Motivation VS Habit in Journaling

Motivation is something many people strive for with journaling and many other activities, 
but often find that it disappears pretty quickly. Your motivation is what drives you. It 
gives you something to work toward, it is the reason why you want to complete these 
goals, and it influences the choices you make. The problem is that it doesn’t last 
forever, and at a certain point, you need to find another reason to keep going.

This is true of journaling as well. What you want to do is form a journaling habit, instead 
of relying solely on your motivation.


Motivation is Temporary

This can sometimes be a hard pill to swallow, because you have always been told you 
just need more motivation to get things done. Motivation to exercise, motivation to reach 
your goal, motivation to get chores done around your house, motivation to wake up 
early, and yes, motivation to write in your journal.

Motivation is not something that is going to last forever, though it might come and go 
multiple times. It gets you started and provides that drive you need to get up and start 
something new. But, it is temporary. There will always come a point when the motivation 
fades, and you have to rely on your own willingness to keep going, persistence, and 
making sure you have built a good habit that you will continue working on


Building a Habit

How do you keep journaling every day if your motivation doesn’t last? You start a habit. 
While you still want to make sure it is something you enjoy doing and that you benefit 
from it, you also want to focus on making it a habit. This can take time, but as long as 
you keep at it, it will soon be something you do every day without even thinking about it.

This is why in the beginning, it is good to be consistent with when and where you 
journal. Over time, it is great to try new environments and times of the day for 
journaling, but for that first month, try to simply make it a habit. 

You can choose how to do this, such as writing in your journal first thing every morning, 
bringing it with you to write during your lunch break, or saving it for the end of the day. 
Choose a time of day you can schedule in and do it around the same time every day, 
until it becomes a habit where you know it is time to write in your journal.


