmed by all the blank space. Just enough space for a tweet sized blurb about the highlights of the day.

[@berrypunch1895]

Bullet journaling is usually used to track habits or personal and professional goals. You can definitely use the style to track emotions or progress with mental health goals as well.

[@sofiavelez343]

Had my first therapy appointment today! Thank you so much for encouraging me. Ive also started journaling and something that helped me were journaling prompts. Things like “what is your favorite childhood memory” or “who is the person you admire the most”. Thank you for everything Kati

[@Katimorton]

Thank you so much for sharing!! So glad the video was encouraging!! xoxo

[@Diana8Matienzo]

So happy for you! 😊 Good luck on your journey! ❤

[@dantarradellas7351]

A time to ‘Check In’ is a million dollar idea. Thank you.

[@kikiscookieedition2143]

Can you talk about escapism? When does daydreaming turn into escapism? How do people who do/have it live? Is this coping skill more dangerous than things like cutting or alcohol?

[@emmatessier600]

There is something called maladaptive daydreaming, I think most people who do that use it as a form of escape. Of course escapism is bigger than that. Most addictions we can think of have an element of escapism.

[@Dieske]

Good idea! I'd also like to see a video about this

[@madzombiebaby]

When I was going through a break up, I filmed myself talking about my feelings because when I talk I don't overthink my words like when I write, it comes out more naturally.

[@LauraMartinez-yk3hh]

Miloosh omg i did the same exact thing! I thought I was the only one. I have since healed and gotten into another relationship. Now I look back at those videos of me crying and venting and I can't help but cry from seeing myself so sad.

[@beck3498]

I like to journal when my thoughts are overwhelming. I’ve put journaling in the place where self injury used to be. Instead of reaching for something to harm myself with, I write down every feeling I can put into words, draw pictures, make bullet points, basically anything I can do to keep my mind on that task and not on wanting to self harm. It’s really helped as a distraction technique. Doing that method can also help with validating how bad you felt in that moment. Sometimes I question “was I doing that horrible or did my mind exaggerate it?” And then I can go back to a place where I documented exactly how I felt and see that I was indeed having a tough time. If you’re a person who questions your feelings a lot, that might help

[@Yellkje]

I filled an entire notebook during cancer treatment. Lists of side effects of the medication, timelines of how things progressed in between treatments. Logs of how it got both physically and mentally worse. Thougts. Feelings. Poems. Copies of letters to friends and co workers. After I was cured and the cancer was gone I saw a therapist. I have read the whole boock in multiple sessions for her and it was so helpfull to process all what happend.

[@lemmedie98]

For me its seeming to help hold my thoughts down. Instead of my brain being a thought blender, it makes me have to slow down my thinking. Even if im writing stories, or thoughts, to have to presently transcribe thought helps me get some organized thinking, as opposed to the constant buzzsaw of inner monologue

[@tiffanyshelburn]

I. Love. You. Please never stop KZbin. You’re so helpful and your voice is soooo soothing. I wish you were my therapist. :)

[@dakodas2192]

I really love bullet journaling to help track my self care, I put a dot beside every day I shower, Exercise, Brush Teeth, Track the amount of hours I sleep and the level of energy I had for the day. It is really helpful in looking back and seeing when I was struggling or not. I also enjoy the drawing aspect in bullet journaling as a form of distraction. Any time I get stressed I start drawing a new page about what ever I think may be helpful to the issue I am facing. I put down any writing prompts and quotes in it so I can go back to them when I have time and use them. I always have a writing prompt when I need one if I have my handy Bullet Journal around. (I just use a college ruled notebook and draw lines with a ruler as need be, much cheaper)

[@nicoleashleyknox]

I have bullet journaled for 2 years now but I've had serious ruts and anxiety. I had to unstructure and just have free journaling pages to get my thoughts out, instead of doing disciplined spreads every week. Dont get me wrong spreads are so wonderful, but mentally they take time, inspiration, and motivation. And i truly need the perfect combo of all 3 to bujo. Thank you for validating that some of what I'm doing is good and ok, and reminding me the importance of lots of bujo elements (health trackers, weekly and monthly spreads, goal tracking, finance tracking, plus artistic expression) are what people trying to be their best selves do. ❤ needed this!

