10 Ways To Start a Journal Entry (with examples)

Many people want to start journaling, but I hear them say they don’t know what to write or how to start a journal entry.

I know it can be a bit intimidating at the start if you have never written down your thoughts and feelings on a page or if it has been a long time since you took a pen and a page.

Seeing a blank page can make you blank, but trust me it’s not that hard.

Once you get into the flow, you will start loving it and it will surprise you with inner wisdom, clarity and what you are truly feeling and experiencing.

I am a big fan of journaling given how much it has helped me through all of my various ups and downs.

It is where I pour out my feelings unhinged and come back to my truest self.

There are many ways you can start a journal entry, but before that let me share how I start my journal entry.

How I write my journal entry

Table of Contents

I first begin by writing down the date and day.

I have given my journal a name, and it is ‘Grace’.

So I always begin my journal entry as ‘Dear Grace’ as if I am writing to an imaginary friend who is me.

Somehow the word ‘Grace’ really stuck with me, and I have been addressing all my journal entries to ‘Dear Grace’ for many years now.

You can choose a name for your journal too. Even Anne Frank had named her diary ‘Kitty’.

What is a word that you like or would want to imbibe or feel you tune in to? Choose that name.

Then I begin my journal entry in many ways.

Sometimes I note down how I am feeling at that particular moment, sometimes I write down what happened the day before (since I always write in the morning), and sometimes I plan my routine there and write whatever comes to mind.

My style of starting a journal entry is mainly free flow. I write without thinking about grammar or structure or anything and simply write what I am thinking and feeling at the moment.

Then I end my journal entry with a quote and an affirmation for the day.

To tell you in more detail, here are 10 ways you can start your journal entry.

How to start a journal entry

1. Describe your present moment

Start your journal entry by writing about your present moment- the present moment at that very time you are sitting down to write in your journal.

You can write about where you are, what is the time, what you see, what the weather is like and how it’s making you feel, what you hear and what is happening at that moment

For example, here is how I write

“Dear Grace,

I am sitting on my balcony. The time is 6:30 am as I write this. The weather is pleasant and it is about to rain. I woke up at 5:40 am this morning and……”

Then I go on by writing about how I am feeling in the present moment and just go with the flow on most days.

2. Reflect on your day

Another way to start your journal entry is simply by reflecting on your day.

You can do a journal entry at the end of the day or even in the morning as you reflect on your previous day.

Reflect on what you did from morning through the end, how you spent your time, the people you met and talked with, how you felt and how your day was generally.

Self-reflect on if there is anything you could have done differently and write it down. But also give yourself grace and allow yourself to do better the next day.

As you reflect on your day you can bless each activity that happened and each person you met and talked to.

For example, you can write “Dear (……), Today was…..”

Then you can end your journal entry by noting down the best thing that happened in the day and one thing you are 3 things you grateful for.

3. Morning check-in

Begin your journal entry with a simple morning check-in.

Here are 5 questions you can ask yourself in your morning check-in,

“How am I feeling this morning?”

“What’s my plan for today?”

“What is my intention for today?”

“What is my top priority for today?”

“What am I grateful for this morning”

Then you can start your entry by writing, “Dear (………), Today I am feeling…..”

4. Use a prompt

If you find it hard to begin a journal entry, you can also use prompts.

Here are some prompts you can use

P.S. I have created a 21-Day Journaling Guide for Self-discovery, growth and healing.

If you haven’t taken any other challenge of mine, you can join this challenge.

You will receive journal prompts and guidance from me for the next 21 days to inspire you every day.

5. Start with affirmations

You can start your journal entry by writing down your affirmations for the day.

It’s a wonderful way to begin writing, or you can also end your journal entry every day by writing down an affirmation for the day.

Here are some positive affirmations you can write down in your journal entry each day.

Be sure to save the post to read and write every day.

6. Start with a positive quote

In the same way, you can start your journal entry by writing a positive quote or also end it with a positive quote to inspire you and that which you want to imbibe for the day.

P.S Here are 100 Inspirational Quotes to keep you motivated

7. Start with an intention and gratitude

You can simply start your journal entry by setting down your intentions for the day.

Write down, “Dear… My intention for the day is-

I am grateful for…”

Pause to think for a while what the day needs from you today.

Ask yourself,

how would you want to be today?

How do you want to spend your time from morning till night? Maybe plan it a little

What needs your attention today?

What do you intend to do today?

Then write down what you’re grateful for today.

P.S If you want to feel more grateful and positive in life, take my free 21-day Gratitude Challenge that so many have loved.

8. Write down your feelings

Many of us are bad when it comes to expressing our feelings.

You can use your journal to express yourself freely and come in touch with how you’re feeling.

Use this prompt- “How am I feeling today?”

And you can start by writing, “Today I am feeling…….” And then go on to express why you feel so, what made you feel so and come in touch with yourself.

You can write down your feelings regarding a particular experience or event and what you learned from that experience.

You will gain more clarity about how you truly feel about the situation.

Also, when we write our experiences down, writing helps us in emerging our wiser selves and our inner wisdom starts to guide us regarding the situation we are facing.

Most of the time, when I am confused about how I am feeling or want to know what I need to learn from the situation, I write and then I am guided.

It is as if God guides us through pen and paper.

9. Note a dream

You can also use your journal to note down your dreams.

If you dreamt a particular dream at night, you can start your journal entry by noting down your dreams.

You can start by writing, “Last night I dreamt…..”

10. Write freely

Lastly, this is my best style and how I generally go about my journal entries.

I write freehand and write freely whatever I am thinking or feeling at the moment or whatever I want to write.

It’s like a long conversation and letter letting it all out and dumping it on the page.

Julia Cameron calls this morning pages in her book, ‘The Artists Way’

You don’t have to worry about sentence structure or grammar. Nobody is going to see it.

I feel this is the best way to journal for we come to know what is it that we’re feeling or thinking truly.

If something is bothering us, we write it down.

If something is making us feel at ease, we write it down.

You can write this day for 10-15 minutes or fill 2-3 pages of your diary each day.

Then you can end your journal entry by writing down your affirmations and a brief plan for the day.

So these are the 10 ways you can start your journal entry

Pin to save

I hope you try them out and see how it goes.

Find the style that suits you best.

You might also like:

Hello, I'm Vishaka!

10 Ways To Start a Journal Entry (with examples)

How I write my journal entry