# Change your life in 2025 by journaling  ## intro [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=0s) - The video focuses on how to change one's life in the New Year through the practice of journaling [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=0s). - There are three main topics to be covered in the video: why to journal, how to journal, and how to make the habit stick [(00:00:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=11s). - The discussion begins by exploring the reasons behind journaling, referred to as the "why" [(00:00:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=14s). ## why [(00:00:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=18s) - Journaling relieves anxieties by allowing individuals to write down their worries and extract them from their brain, stopping the repetitive loop of anxious thoughts [(00:00:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=21s). - Journaling enables individuals to learn faster by tracking how they reacted in certain situations, recognizing patterns, and brainstorming different approaches for the future [(00:00:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=49s). - Journaling improves thinking by forcing individuals to organize their thoughts, formulate them, and practice writing, leading to better writing skills and critical thinking [(00:01:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=102s). - Journaling allows individuals to plan for the future by writing down goals, working backwards to create a plan, and brainstorming different steps to achieve those goals [(00:02:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=168s). - Journaling enables individuals to explore ideas, debate with themselves, and think critically, which is often removed from daily life due to technology [(00:02:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=144s). - By planning and setting goals, journaling helps individuals live their lives deliberately, making it one of the most powerful tools for changing one's life [(00:03:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=229s). ## how [(00:04:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=241s) - Journaling can be approached by writing about the past, including events from childhood or recent activities, to fill in the journal with daily experiences [(00:04:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=256s). - Another approach is to write about feelings, discussing the current state or emotions evoked by past events, allowing for reflection on thoughts and emotions [(00:04:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=278s). - Brainstorming future plans is also a viable option, enabling individuals to plan and set goals, giving them a sense of momentum and direction in life [(00:05:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=313s). - Using prompts, such as specific questions, can help individuals delve deeper into their thoughts and feelings, fostering self-awareness and personal growth [(00:05:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=355s). - Researching and exploring interests, as exemplified by Leonardo Da Vinci's journals, can help individuals nurture their curiosity and stay focused on the world around them [(00:07:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=437s). - Journaling formats include Morning Pages, where one writes three pages daily as a stream of consciousness without stopping, allowing for creative unlocking and removal of mental filters [(00:08:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=529s). - A catch-all Journal has no specific theme, allowing writers to record anything they want, such as quotes, past experiences, feelings, or research, without worrying about aesthetics or quality [(00:09:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=574s). - A Common Place journal is the opposite of a catch-all, focusing on a single specific topic, used as a personal dictionary or encyclopedia, where one can continue researching and recording information in a specific format [(00:10:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=609s). - A book review journal is a designated journal for recording findings and underlined passages from books, providing a separate space for reflecting on read material [(00:10:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=637s). - Other journaling formats include a quotes journal and a bullet journal, which involves recording small one-sentence summary points of the day, habit tracking, and is a quick and succinct manner of journaling [(00:10:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=652s). ## make it a habit [(00:11:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=671s) - To develop a journaling habit, start small by setting a manageable goal, such as writing three sentences a day, and focus on creating the habit rather than the content, allowing yourself to master the habit of showing up for around 10 days before increasing the amount of writing [(00:11:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=694s). - Carry a journal with you everywhere, whether in a bag, pocket, or by your side, to write down thoughts, feelings, and ideas as they arise, making it easier to develop the habit of writing regularly [(00:12:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=725s). - Establish a specific time and location for journaling, such as in bed before sleep or at a desk in the morning, to solidify the habit and ensure it becomes a consistent part of daily life [(00:12:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=770s). - Having a specific time and location for journaling helps to prevent skipping the habit and allows for flexibility to write at other times throughout the day [(00:13:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=791s). - By combining these methods, journaling can be incorporated into daily life, leading to noticeable differences and positive changes, especially when used in conjunction with prompts, future thinking, and planning [(00:13:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=828s). - Consistently showing up to journal and planning for the future can radically change one's life, and avoiding distractions like cell phones can also contribute to a more productive and fulfilling year [(00:14:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RvqWncGoE&t=852s).