I got back into regular journaling in the second half of last year. Before that I used to be on and off with it and it never developed into a solid habit. However, now I write personally and publically (on SN) pretty much every day, and it has become more of a routine for me to write.

I think what has helped me stay consistent with journaling and writing at large, is to establish a clear reason in why I want to make it a habit. Before I would just write in a journal just because, or because I heard that it could be beneficial but I didn't know exactly why. The reason I started journaling this time around was because I had this itch that I wanted to leave behind some sort of legacy. Through my journals of life in which I write down anything from the most mundane to some more in depth reflection and analysis of life, I aim to pass down my acquired knowledge and experiences to whomever wants to entertain themselves with my writing and record of living. It could end up that I just read them on my own death bed and have a nice chuckle before I die, or it could end up in the hands of my great great grandchild or whoever and help to inspire them or teach them something, I don't know.

In addition, I've noticed both on a subjective and quantifiable level (through my wearable device, the Whoop), that journaling and writing down my thoughts immediately and substantially lowers my overall stress level. On the app for my wearable, it shows a real time chart of where my current stress is at, and after journaling for 5 minutes or so my stress level drops like how the chart of a crypto coin does right after a massive dump.

And by consistently writing on my personal journal for close to 6 months now, it has rekindled my love for writing and has given me the confidence to write publically on SN.

Therefore, journaling can be a simple way to achieve a little bit more fulfillment in life and at least for me it seems to be a great reliever of stress.