Helen Colebrook - Journal with Purpose: Layout Ideas 101: Over 100 Inspiring Journal Layouts Plus 500 Writing Prompts

I am so excited to share this ultimate journaling guide with you. Whether you are completely new to journaling, or looking to develop and deepen your journal practice, this book will give you plenty of new ideas for topics to write about, different journaling layouts and stacks of creative inspiration.

This is the book that I wish had existed when I first started journaling. I was not sure what I wanted to write about or how I wanted to document my days, so everything in this book is designed to give you inspiration taken from the different styles and techniques that I have learnt over the years.

Your journal can be used in so many different ways, like planning out your dream life, getting thoughts out of your head, organizing your workload, documenting daily life and focusing on your health and well-being, along with being a wonderful break from the digital world.

Keeping a journal is linked closely to the act of mindfulness, as it enables you to engage with and explore your thoughts, while still focusing on the present moment. The simple act of picking up a pen and writing can help you to feel more relaxed and pause the continual swirl of activity in your mind, giving some useful structure to your thoughts and feelings.

By reliving positive experiences in your journal, you can help to boost your mood and build self-confidence. Writing things down has also been linked to improved memory, and it helps you to commit to your goals in a way that typing alone often cannot achieve.

My biggest hope is that this book acts as a springboard for you in your own journaling routine. You can either copy my layouts exactly, or use them as inspiration to create something that feels right for you and your lifestyle.

One of the great things about journaling is that there are absolutely no rules. You cannot do it wrong! So please relax and enjoy the journey of self-discovery and the many benefits that come with regularly taking time out to document and create in your journal.

Helen

You dont need a lot of special equipment to start journaling just a few stationery supplies that will grow over time. A good-quality journal is really important, with paper that can handle a wide range of inks and colour without bleeding onto the next page. The things I keep close to hand are shown here, but you will soon find your own favourites.

One of the most significant benefits that I have experienced from keeping a journal is the ability to focus more easily on the good things in life. Every month I set up some gratitude pages in my journal, ready for me to write in every evening. Not only is it a lovely habit to establish, but I also find that it encourages me to look out for those positive moments throughout the day.

Sometimes, there are really significant events that I can record, but most days, it is more a case of simply recognizing the little things that can so easily go unnoticed. Examples of my gratitude entries include: the smell of fresh coffee, chatting with a friend, sunshine coming through the window or not getting stuck in traffic.

It is easy to fall into the trap of saying we have had a bad day, and it is definitely true that some days are better than others, but I have yet to experience a day where there has not been at least one or two good things that have happened.

Not only does it help to boost your mood when you focus on the positives, but you also get the extra benefit of being able to read back through your journal pages at any time, as a really happy reminder of all the good things.

Keeping a gratitude journal can feel a little false at first, particularly if you are used to focusing more on things that are troubling you.