Build a Journaling Habit by Matt Ragland

How to start a journaling habit and stick with it

You know the drill. Get inspired, watch a YouTube video, buy that fancy notebook and pen, then get to work writing your brilliance for future generations (or at least Instagram pictures).

Most people think that journaling is time consuming and mentally taxing. But what's really true is journaling makes an exponential impact on the rest of your life relative to the time it takes. You've just been telling yourself a story about journaling that isn't true.

Why most people don't stick with a journaling habit...

The first few days of journaling are great.
Words fly from mind to pen to page, and at the end of a session it feels so dang good to empty your thoughts. You might even have a series of prompts to follow, giving you a steady stream of ideas to jumpstart a session.

But the early excitement fizzles out.
You have piles of notebooks and a small fortune in fancy pens, but they all end up on the shelf gathering dust. The busy-ness and business of life creates a nervous energy that convinces you there's not enough time to journal - and you have nothing to write about anyway, so what's the point?

How I stuck with my journaling habit

Like you, I had many false starts and half-full journals over the years. The turning point came when I established a simple system of prompts and rules that made consistent journaling easy and guilt-free.

I was thinking about journaling all wrong

Daily journaling isn't about a word count, number of pages, or the modern-day equivalent of DaVinci's diaries (more on him in a bit). Committing to a daily journal is about connecting to the experience of the day, observing what happened and not judging it.

Journaling is a keystone habit that can reduce stress, improve memory, and clarify what really matters in life. Kevin Kelly once said "I write to find out what I've been thinking" - that idea has always resonated with me, because in journaling I discover more about myself.

I was able to start and stick with journaling by following a series of simple prompts and actions. The good news is that anyone can do it and there's no right or wrong way. I'll show you several different methods and systems so you're able to mix the best ones together for your practice.

History is filled with people who used a journal to "calm their nervous energy" (Eugène Delacroix) and capture both the exciting and mundane parts of life. Whether it's the no-rules free writing style of Julia Cameron, the radioactive research journals of Marie Curie, or the daily battle reports of Marcus Aurelius, a daily practice of journaling is the common thread that unites many high-performers.

Each lesson and will be packed with specific steps, prompts, and habit-building frameworks to move you past excuses and become a person who actually journals - not a person who tries to journal but gets stuck.

Matt's enthusiasm for journaling is infectious, and his method of teaching is easy to follow and concise. I've learned so much about myself through journaling and I know developing the habit is one that will pay off in my life. I highly recommend the Build a Journaling Habit course!!
- Leah Reinert, Pinterest Marketing Expert

How creators, scientists, politicians & playwrights have used journals throughout history

Julia Cameron

Author of The Artist's Way & creator of Morning Pages, a bedrock tool of creativity.

Austin Kleon

A writer that draws, author of Steal Like an Artist and creator of the logbook method.

Marcus Aurelius

Roman Emperor and Founder of Stoic Philosophy, which started as a daily journal.

Virginia Woolf

Famed writer who called journaling "a method of practicing the art of writing.”

Susan Sontag

Award Winning Writer & Activist who said "In the journal... I create myself."

Winston Churchill

WW2 British Prime Minister who drafted many famous speeches in his daily journal.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Artist & Inventor who began most of his famous work through incredible sketches.

Marie Curie

Nobel Prize winner in physics, her journals on radioactivity are still kept in lead boxes!

Ronald Reagan

America's 40th President kept a daily journal of his experiences and decisions.

How Successful Journaling Works

1. Start simple! 10 words a day for 10 days is better than 100 words for 1 day.
2. Create a rock solid habit with the tow-truck trick & environmental cues.
3. Follow a series of prompts to fight against writer's block.
4. Pick a journaling style that fits your personality & situation.
5. Organize your journals to create a personal history & archive.
6. Regular review to lock in lessons & activate excitement for the future.

Ready to begin? Lock in your launch week price and start your journaling habit today!

Yes! I'm ready!

Build a Journaling Habit includes lessons on:

Journaling Methods

We'll cover 5 ways to journal & record your day - pick the one that works best for you!

Essential Materials

Whether analog or digital, I'll show you different notebooks & apps to record a journal.

Prompts to Build Confidence

Don't get stuck on the blank page ever again - follow the prompt & start writing.

Habit Stacking Crash Course

Make journaling a natural part of your daily rhythm with the tow truck trick & simple cues.

Organizing & Referencing

Journals become an important part of your "second brain" & connect to other sources.

Fun & Function with Doodles

Journaling can be more than words! Use icons & doodles to quickly capture information.

I've purchased everything Matt's created - his style is both authentic and inspirational. There are a lot of people in the productivity space I follow, but I've really found him to be the one I pay the most attention to.
- JJ Salem, best selling novelist

Special discounts on Baronfig journals!

I've used Baronfig journals for several years now and am always impressed with the quality and class of their notebooks. Course buyers get a special discount as a bonus!