[@carolcarol92]

I always try to journal, but sometimes I have a hard time writing my feelings out, like if I’m trying to avoid everything. I can’t fully express myself to myself... lmao... because them it makes me sad while I’m trying to be positive.. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m going to try the bullet points. 😬

[@Katimorton]

I hope the bullet points help :) xoxo

[@mattmiles9779]

Your revolution is over. Condolences. The bums lost. My advice is to do what your parents did; get a job, sir. The bums will always lose. Do you hear me? The bums will always lose!

[@JacstewartStewart]

@carolray I empathise because I go through the same it becomes a self discovery identification of self and it’s sometimes hard to face those new diagnosis and dealing with them . I have sleep insomnia as well that leads me into night long research without sleep today

[@mattmiles9779]

@@JacstewartStewart I hope that my wife will someday learn to live on her allowance, which is ample, but if she doesn't sir, that will be her problem, not mine, just as your job is your problem, just as every bum's lot in lfe is his own responsibility regardless of whom he chooses to blame. I didn't blame anyone for the loss of my legs, some Chinamaman took them from me in Korea, but I went out and achieved anyway. I can't solve your problems, sir, only you can.

[@phoebe12ish]

This is a really helpful intro to journalling.

[@basselabouzahr]

Just discovered you, please don't stop. Its rare to find someone who really cares about giving real advice.

[@kyminity20]

yes my counselor and I talk about this daily, and I love journaling. I haven't had much time to really fully sit down and write. I have used my note pad on my phone for whats been going on. Sometimes I use bullet points and sometimes I just let my brain ramble on. If I have time i like to go back through my phone and sit re think and work on making it a very good journal entry

[@KP-rh5qz]

Look into bullet journaling; it’s not just about bullet points. It’s a combination of having a planner, and a journal combined into one. You can set up a mood tracker, bill tracker, important calendar dates. It’s very creative. I love it.

[@sambednar3351]

What amazing timing!! My therapist keeps recommending journaling and I was JUST telling her TODAY that I wanted to but didn’t know where to start because it’s overwhelming. Thanks!

[@freudulant]

All shortlived attempts I've ever made to journal have had the same result. I have a complete mental blank and think what I'm writing is stupid or I get past my immediate internal censors only to come across it later, feel revulsion and rip out the pages and throw them away. I feel it says a lot about my inner critic.

[@lifeisbutadreamm]

I've always been a big journaler myself, I usually just pick up my book, start writing about my day, and reflect/keep writing from there; sometimes I end up with 20 pages, sometimes 1/2 a page, but I almost always feel better when I'm done, and it allows me to hold myself accountable more than I would otherwise, especially bc i don't have anyone in in my life that helps w that, lol, so when I write stuff down that I need to do, completed, or am working on, it both helps me with keeping track of things and staying accountable, but also helps me feel good when I see everything I've accomplished too!

[@ClandestineGirl16X]

i love journaling! i actually started because of your videos that i watched years ago as a teenager. im 24 now and still do it. youre awesome Miss Kati :)

[@karar.6475]

I've been journaling off and on for 3 years and it has really helped me get through really terrible times in my life. I always suggest journaling to everyone. It's wonderful!

[@donedennison9237]

I found some emoji stickers for my journal. If you can't find them, get some of those colored dot blank labels. Draw little things like happy, sad or confused face on them. If you're feeling loved you could draw a heart or if that's broken, put a slash through the heart. Do this in advance and then just pick an image. I find that gets past my logic mind and straight to feelings. I don't even have to answer the question of how I feel. I just pick the sticker.

[@spoons7354]

Done Dennison wow I love that idea

[@randomyoutubewatcher345]

I'm a "tell a story" sort of journal-keeper - I find it incredibly calming - but a bullet list could save time and let me write every day. Thanks for the tips, Kati :)

[@skinni_the_P00hBear]

Random KZbin Watcher I do the same thing. My entries become chapters 😅

[@MajesticSalad]

This is a really validating video. I used to be scared to journal because I never knew where to start. Now I recognize that I don’t have to write a novel each day, just a few things!

[@elenagibbons4719]

At my summer camp we do this thing we called rose, bud, and thorn. A rose is something good that happened that day, a bud is something you’re looking forward to, and a thorn is something bad that happened that day. You could also make a bud something you learned but I prefer something that I’m looking forward to. Our only rules are that you can’t end on a thorn (a negative) and you can have as many as you want for each but for every thorn you have you need to also have one rose. This was something that I incorporated into my bullet journal on the weekly pages and I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s helped show that though bad things happened, there’s still something good about every day and there’s something good that will happen.

