Boost Your Creativity By Journaling
Are you looking to boost your creativity by journaling? You’re in the right place. This post is the fourth in our 5-part blog series on creative journaling, which can also be used as a ‘take it anytime’ 5-day creative journaling challenge. If you want to join in, there will be a task or two (or occasionally three) at the end of each post. See the other posts in the series here (I’ll add them as they go live over the next few days):
Part 1: Why You Should Keep a Journal if You’re a Creative Person
Part 2: How To Start a Creative Journal
Part 3: Nurture Your Mind and Spirit Through Creative Journaling
Part 5: 5 Styles of Creative Journaling
Want to come back and take the challenge when you have more time? Bookmark this post (or Pin it) so you can find it again.
Disclosure: Sometimes my work here (and all around the web) contains affiliate links. Find out what that means here.
Whether you’re looking to start a creative journal, or you’re simply looking for a new method to try out, below you’ll discover some awesome journaling ideas.
Brainstorm
When you’re journaling, no idea is too crazy. Brainstorm ideas for creative projects you’d like to undertake, without worrying about how doable they are. 20 part book series? 1000-page epic fantasy novel? Hollywood screenplay? Throw all your ideas into your journal. It’s just a journal, after all, not a planner or calendar. It’s not like you’re going to actually do these things. Or is it?
Set goals
Yes, I just said your journal is a journal, not a planner. But there are no rules, so you can plan in there if you want. Set some goals, or simply journal about your wildest dreams. Nobody will see these goals, accept you. But ultimately, if you look at them every day, who knows what will start to seem possible.
Write your perfect bio
I often see people using ‘write your own obituary’ as a journal prompt. I get it. It focuses on the legacy you want to leave, but it’s a little maudlin, and a little too ‘set in stone’ for me. I like to write my perfect bio from time to time. What I’d like my Twitter bio, or writing byline, or author bio to be. Then I don’t have to pretend to be dead, and the bio can change as my ambitions do.
Draw
If you’re a graphic designer or an artist, your journal is a great place to create new visuals. You don’t need to have a specific subject in mind. Simply pick up a pencil and start drawing.
It isn’t about drawing something perfectly either. It doesn’t matter how the drawing looks, what matters is that you’re taking the time to just let your creativity flow.
When you stop focusing on the rules and just draw whatever comes into your mind, it can really help boost your creativity.
Use mixed media
While written journaling can prove extremely useful, especially for a writer, often mixed media journaling works too.
Make a section of your journal your vision board. Cut and paste images, photos, drawings and doodles. You can even paste in ticket stubs, flyers or receipts that might spark creative ideas in the future.
Use the power of music
Have you noticed just how much of an impact music can have on your creativity? I never listen to music when I’m in deep ‘work’ mode, but when I’m journaling, it sometimes helps.
You’ll sometimes find as the music plays, you’ll start to experience emotions. Thoughts will pop into your head – things you associate with the music you’re listening to, or the emotions the music inspires.
It can help if you listen through headphones as this will block out all other noises, allowing you to be fully immersed in the music.
Keeping a journal can really boost your creativity. The above is just a small sample of the ideas you can try out. Don’t feel like you have to stick to one specific method. If an idea stops working for you, simply move onto another.
Can’t wait to start journaling? Consider grabbing a copy of my ‘instant download’ Do Less But Better printable journal. It has prompts, drawing/mind-mapping pages, and lots of quotes to inspire your creativity.
Doing our 5-day journaling challenge?
Today’s tasks are:
Try writing your perfect bio (or a few different ones) to get creative about what you’d like to achieve in the near and long-term future.
Brainstorm your craziest ideas. Put them to one side for a while. Then go through them to see if any of them could actually work (or be adapted into something that will).
Experiment with listening to music while you journal. Does it make you more creative? Or just distract you. If the former, put together an inspiring journaling playlist. If music is a distraction that doesn’t boost your creativity, ditch it.
Dominique
July 21, 2018
Mixed-media journaling has always been super therapeutic for me. Taking the time to flip through magazines, finding images and words that inspire and then bringing them together into a collage is a great way to focus and set aside time for myself. I don’t know why I ever stopped, thanks for the inspiration to start again
Karen
July 21, 2018
So great to hear you’re inspired to start again Dominique. Mixed media journaling seems so old-fashioned in a way (half the people I know never even buy a magazine any more) but I love it. There’s just something about cutting and pasting with real paste (and real scissors)!