Building a Journaling Habit: Tips to Get Started (and Stick With It)
Habits are fascinating. If you pause for a moment and think about the things you do consistently, what do they have in common? Do they offer a quick escape from the daily grind? A little boost? A moment of calm? Do they simply make you feel good?
Some habits help us thrive, while others… not so much. Some follow us from childhood; others appear out of nowhere. Certain habits sync with specific routines or seasons; others show up only at certain times of day.
But whether you want to begin a new habit or break an old one, the first step is always the same:
Become aware of it.
And once awareness clicks in, the next step is to pause and reflect deeply on your “why.”
Starting or ending a habit is a lot like setting a goal. In the Surefooted Journal, we use a simple acronym for goal-setting that applies beautifully to habit-building:
S: Set your start/end date, with measurements and milestones.
How will you know your habit is taking root?
U: Understand your “why.”
What’s motivating you? Why does this matter?
R: Make it realistic.
What resources or conditions do you need to succeed? And how will you celebrate progress?
E: Engage and enjoy.
Make it meaningful. Make it fun.
Let’s look at how each of these supports building a consistent journaling habit.
S: Set Your Start and End Date
This part is easy with the Surefooted Journal - it’s already structured into 90-day cycles. Your start and end dates are built in, removing one more barrier and helping you build momentum. And if the habit sticks, picking up the next journal is quick and easy.
U: Understand Your Why
The Surefooted journal includes an entire section devoted to this. If your goal is to develop a consistent journaling practice, the self-reflection prompts help you uncover what’s truly driving you.
For me, journaling is a habit with dividends - it pays off in every part of my life. It lifts my mood, reduces stress and anxiety, helps me sleep, and makes me a more patient and present husband, father, and business owner. It grounds me and keeps me focused on what actually matters.
When you identify your “why,” journaling shifts from something you should do to something you want to do.
R: Make It Realistic
One of the best parts of the Surefooted Journal is that it doesn’t demand much time. You can complete a page in under five minutes because each entry uses simple, purposeful prompts.
Keep your journal somewhere you’ll naturally see it: on your nightstand, your desk, or beside the coffee maker. I know someone who keeps hers in the center console of her car and writes for five minutes in the driveway when she gets home from work! A visual cue is a powerful nudge.
You can also try pairing journaling with a habit you already have. If you enjoy a daily cup of coffee, pull out your journal at the same time. Building a new habit on top of an existing one is an excellent recipe for success.
And if you miss a day?
No guilt. No restarting.
Just turn the page and keep going.
E: Engage and Enjoy
Habits stick when they’re enjoyable, and especially when they’re connected to a community of like-minded people.
Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.surefooted.life to learn about upcoming group activities and events. Being surrounded by people working toward similar goals creates motivation, accountability, and connection. It gives you a safe place to share goals, work through obstacles, and celebrate wins.
The most important part is simply to start.
Pick up a pen and your journal.
Choose a time of day that feels right.
Pour yourself a cup of tea or coffee, put on some music, and begin.
After a few days, you’ll look forward to it.
After a few weeks, you’ll rely on it.
And before long, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
Happy Journaling, and stay Surefooted.
PS: To support you in your goal-setting, download your own SURE Goal-Setting template.