[@NS-jh3fk]

I try to take just a few minutes a day to journal about how much sleep i got and my sleep pattern, my mood, highlights of the day, and at least three things I'm grateful for that happened that day. It can take less than five minutes but is immensely helpful because it helps me check in with myself and stay on track. Sometimes I'll just write the basics and sometimes I'll fill page after page with absolute nonsense just to vent or problem solve or reflect. I also noticed a lot of people talked about the ways they write in letter format and I want to say thank you!! That's very helpful and I think I might start doing that!! Y'all are rad

[@NS-jh3fk]

Oh one last thing I forgot! I try to write down the nice things I did for others each day, even just small things like compliments. I find it to be very helpful!!

[@rmac2489]

I don’t know if you will even see this since so much time has passed since you posted this video but I will share anyway. I have been in therapy and anti depression medication for years. I started journaling this past year and I cannot believe how helpful it has been. Every day that I journal I get more done and feel more positive. I just write in a spiral notebook. For years I have set goals - the same goals year after year and no movement ever on any of them. Over the last couple of months I have really begun to focus in on those goals with the most focus going to one specific goal. I am making headway and I feel optimistic and that is unusual for me. Give journaling a try - it is incredible!!!

[@jackneiswanger1742]

I started getting into journaling after I was so depressed. I journal everyday and sometimes do journals of events I remember that happened around me. Love it.

[@tabithagrose]

I love this video! I too have trouble journaling sometimes because at first thought it can feel like work. But once I start writing, it usually all flows out. And when I read it back a few days later, I’m always surprised what I learn about myself. It’s amazing how when we put things down on paper, our subconscious feelings / thoughts can come out.

[@nap5tablook]

i actually use two journals - a bullet journal to stay organised and to track appointments, homework, etc. and a normal journal which i fill with pictures, drawing, small playlists, and also some entries about situations in which i feel emotions very strongly. this system works really well for me because i can keep track of my life without risking flipping open a page on which i wrote about how bad i may have felt on a day. i also don't feel pressured to use my journal every day. while i do have it on my bed at all times, i don't put it in the same spot as my bujo since i use that one every day

[@DuenoJesus]

journaling was all from never being understood, and when brought to my attention id make it significant when i journaled. it helped me address problems people face with my shyness, and really opened a new way for me to save my psyce by sort of building a barrier from my personal thoughts to day-to-day conversation that you know (probably wont remember forever). i do illustrate as well to keep my art ambitions high, or address something that ive seen or am aroud to keep relevant with my era my surroundings b/c when it comes to prestigous arts its really just dedication that gets you there!

[@lizizard1]

I almost had a mental breakdown today, and I was searching through the internet to see if I could find anything. I clicked on one of your videos, and it almost instantly calmed me down. Don't know how, but thanks.

[@75sadiegirl]

I love your journal prompts that you send through text messages! They have really helped me get back to journaling.

[@frankydave]

I started journaling a couple of years ago, to deal with anxiety, and the advise at the time was to just write, 3 pages of A4, and you would get to the bottom of the things bothering you. If you were struggling, you would acknowledge that you were struggling, until something came to you. After a while, I started meditating, and that allowed me to remember things I had long forgotten about, and helped me make sense of things that had happened to me before then. Since then, I have used it to treat mental illnesses, as I can write things I would never say to anyone else, and that has helped me greatly in dealing with everything.

[@chelsearojo202]

I really appreciate this. I always knew there were benefits to journaling but I always tried to write in letter/diary form which I always failed to keep going after 1-4 weeks. Discovering my own type of ‘bullet’ journaling has allowed me to journal continuously for the longest time period in my life. This is so helpful and important.

[@elwynmckenzie6027]

I started journaling, serously about a year ago. I couldn’t think of anything to write about so I hit the Internet and found some prompts and that helped a lot. Then a couple of weeks ago I found 'Journaling jars'. Obviously not a new idea, but it is new to me. I like the idea of revisiting an idea to see whats changed. I never intended to be a daily journaler, but I want to be consistant so I have set aside time on a Saturday morning to just write.

