Journaling failures and tips

[Sunrisetabby]

I believe, and my neurologist and therapist have recommended, that I start journaling. This is something that I have wanted to do for decades and hoping, planning, and then failing again to start seems to create a daily source of frustration, guilt, and disappointment. If I could do one line a day that would be wonderful. I know that it would also be helpful for me to write down all the prescription drugs and doses that I take, but somehow I am a pathetic daulre on that front as well.

I think it might be better for me to just give up and accept that I can't journal that I can't plan, that even if I have a to do list for the day consisting of a single item on a sticky note that I will inevitably fail to do it. But, I still know that it would be really helpful for my mental health and life if I could be even just a tiny bit more systematic and deliberate.

I have actually been doing a lot better recently and I plan to talk about this with my therapist later this week, but even just writing this down I can't believe how pathetic I sound. If anyone has any tips or suggestions that would be wonderful. I have several books on executive dysfunction and similar, and in the past gave been prescribed and taken without much benefit approximately ten different medication for adhd.

Thank you and have a great day!

[Thankfulforhelp22]

I have a journal and I made some rules for myself. I write in my journal when I feel like it and don't force myself to write every day. In fact, sometimes I go many days without writing anything at all. When I make an entry, it can be as long or as short as is needed to get my thoughts down. I try not to judge what i write or censor it (this part is hard).

I have successfully removed "guilt" as an issue regarding journaling thus far. I consider my journal to be mine, to be private, and to be an outlet.

[Sunrisetabby in reply to Thankfulforhelp22]

Thank you, Thankful. I like your rule of writing in the journal only when you feel like it. I think part of my problem is I self-sabotage by creating too many choices for myself. I have simple 3-5 note cards, I have a dedicated google doc, I have a dollar store journal, I have a sentence a day journal, I have an mp3 player to write audio notes and I have relentless worked to destroy all my bad excuses for not journaling because I want to jourbal, just about every day, but I almost never seem to succeed and then hate myself for failing. I appreciate your input!

[LoveforAll41 in reply to Sunrisetabby]

I agree with Thankfulforhelp. When I have guilt for not doing something I can go down a path to depression. I try to remember that I "want to" or "would like to" do things not that I "have to". I know that in atomic habits he talks about just doing 2 minutes a day, but I still like to do it whenever I feel like it more. Unless it is school for me or something that you aren't going to beat yourself up for not doing. Currently my journal is mostly notes from therapy and then emotions I want to work on.