Three Simple Journal Themes To Improve Your Life

June 08, 2025 · By Josh

Journal: Your Life Depends on It

That seems a bit hyperbolic and I will admit that it is. You will live if you don't journal, but journaling will unlock so much of your mental potential. There is something about hurling your thoughts into the void. Bringing them out of nothing and putting them down into reality. Giving your thoughts structure. Forcing your thoughts to go from the abstract, fluid, ephemeral presences they are into tangible, translatable words.

Writing, and by extension journaling, helps you hone your thoughts and ideas. Guided journaling about a specific subject helps you sharpen your thoughts on it. You clarify the thoughts you have and potentially unlock others you didn't know were swimming around up there.

Three types of journaling that I swear by:

Morning Pages

Untangle the mess before the day begins This is where my journaling begins. First thing in the morning. The other day I sat down to write and I heard, "Pick me up." I turned around and my adorable two-year-old son was standing next to my computer.

5:30 a.m.!

If that becomes a pattern I am going to lose my mind. It felt like I lost my mind. It felt like my mind didn't get a chance to untangle itself. That is exactly what the morning pages do. They untangle the mess that is your mind. By the end of the 750 words, I've honed what I want to accomplish for the day. I take this a step further by utilizing TypeSlate's autocopy to clipboard and I paste my journal session into ChatGPT and it helps me create a plan of attack.

Gratitude Journal

Start grounded with what's good This one keeps me grounded. It reminds me how great life is. Sometimes it's simple stuff like the clear sky and the temperate weather, and other times it's when a diagnosis scare turns out benign. Either way, expressing gratitude first thing in the morning reminds me that life is good and there are so many things I am grateful for. Putting the grateful foot forward is an excellent way to start your day.

Stressors

Write the weight off your shoulders This is one of the most practical journaling I do. I sit and stare at the blank page and then write about anything that causes me anxiety. Anything weighing heavy on my mind, I write it down. I elaborate on it. I don't try to solve it or fix the problem. I don't stop the journaling session. I just write them all down. Then move on to the next one. Then I paste the results in GPT and it helps me organize the list of actionable things I can do to alleviate the stress.

Bonus: Brainstorming

Let the creative floodgates open . This is another journaling technique I enjoy when start a new project. Whether it's a book and I want to brainstorm the plot and the world, or a coding project or website.

I riff.

Write down anything that comes to mind. Sometimes jumping from one thing to another without finishing my thoughts. Just let the thoughts flow out. Get out of their way. When I finish , I let an AI untangle the mess and make sense of it all.

Journal, your good life depends on it

I guess my closing argument isn’t as hyperbolic as my opening one. I will say that you will improve your quality of life by reflecting on it and fleshing out the tangled thoughts that rattle around up there.

It just so happens that I've created the perfect tool for journaling. This one. Try it for 30 days. Try these journaling sessions and I dare you to say that it hasn't improved your life.