[@jamiewang7818]

Hi Kati. Just wanted to drop a comment to tell you how much I love your videos. I stumbled across one of your videos while looking for online therapy reviews (although after further research I realized I can't even afford it..) Your videos are amazing because they are so informative. The way you explain each point is so thorough and easy to understand. The examples you describe are so relatable and the tips you give are practical. Most importantly I like how inclusive your content is. Like the way you mentioned journaling might not be for everyone and that singing a song about your emotions could work too. Thank you for blessing me with your knowledge and heart. Keep doing what you're doing!

[@IntelcoreIced.v.23]

I try to journal, but it's kinda hard to keep up. I try to follow a kind of bullet journal but mostly because of doodles and the fact that I feel free to share whatever I want in the way that I want. You're so inspiring! I'm studying a degree in Psychology and I found your videos quite helpful! I'm so glad I could discover your channel. Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@ninaraquelxo]

i don't have one specific way I journal. sometimes i feel like writing about a certain situation thats going on in my life. sometimes i want to draw a picture. sometimes i write a poem. sometimes i write the lyrics to a song that i've connected with recently. so my journal is a huge mix of things, which basically represents my mind and all the random thoughts i have. i've found journaling extremely helpful and therapeutic once I got rid of the notion that I had to be journaling everyday in a certain style or form!

[@KelseyHubley]

Journaling helps me a lot, I find it especially helpful when my head is too full of thoughts, it really clears my head to dump it all out somewhere!

[@LivingtheMash]

One thing that helped me make an effective journal is that the moment I have an automatic thought or symptom I write down the situation and my subsequent thought as simple and objectively as possible. It helps me to put it away so it doesn’t bother me in the moment and analyze what things trigger my thought patterns so I can catch and challenge them. Sometimes I’ll summarize it in my phone and then write it with more detail later

[@bkittenface3637]

Hey, I’m super glad I watched this video. I didn’t know where to start or why journaling was something my therapist keeps suggesting me to do. It makes a lot of sense and so I just wanted to say thanks!

[@abbeyc4865]

#KatiFAQ I actually bought a really cool journal (aside from my regular journal) in Walmart called "positivity planner" it is set up by week and includes diff sections for the beginning of the week; ex: "I'd love to _____", "I'm looking forward to _____", "I need to _____", fitness goals etc. And also sums up the end of the week; ex: " I'm grateful for _____", "I enjoyed _____", " I accomplished ______", silver linings, mindful moment etc. I find it to be really mind opening as it focuses only on the positive, where as my regular journal contains a lot of negative feelings. Also, a journal topic I found to be really helpful for when I was depressed or just lonely was to make a list of all the people you are grateful to have in your life and why (what they mean to you, how they impacted you, what you admire in them, what you see in them that you would like become one day. It is extremely eye-opening and automatically makes you feel a little more loved and grateful and reminds you of your goals, that you still have something to live for.

[@TheCheekybeans]

Thanks for this video!! It's super helpful to be reminded that it doesn't have to be a novel, or perfect. Always something that stops me from starting... I don't like making mistakes, but after watching I pulled out a notebook and wrote out some dot points for the day. Have a great day!!

[@ShimmersMuffin]

I personally like to do voice memos as a way to journal. I can tell a lot from my tone of voice and stream of consciousness that way. I can also speak a lot faster than I can write. 🙂

[@miaulink1152]

I started my journal with a written promise to myself that it didn't matter how much or what I put in the journal, so it's filled with to-dos, plans, day descriptions, random reflections, and sketches. So far it's gone a lot better than the journal I kept when I was little. I also write with the journals you read in the fiction section at the library in mind. You're supposed to be able to follow a plot and stuff for those, so I write like that because I like having context and pretending to have a (mostly sympathetic) audience.

[@anikaphillips1372]

Thank you for inspiring me to start journaling again and also for reminding me of the importance of tracking symptoms or moods. In the past have sometimes used addressing my entries to my future self which can be nice to read back, it is a nice way to be reminded of how much self love I can have when I reread all the words of encouragement I wrote to my future self.

[@anime-rx]

Hi Kati!!! I actually just started what I'm calling a "motivation journal" a few days ago where I'm just writing inspirational quotes to lift me up whenever I feel down :)

[@meganrausch8396]

Every year on my birthday I write my future self a letter for 2 years into the future. Also, every decade I write for the decade ahead (at 20 I wrote to my 30 year old self) and every half decade (at 25 I also wrote to my 30 year old self) they make amazing birthday presents every year! I turned 30 this year (2022) and had a letter from myself at 20 (before meeting my husband) at 25 (after 3 years of marriage) and at 28 (after a year of motherhood) it was awesome!

