Darlings, every January arrives with a certain kind of hush. The calendar turns, the world keeps spinning, and suddenly we are invited to begin again. Not in a dramatic, makeover-from-a-movie sort of way, but in the quiet way that actually lasts. The way that starts with a small decision made on an ordinary morning. And that is why I want to talk to you about journaling.

I’m often asked, “Honey, how do I start?” Or, “What do I even write?” And I always smile, because the truth is, journaling does not require talent, perfect grammar, or a poetic soul. It requires one brave thing: your willingness to sit with yourself. Journaling is self care that does not come in a bottle, a subscription, or a trendy little package. It is private, honest and it is yours. And if you let it, it becomes a soft place to land when life feels sharp.

This year, I’m entering the new season of my life with more intention than ever. I still carry grief. I still carry longing. I still carry hope. And I still believe in building “green pastures” even when the road has been winding. Journaling has been one of the ways I keep my footing through it all.

It is how I stay connected to my inner world when my outer world feels uncertain. It is how I mother myself when the ache of motherhood shows up in complicated ways. It is how I practice acceptance, without losing my spirit. So, let’s make this New Year the year we commit to a healthy habit that truly nourishes us from the inside out.

How is Journaling Real Self Care?

Self care is not just bubble baths and fresh flowers (though I adore both). Real self care is what helps you stay steady. It’s what helps you process the day instead of carrying it to bed with you. It’s what helps you live with clarity instead of chaos. Journaling can help you:

• Release what you’ve been holding in (without burdening your friends or swallowing your feelings)
• Sort through emotions that feel tangled
• Make peace with what you cannot change, while still honoring your hopes
• Track patterns in your thoughts, relationships, habits, and moods
• Celebrate your growth, especially the growth that no one else sees

Darling, we spend so much time listening and caring for others. But who is listening to you? A journal listens, holds your truth and never interrupts.

Why I’m Leaning on My Journal More Than Ever

I have lived long enough to know this: life does not always resolve the way we want it to. Some chapters end cleanly and others do not. Over the past several years, I have had to learn how to live with a kind of grief that is difficult to explain, the grief of loving people who are still alive, yet far away. I’ve had nights where I searched for answers and mornings where I tried to be brave anyway. I have had to learn acceptance in a way that is not passive, but purposeful. And journaling has helped me do that. Not because it erased the pain, but because it gave me a place to put it.

Sometimes I write like I’m talking to my Ultimate Concierge. Sometimes I write like I’m comforting a younger version of myself. Sometimes I write one sentence and close the book because that is all I can do that day. And sometimes, the words pour out like they’ve been waiting for permission. Journaling is not about creating a perfect life. It’s about creating a truthful one.

What Actually Works in the New Year

Every January, people make huge promises with shaky foundations.

“I’m going to change everything!”
“I’m going to become a new person!”
“I’m going to fix my whole life in 30 days!”

Darling, no. What works is small, steady, loving consistency. A healthy self care habit is not a dramatic declaration. It’s a gentle practice and choosing yourself in small ways that add up. So if you want to start journaling this year, here’s my advice: make it easy and make it yours.

Your Journaling Style

You do not need to journal like anyone else. You are not “behind” if you don’t write pages and pages. Your journal should match your personality and your season of life. Here are five journaling styles I see most often in women over 50:

The Heart-Opener

You write to process feelings. You might begin with, “Truthfully…” or “Today I feel…” and let it unfold. This is therapy on paper.

The Gratitude Gatherer

You focus on what is good, even on hard days. Not because you are pretending everything is fine, but because you are choosing to see what is still beautiful.

The Life Organizer

Lists, plans, goals, routines. Your journal is where you create order. And darling, order is a form of peace.

The Memory Keeper

You document stories. What you ate, where you went, what someone said, what made you laugh. These details become treasures later.

The Soul Artist

You collage, doodle, paint, sketch, underline, add quotes, tape in a receipt from a wonderful lunch, press a flower, make your pages a living scrapbook of your inner world.

What You Need (And What You Don’t)

Let’s make this simple! You need:

• A notebook or journal you’ll actually use
• A pen you enjoy holding
• A tiny pocket of time

You do not need:

• Fancy supplies
• Perfect handwriting
• A flawless routine

If you love a beautiful journal, buy one. Beauty matters because it invites you in. If you prefer a plain notebook, that’s perfect too. The magic is not in the cover, bur rather the commitment. And yes, you can journal digitally if that suits your life. But I will admit, there is something deeply soothing about pen on paper. It slows the mind down. It makes the moment feel more intimate. Here is my favorite journal that may inspire you to begin your journaling journey!

Create a Ritual

To build a journaling habit that truly lasts, begin embarrassingly small. Give yourself permission to write for just five minutes, or jot down one paragraph, or even a few simple thoughts, because your mind will almost always resist a big commitment, but it will willingly accept a small one.

Next, tie journaling to something you already do, so it becomes part of your natural rhythm. Write after brushing your teeth, while your coffee brews, or right before you turn out the light. When it’s attached to an existing routine, it starts to feel automatic instead of like another task on your list.

Finally, make journaling a place you genuinely want to return to. Keep it easy, but make it inviting: a pen you love, a chair that feels good, a tiny ritual like lighting a candle or playing soft music. The goal is to let journaling feel like self care, not homework.

What Do I Write?

If you’re staring at a blank page thinking, “Well… now what?” try one of these. They are simple, but powerful.

• What do I need more of this year?
• What do I need less of this year?
• What am I avoiding feeling?
• What am I proud of that no one applauded?
• Where in my life do I need to practice acceptance?
• What kind of woman am I becoming?
• What would I say to myself if I spoke with tenderness instead of criticism?

My New Year Challenge for You

I want you to create a relationship with yourself that feels steady and kind. So here is my challenge… For the next seven days, give yourself five quiet minutes with a notebook and a pen. Not to perform, not to “fix” anything, and not to create something polished, but simply to show up for your own inner life.

Sit down with your thoughts the way you would sit down with a dear friend, and let whatever is true have a place to land. Some days you may feel grateful, other days you may feel scattered or tender or unsure, but the point is that you are listening. Five minutes a day is enough to build trust with yourself again, enough to begin noticing what you need, what you’ve been carrying, and what you’re ready to release. If those five minutes turn into ten, lovely. If they stay at five, also lovely. Just open the page, breathe, and begin.

New Year, New Pages

This is not about becoming a “new you” overnight. It is about returning to the truest you, one page at a time. A journal is not a place you go to get it right. It is a place you go to be real, to unload what is heavy, to celebrate what is good, and to make room for whatever is trying to bloom inside you this year.

So choose a notebook that makes you smile, pick up a pen, and give yourself five quiet minutes a day for the next seven days. Let that be your healthy habit, your small act of devotion, your beginning. And if you feel like sharing, tell me in the comments: what do you hope journaling will give you this year?

*Darling, I only ever share what I truly love. Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.