Goal setting, list making, action planning, resolution making and journaling are all part of the big January detox when we think to ourselves

'this time I'm going to make it count'.

 And you'd be right. Conjuring an image of what you want your year to look like and writing down goals and plans to help you get there works wonders for keeping you motivated and reminded of where you want to be with monthly, weekly and even daily tasks to get you there. And it absolutely doesn't have to be dull or feel like a chore... it's your life, your goals and you get to decide how to get from A to B.

But, if you're new to journaling, feel unorganised or are simply not sure where to start, here are my tips for getting the most out of your journal:

keep it simple

There's no need to make your journal complicated. It's there as tool to help you simplify and progress, so in order to help you do that it itself must be simple. If you're the type of person who needs to brain dump, dedicate specific pages to this so that your thoughts and ideas can be jotted down quickly. But then go through and organise into pages dedicated to to-do lists (for the day, week, month, year), goals, ideas, thoughts and anything else you'd like to keep a log of.

be consistent

If you're new to journaling it may take a little while for you to make it part of your routine, especially if you're not use to taking time out for yourself to reflect. But keeping consistent will help you slow down and really focus on where you are, where you're aiming to be and what needs to be done to get there. It's a great way to track progress, set goals and keep tasks... but this will only work to serve you if you're consistent. So if you need to set an alarm or reminder or tie it to another daily task (like always making sure to journal after dinner or before you brush your teeth), it's a great way to ensure you're getting your daily fix which will soon become routine.

tailor it

No two journals will look the same. We each have personal goals, dreams and aspirations that are reflected in our journals. So whether you're someone who thrives with task lists, gratitude logs or target setting, your journal should be representative of your journey and needs. A journal should be used as a tool to help you rather than being another item on your to-do list.

Always remember that your journal is there as a tool to help you. Treat it well and it will, in turn, treat you well.