[@AnniiGao]

I’m so glad you made this video Kati! I’ve been journaling for 6 months now, both bullet journaling and just regular brain dumping into my journal and it’s helped so much for my anxiety and depression. Keeps me on track, allows me a place to spill my thoughts and feelings. Basically I pour my heart and soul in this note book lol. Would recommend anyone to pick up any old notebook and start writing, just don’t feel pressured to make it pretty or wait for the right time. Just write.

[@stitchmyheart2596]

A lot of mine is just writing the first thing that comes to my mind and starting a stream of letting my emotions out, and just putting everything into it untill I run out of things that I'm feeling in that moment.

[@KaffekanAnna]

I love to journal, sometimes I struggle to find time but I know that it keeps me balanced when I get to it. I try to do it in a way that fits me at the moments, sometimes it’s by just writing down what happened that day in plain text, some days it’s just a bunch of doodles and then there’s the in between. Next year I’ll be journaling in a Hobonichi, which I’m very excited about 💕

[@littlemyrocks]

I tried journling today in bullet point form and I really liked it. I found it helpful to start by bullet pointing how my body feels right now - I’m a little warm - A little bit of a head ache And so on, to get rooted After that I wrote down little things that I’ve done this week and things I’m planning on doing and looking forward to. It’s very nice and helpful to write down the small things, not only the things you would tell people about. :) - I’m looking forward to putting up some pictures on my wall this week - I found a helpful video from Kati - I got through a tough seminar in school yesterday - I ate breakfast today without stressing And so on.. Good luck :)

[@leighzabower479]

Journaling has saved my life so many times. I have, still am, working through a lot of trauma and I can always write about it a lot more quickly than being able to speak the words and hearing it out loud. It helps get it out of my head.

[@leahshoda8242]

Thanks for the info! I ALWAYS suggest journaling as a coping skill for my clients and I think it is such an amazing tool. I even have my kids keep a daily journal (my youngest just draws pictures 😊). For some of my developmentally disabled clients I print out sheets with four daily question. At the end of the day they have to answer each question: 1.What was my favorite part about today? 2.What is one thing that I did not like about today? 3. What emotions did I feel today (happy, sad, angry, etc.)? 4. What am I looking forward to tomorrow? Bonus Question: 5. How can I make tomorrow better than today? I make sure they understand that they are not REQUIRED to fill out this paper every day, but if they do they get a star for that day! We add up the stars at the end of the month and once they reach a certain number of stars they get to go on an outing of their choice! Within reason of course (movie, mini golf, ice cream, dinner, coffee, store of their choice, etc.). Usually even my clients who are against the idea of journaling (mostly men if I’m being honest) end up really enjoying it! I’m not a very artistic person, so my journal ends up being just words upon words (I do love to write), but I have clients who have beautiful journals! They get so creative it amazes me. Some of them discover artistic talents they didn’t even know they had! Thank you for the tips!! 😊👍

[@hhotdonnaa]

Completely read my mind and what I needed to do for myself, you are the best! Between you and the rewired soul, my mental health is on a good path ♥️

[@michelleross9782]

Amazing timing. My therapist wants me to journal so I have taken notes from what you said which will help me create my electronic journal. THANKS!

[@heathermiller8058]

Thanks for this video. I’ve been suffering from depression my whole life but learned how to cope and live with it. For the most part I was happy all the time. Then my mom suddenly died and my depression grabbed me and pulled me so far down under it takes all I have to come up for a breath of air. Thanks for explaining how to write in a journal. I’m going to pick up a notebook this weekend and start writing. I can’t wait to get your book in that I preordered on amazon. I’m hoping it will help me too. I know I need to see someone but that’s a big and hard step for me. I’m not ready yet

[@lyttech5743]

This is such a coincidence, I just started journaling today, and came to the realization that it'll help me with my stress, in that it will help me vent (because I'm just using it more as a brain dump, or a stream of consciousness), and now I'm seeing a lot of videos saying the same thing!

[@MissKatAttackOfficial]

Kati, videos like this are why you’re an amazing content creator. Thank you for everything, I love to share your videos. I combine a day planner with a journal so I can make lots of notes as often as I can. For instance, I can track a month ago if my migraine was caused by the rain, the stress, the diet, or the sleep pattern. I have been journaling for so long, and it’s hard to keep up with it all the time, so it had to constantly evolve. My journals include collages and art, sketches, lists, poems, songs, just anything. Empty out brain chatter. It’s also very important to LOVE THE book and the pens and the paper you’re journaling with, it has to spark joy, and be a pleasurable activity. So get the Harry Potter Moleskine dayplanner with extra pages! Fun with help you focus.

