I'm sure you've already heard that journaling has many benefits. It can raise your spirits when you practice gratitude in it. It can help you increase self-awareness. It reduces stress levels when you download all the thoughts mixed in your mind onto paper and then take time to analyze them.

And in the process, you become a better writer – if you've ever wanted to write a book or your own marketing copy as an entrepreneur.

But there are many other ways you can use journaling to your benefit, especially as an entrepreneur.

Below, I share with you 5 ideas on how I use journaling to grow my business.

1. Weekly planning

I'm an avid planner. My weekly plans align with the strategic plan and vision I have for my business. A remarkably simple planning system I use fits on one page of my journal. It doesn't take longer than 15 mins to plan my week each Sunday. But, at the same time, it massively improved my productivity.

It's because I start each week knowing exactly what my tops priorities are and when I'm going to accomplish them. Thanks to it, I don't over-schedule myself either. I completely eliminated the never-ending to-do-list that just used to always keep growing on me and stressing me out.

And finally, the longer I use this system, the more productive I get with my time. I can accomplish in one week what some people need a month or two for.

2. A Running list of:

This one is not for a never-ending to-do list, but more of a list of business ideas and topics for your content. Also: books to read and resources you came across and want to check out.

I do it because our minds tend to forget (or talk us out of) any fantastic new idea our creative side comes up with. So if you don't write it down right after you think of it, you'll likely never think of it again. And what if that idea was the one you needed to create a massive breakthrough in your business?

So even if hate journaling, then at least get into the habit of writing down your ideas as soon as they cross your mind. You'll thank me for this later.

3. Brainstorming

Once you wrote down an idea and decided it's a great one to implement, a journal can help you get your thoughts organized. Once you're ready to action, start with brainstorming about it.

Is it a new offering you want to introduce?

Think about how it would look like, who'd be the ideal person to benefit from it, what it would take to create it, and then sell it.

Then start organizing your brainstorming into stages of a project. And keep going deeper into details. You won't even notice how fast you'll have a full draft version of a project plan!

4. Taking control of your mind

We all have moments when our brain is trying to convince us that we're not capable of going after and achieving our dreams. When these negative thoughts overtake your day, it can be demoralizing and even paralyzing.

I found journaling to be an amazing tool to quickly turn these negative goblins into positive elves. It helps make my thoughts intentional.

There are many exercises out there that help with that.

The simplest one is to write down your thoughts as they are and then rewrite them into positive and believable affirmations.

For example, from "I'm not a known expert in marketing, who'd then buy from me?" to "I developed skill on marketing through …. I know I'm good as my clients love my work and keep coming back. Not everyone can afford a known expert. Only because I'm not famous doesn't mean I'm not an expert in my field." - I hope you get the gist of it now.

5. Maximizing the investment in self-development journey

If you're an entrepreneur committed to growing your business, I'm assuming you're investing in your self-development. As you're learning new skills through books, podcasts, courses, or coaching, journaling can enhance such learning and maximize your investment.

How?

First, track your progress. For example, if you've decided to develop a new habit of reading every day, track the days when you read and how long. Or if you've decided to connect with 10 new people each day, track how many people you connect with each day.

Tracking will give you awareness of how you're doing with that skill. It's not meant to be a tool for you to beat yourself up every time you miss a day. Contrary, it helps you to realize when you're consistent with it and when not. Then ask yourself why? Once you know that you can improve.

Which brings me to the 2nd step – performance analysis. Analyzing what you're doing and how you can improve takes this to a whole new level.

For example, if you're working on improving your sales skills. You tracked how many potential ideal client conversations you've had each week.

Then, write down what went well and what didn't go as well as you'd like. Next, think about and write down what you can do differently next time. Then go and try it. You won't believe how much you can improve by this simple exercise.

Are you going to pick up one of these tips and start journaling today?

I hope you do. And then also that you'll slowly adopt all 5 or more.

Once you're ready and want to know more about my weekly planning or how to journal your way out of negative thoughts, reach out. Schedule a free brainstorming session here. I'll be happy to share some of my other journaling secrets 😉.