Your journal should be special and meaningful for you. Peruse Barnes & Noble, Borders or your local stationery shop to find a journal that works well for you. Journal writing can even be done in a spiral-bound notebook. Choose one that will only be viewed by you and won't be confused with other notebooks or journals.
Many people who write in journals do so in order to clear their mind, acknowledge their feelings, and confront their fears and hopes. Sometimes people keep a journal where they detail their daily activities or thoughts. Find a good reason to journal. If you're going on a trip, you can journal about your experience. You may want to keep a journal that details your feelings, or discusses your personal goals and accomplishments. Or, you may simply want to write about what you do each day or week. Once you develop a reason to journal, you'll feel more connected to the writing process.
Develop a specific writing schedule that will promote your writing habit. If you have a busy schedule, find just a few moments a day or a few times per week to sit down and reflect on your feelings, thoughts and ideas. You may want to write before bed in an effort to get all your last thoughts on paper, or write early in the morning for five minutes before work. Whatever the schedule, keep to it and your journal writing will increasingly become a standard part of your day.
Be honest. Don't be afraid to confront your feelings and thoughts. Being honest while keeping a journal will allow you to access your sincere emotions. This will also provide for a more accurate detailing of your life. If you read your journal in the future, you'll benefit from seeing your truthful feelings. You may want to compare your present life to the way your life was when you kept the journal. This promotes a greater way to reflect and see how your life has changed.