You always start out with the best of intentions. I’m going to write in this damn journal every single day, you think to yourself on the way home from the fancy paper goods store. Not like last time. Or the time before that.
But let’s face it: As much as you’d love to spend an hour every morning penning what you’re grateful for in your gorgeous Rifle Paper Company journal, life always gets in the way. It only takes one press of the snooze button or early-morning doctor appointment to derail your routine and push self-care down to the bottom of your to-do list.
Don’t beat yourself up. It happens. And in her new book, Happier Now: How to Stop Chasing Perfection and Embrace Everyday Moments, author Nataly Kogan has an amazing solution for people who are too busy (or lazy): one-word journaling.
What the heck is one-word journaling? Kogan was inspired by her friend, photographer Karen Walrond, to start the practice, and it’s refreshingly low-maintenance. Just pick a word that captures the spirit of your day—no other requirements or restrictions. Then, if you have time, add in some stickers, doodles or sketches. It sounds simple (and OK, a little silly), but research conducted at Eastern Michigan University has shown that journaling, even if only for a few moments every day, can cause a major reduction in stress and anxiety.