[@cd4536]

The DBT card can be a good starting place. I did my undergrad internship at a middle school (2nd-8th grade I know it's more like elementary. I had one girl on my caseload trying to process the grief over loosing her her father. I was able to find a symptom tracker for kids. She was doing well with it and finding it helpful. When she was stuck on what to journal about I had her choose 3 emotions from her tracker and write a sentence or two about each one. She found it helpful. My journaling usually begins with questions I have.

[@meganmathews4106]

my experience with journaling! when i began therapy, my therapist had me write down 3 feelings i had each day and a short explanation about why i felt that way. it really helped me because i started at the beginning of high school and didnt have the tools to identify my feelings. i later moved my feeling journal to the notes app on my phone and began writing down experiences i had (usually in detail) and referencing that while in therapy. I don't necessarily recommend that! i ended up not talking to my therapist about certain things and ultimately it wasnt the best choice for me (and she never saw the journal on my phone, so she couldnt see the things kati mentioned). i did enjoy writing things in detail because i could relay every part of something that was upsetting to me even if it had been a couple of weeks since it happened. having it on my phone also allowed me to include things that had happened at school or other public spaces when i wouldnt have my journal on me.

[@CassieWinter]

It's really interesting that most people find journaling through bullet points easier. I remember when I was a child I would try journaling and would feel forced to write a full, detailed story about each day. And that requirement I made for myself made it really hard to keep up a journaling practice.

[@mintyolivia]

Hi Kati! I've just recently started going to therapy for the first time ever (I think I've had about 7 sessions so far), and it has been a very eye-opening experience for me. However, I've found that I feel extremely pressured by my constant need for tangible progress and success, which causes me to feel the need to tell my therapist as much as I possibly can in our short times together. I'm not an overachiever- I just like having things go smoothly and productively. I know it's not really possible to tell your therapist "too much", but I feel like I'm telling her more and more things, just hoping I'll get somewhere as quickly as possible and have something to show for my success in therapy. Thank you for making such great KZbin videos!

[@HannaKrlssn]

I journal in form of mindmaps and use blank notebooks. Then I can mix bulletpoints with longer paragraphs of texts and draw/collage when I want to. Sometimes I just use like a quote, a songlyric or something similar that feels "right" for that day.

[@ilovepizza1583]

Thank you this has been really beneficial for me. I never knew where to start when it came to journaling and always felt pressured to make it into a story and have it make sense when I doesn’t need to be. The bullet point idea is just what my mind needed. Keep making this awesome videos they truly have helped me 🙂

[@screamsandscares]

Journaling is a great outlet.

[@FifthAveAtFive]

When I’m obsessing over an event or situation, I find journaling to be a super helpful and insightful way to process everything. I tend to write the incident as objectively as possible then include the emotions and reactions i felt. Then what this incident reminded me of in the past and possibly how I’ve dealt with it. Finally what i want from the situation and if there’s anything I’ve learned. Also if anything comes to mind of what i could’ve done differently and if some music/poem/show/movie/book/scripture/etc. reminds of or gave me something to reflect in relation to the situation. It’s also been helpful to have my therapist read my journal entries to catch her up more quickly to where I’m at and we can work on things more.

[@FifthAveAtFive]

Or sometimes I just write phrases that capture the general train of thought I’m having or feeling. Or a song lyric.

[@Bythesea449]

Wow. Thank you for your work ❤ I’m starting a new healing journal with help from your videos

[@disco_froggo]

I keep a bullet journal, and it's very useful. I have a mood tracker, a sleep tracker and habbit tracker. It's great for mental health and organisation.

[@bnew5394]

Thank you for this!! I’ve always tried to journal and right now I’m on a mission to work on myself. So this helped me to figure out how I want to journal and work on my mental health and also how I communicate

[@rabidwire]

I'm dealing with the aftermath of a fairly uncomfortable divorce and I've been keeping a private journal on LiveJournal. I'm kind of stunned that it's still a thing, but i'm happy that I can keep it and make to so no one can read it. It helps getting my shit in order. Also, thank you. You've been really helpful with all this stuff.

