What’s All The Hype?: The Five-Minute Journal

I was first introduced to The Five-Minute Journal through TikTok. Aimless scrolling through what seems to be a never-ending “For You Page”, led me to the viral journal. In the app’s compelling fashion, I was influenced.

As someone who’s beginning to explore the world of health and wellness, I was familiar with the concept of journaling, but never took it upon myself to try. The Five-Minute Journal made me want to start.

What sets The Five-Minute Journal apart is its guided gratitude format. It promotes positive thinking while establishing a routine with six months' worth of daily entries.

The POWER OF JOURNALING

You’d be surprised how many legendary figures kept a journal/diary; Frida Kahlo, Albert Einstein, and Leonardo De Vinci to mention a few. For them, it was a way to release their thoughts and feelings. Evidently, its purpose has still remained in modern-day.

There are numerous benefits to journaling. One of them being that it’s an easy way to implement positive thinking, which has been proven to enhance mental clarity and overall happiness. It’s known to reduce stress, increase productivity, and is a healthy way to process emotions.

Understanding the five-minute journal

Journaling is a simple task however, as a beginner it can be challenging to get in the groove of it. The Five-Minute Journal’s guidelines add to the approachability of the journal. Not to mention, it doesn’t take more than a few minutes.

The journal encourages its users to pinpoint what they’re grateful for. Eventually, you will realize that there is an abundance of things to be appreciative of that you wouldn’t typically acknowledge during your day to day.

The contents of the journal consist of a few basic questions. It’ll ask for a positive affirmation, what could make your day great, what you could’ve done to make your day better, three good things that have contributed to your day, and something you’re grateful for.

The journal is designed to be used once you wake up and right before bed. That’s why it’s important to keep it within close reach, like your bedside table. You’ll end your evening writing in the highlights of your day and what you’ve learned.

It’s not about filling the pages with impressive anecdotes. It’s totally normal to show gratitude to what may be perceived as small or mundane. It’s easy to hone in on the negative things of the day, so often that we can get stuck in a routine of doing it. Devoting five minutes a day to the journal instead of fuelling negative thoughts helps create a healthy habit.

Tim Ferriss, an American entrepreneur best known for his Four-Hour Self-Help book series, has a YouTube video on his approach to the journal. It’s definitely worth a watch.

Where to get it

The journal is available at multiple retailers. Both online and in-store, you can purchase it on Amazon, Revolve, Target, and Urban Outfitters. The price ranges from $15.67 to $29.50 USD. I can understand this may be out of budget for what appears to be a mere “notebook.” Although, you can consider it as a self-investment. You can get an online PDF version on IntelligentChange.com for a more budget-friendly option.

Journaling may be the new wave in terms of health and wellness. It’s accessible, approachable, and a timeless task of self-betterment which makes it worth while.

“Journaling is like whispering to one’s self and listening at the same time.” - Nina Murray

Would you try The Five-Minute-Journal? Leave a comment below.