If you are thinking about journaling but don't have the time or inclination to do it regularly, why not try monthly journaling? This is when you only need to commit once a month and typically at the beginning or end of a month. Take a look below for some topics that can be used for monthly journals.
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The following topics can be used for monthly journals. They can be used by themselves or combined. You will notice that each topic has a few questions and prompts to help you get started. These are intended as suggestions only and are not meant to limit you. Feel free to expand upon these topics or add additional ones of your own creation.
Journaling About Monthly Goals
The best option for journaling once a month is to use that time to talk about your monthly goals. The idea is not just to think of them but also to write them down at the beginning of the month when you plan out what needs to be done within that given month. Figure out what you want to be accomplished before the end of said month and then start writing on it in detail- listing your specific goals or going into more depth with all things related, such as how much this will cost and when they're supposed to be completed by etc.
This will help you think about your goals more often, but it's also a great way to look back at the beginning of the month and see what you've accomplished at the end of it. You can also use this time to work through your to-do list from the previous month, cross things off, and add new things you want to accomplish within the next month. It's a productive, positive way to end each month and then jump-start the next one.
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Add A Monthly Bucket List To Your Journal
A monthly bucket list is an excellent option if you have things you want to do, see, or experience every month. A life bucket list can be made into a monthly one! In October, for instance, it might include going to the pumpkin patch and watching Halloween movies on Netflix. Going to a haunted house in your town should also make the cut and pick out your costume, and decorate your home with fall-themed décor items like cobwebs or cornstalks.
A holiday bucket list is another option. In December, you might want to visit the Christmas tree lots, shop for gifts, enjoy a holiday movie marathon, and have a family game night with holiday-themed board games, like Monopoly with a Christmas theme. If you have kids, you can make a holiday bucket list together. They’re sure to come up with some activities you may have never thought of.
Write About How You're Feeling
Use your journal at the end or beginning of the month to write about your feelings. Talk about what you are thinking about at the time, and mention what happened in your life that month. Write down when it was written so that later on if you want to look back through them all again, it will be easy for you to find out which ones are new or old.
You can also try writing about a topic close to your heart, such as writing about your dreams or how you want your life to be in the future. Or you can try writing about your fears or worries. You can even write about the things that make you feel grateful. The most important thing is just picking something and letting the words flow out.
Review of the Last Month
Some people just write what they feel and think in their journal, but other ways to use it are. Have you been reviewing your progress at the end of each month? If not, try this quick review before starting a new one: What did you do toward reaching your goals for the last month? What is on your mind for the next time around? Taking this type of "self-time" can be helpful for many reasons!
Whether you are trying to reach a new fitness goal, work towards a better relationship with a significant other, or focus on something different in your professional life, this is a helpful way to put things in perspective. It is normal to have ups and downs in life, but one of the most helpful things you can do is learn from them.
You don’t have to write in a journal every day. Monthly journal entries can be just as powerful.
If you don’t like writing in a journal and prefer to type instead, that is fine too! You may find it easier to type on your phone or computer rather than sit down and write by hand anyway. The important thing is just to take time to reflect on what is going on in your life.