[@Alystu]

Thank you so much!! I love journaling. It really has helped me process through past events and how that connects to my current reactions. I can't wait to share this.

[@screamsandscares]

Journaling is a great outlet and fun.

[@catalex485]

I'd recently written a few diary entries but sometimes the mental pain was so bad I almost didn't want to put it into words, like it scared me admitting to my own diary how awful I was feeling. But it does help to write things down and I'm going to take this advice and start doing it daily even if its just bullet points to get it out.

[@catalex485]

Update: I did what I said and I'm still writing an entry every day and it helped a ton! This was great advice, Kati!

[@phoebe12ish]

This is a really helpful introduction to journalling.

[@hmjbear]

I honestly just started to journal to find out how it works for me. I just sit down and write it doesn't matter what comes out. I have even started out with "I have nothing to say. I don't know what's going on that i even opened this up to write" this works for me, I'll talk about a conversation i had weather it was good or bad. This then allows me to just go on and on about whatever it is I need to without even realizing I needed to talk about some of this.

[@SynchrotizedPsychotherapist]

I encourage my clients to journal all the time too, I agree it really is so helpful and valuable in understanding how their therapy is going and it builds so much self awareness :)

[@Azperry2]

I am one of the oddballs who writes in letter format, I find it easier for me and I stay consistent with the format. I try to write consistently, but I often find myself writing in spurts, depending on my emotions and big events happening in my life. I used to feel like all I was writing down was random events (think middle school and high school), but as I’ve gotten older, I attach emotions to what makes me tick. Also, super excited and can’t wait for your book, Kati! I preordered it a few months ago and got a notification from Amazon that it’s coming soon! Hugs💙🧡

[@zaraa_5582]

Great videos. I don't know where to start but watching these has saved my life. thank you

[@Kandtrock12]

I am so glad you did this video! I never knew how to truely Journal until now😩 Wish my therapist told me about this stuff a few years ago!

[@Neokogirl]

I use a mood tracker. It let's be put down what I'm feeling and write down what is going on and rate it on a scale of 1 to 5. It helps.

[@LoCals2024]

Katie you and your advise has and is helping me. Thank you xxx

[@gabbiefulton8604]

Thank you Kati for creating this wonderful video and giving me some tools to use.

[@angeledoray8967]

My form of journaling isn’t linear, I realised. It is more like a place for me to reflect soon different aspects of my personality or emotion I have been feeling. If a complete stranger were to read it, they would learn about my deepest secrets/ my truest self, but they’d have no idea about what my like is actually like on the daily.

[@haydeed1]

I got more instructions about my medication and progress for my disease from you than the last month of my therapist explanations

[@isaiahchi-townwilson7866]

I keep a Journal because I suffer from depression ever since I was a kid and write ✍️ down my thoughts and feelings in my little diary and it helps me to cope with everything but it hard to open up at time deo

[@SusieV21]

I’m studying counseling and expressive arts therapy in college. This semester, I used an art journal in one of my classes and used different art mediums in it (paint, oil pastels, collage, markers, etc;). We were given different prompts but had free range over what to create. Even though this was an academic assignment, I found it a more efficient way to personally journal! Many of the entries I made were an actual visual representation of how I felt that day/week. It has been a great thing to turn to when I need to vent but have no way to verbally describe how I feel. You don’t have to be skilled in art to create an art journal. But it definitely takes time to let go of your own judgements. Be spontaneous with it :). You’ll be surprised with the outcome.

[@jakery2368]

i've been journaling for a minute now and i think this will help me alot. thank u so much!!!

[@danielrichards9837]

It can also help you to get started if you find a weekly calendar with space for each day, so you only have to fill in the paragraph that will fit on that day

[@minsanasana]

I was just searching for this! Thank you, Kati! I wanted to start journaling again. You are a blessing in this world. 💕

[@SestraVixen]

Very interesting! I recently purchased a Happy Planner (the company name of a type of planner) & realized from this vid, that I track what I do, feel, experience every day. I also use it as a creative outlet as I decorate it with cute stickers and doodles to show my moods or spending etc. It's multi purpose 😁

[@amandabowden3371]

I have thirty six omni journals that I've finished . My omni's include art and bullet journaling and diary style . I also do trash my journal too . Like I have pages where I just stick my gum in and pages where I color then cut it in pieces tape it back together agian. Very fun .I decorate my journals so they are more my style . Journaling is the bomb.