It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of journaling.
Since starting my personal development journey a little over two years ago, journaling has been like a BFF that never leaves my side.
Journaling helps with creativity, inspiration, and motivation when you’re just feeling a little blah.
Now over the years, I’ve experimented with many different types of journals.
Everything from a blank piece of A4 paper to gratitude journals and prompts.
Let’s just say that I’ve found my favorite and I’ll tell you why that is in this review-like blog post.
If you haven’t started your journal yet, you’re very welcome to check out my how to start a journal post for beginners here.
Related Reads:
- How To Start A Journal For Beginners: The Ultimate Guide
- 50+ Journaling Prompts For Self Discovery
- 5 Ways To Invest In Yourself & Your Personal Growth
Introverts & Journaling
Before we get into the review and I reveal (well, you probably already know hence the title of this blog post, but let’s just pretend to keep the suspense) my all-time favorite journal, I just want to, yet again, talk about the perks of journaling – especially for us dreamers and introverts.
Honestly, I don’t think I’d be where I am today, in terms of my online blogging business or my personal growth, if it hadn’t been for journaling.
It was through journaling that the idea of starting a blog made an appearance in my life.
It was through journaling that I understood that introversion is indeed a superpower and that quiet people can do amazing things.
Journaling is such an effective practice – no matter if you’re an introvert or not.
But when it comes to introversion vs journaling, it’s like a match made in heaven.
We already love to spend time alone with our thoughts, so why not get it all out onto paper?
I know you can’t wait to finally know what journal I am referring to, so let’s dive into the review.
Enter the Five Minute Journal.
What Is The Five Minute Journal?
The Five Minute Journal is a gratitude journal, created by the amazing company Intelligent Change – who by the way is also the mastermind behind the Productivity Planner, which I am also slightly obsessed with.
The Five Minute Journal is a guided happiness journal (or a gratitude journal if you’re feeling old school).
It’s been marketed for people who don’t generally enjoy journaling because you basically don’t have to think, you just answer the questions prompted by the journal.
Boy oh boy, I am certainly not in that group of people and I still love it.
How Does The Five Minute Journal Work?
Let’s take a sneak peek inside the Five Minute Journal, shall we?
You kick the day off with an inspiring quote and today’s date.
I love a good quote in the mornings – to give myself that extra boost of motivation.
Every page is reserved for one day, divided by a morning and an evening entry.
The Morning Entry
The morning entry is all about starting your day in a happy and positive way.
You first write down 3 things you’re feeling grateful for.
Then, you write down 3 things that you think and feel would make today amazing.
When you do this, your mind will go looking for the positives and how you can actually make today nothing less than amazing.
The Evening Entry
You’ll end your day by tuning into gratitude again, by jotting down 3 amazing things that happened that day.
I always take a minute and sit with these 3 amazing things, and I practice feeling joyful.
It really does put me in a better mood.
Finally, the journal prompts you to share how you could’ve made the day even more amazing.
The point isn’t to be hard on yourself or feel bad about what you did or didn’t achieve that day, but rather to shine a light on the things you can improve on tomorrow.
If you do this, you’ll intentionally try and make tomorrow even better.
The Five Questions In The Five Minute Journal
- I am grateful for (enter 3 things you feel grateful for today)
- What would make today great?
- Daily affirmations. I am…
- 3 amazing things that happened today
- How could I have made today even better?
I highly recommend that you get as specific as you possibly can with your answers.
Instead of writing down “I’m thankful for my body” or “I’m thankful for the weather”, write down what it is about your body or the weather you’re specifically thankful for.
The more detailed you are with your answers the easier it will be for you to truly connect to your emotions and feel these feelings on purpose.
Try and stray away from the generic gratefulness because it will be harder for you to connect to.
My Biggest Takeaways From The Five Minute Journal
1. It truly matters how you start and finish your day
How you start your day sets the tone for the rest of the day, and how you feel when you end your day sets the tone for the next morning.
Everything is connected in a lovely loop.
One of the major things that I’ve noticed after using the Five Minute Journal for two years is that I feel better, more creative, and connected to my purpose (oh gosh, I promise I’m not going woo-woo on you – bare with me).
In other words, when I start and end my days thinking about the little things that truly matter to me, I end up going into that day with a positive focus, which just results in my having a pretty awesome day.
2. It’s the little things
Speaking of the little things…
You don’t have to go out of your way or stress about finding something GOOD to feel thankful for every morning.
It’s the little things that count.
I mean, some mornings all I put down is a healthy body, my morning coffee, and a burning candle.
3. What you think determines how you feel
The thoughts you put down onto paper spark your emotions.
Your emotions spark your behavior, which then creates the results in your life.
Starting your day on a positive note has never been more important.
It all comes down to your mindset, dreamer. ✨
Busy bee? Pin this article for later.
Other Things I Love About The Five Minute Journal
In general, I am in awe over this journal, but there are a few features that I am especially fond of.
Daily inspiration
Every day comes with a new dose of daily inspiration – a quote to inspire and motivate.
I always love a good quote by brilliant minds to start my day on the right foot.
Weekly challenges
Every week, weekly challenges will appear in the quote’s place.
These weekly challenges are things that we all know we “should” be doing more of, and it’s nice to be reminded of this by the journal.
Examples of these challenges could be:
- Write down the accomplishments in your life you are most proud of
- Bake cookies this week and share them with a friend (I love this one!)
- Sing your favorite song in the shower this morning
The luxurious feel and look of the journal
The Five Minute Journal is esthetically pleasing and super handy size-wise.
Not too big and not too small.
So it’s easy to bring with you anywhere.
Any Downsides?
To be honest, the only thing I feel this journal is missing is a few more blank pages for free journaling.
But I mean, I can’t have it all, so my other journal (which is just a blank journal with lines) will have to do.
How Much Does The Five Minute Journal Cost?
The Five Minute Journal bucks out at $24.95 and it will last you a whole 6 months worth of journaling.
If you ask me, totally worth the moolah to have my days and evenings kicked off on a happy and more intentional note.
You can check it out and buy a copy for yourself here.
Before You Go
I love the Five Minute Journal from Intelligent Change.
But I would be lying if I said that it is the only journal I ever use.
After all, I am a planner and journal maniac.
If you want me to do a round-up post of all the planners and journals I use, let me know in the comments below.
As you can tell from this review, I highly recommend you grab a copy of the Five Minute Journal if you’ve been on the verge.
I went for it and I haven’t looked back once.
I’m currently wearing out my 4th copy of the journal.
Good luck on your journaling adventure.
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