The little things I write down that help me show up
I never thought I’d stick to journaling. It always felt like one more thing to do. But when I started keeping a simple habit journal—nothing fancy, just a notebook with a few daily check-ins—it changed the way I look at my days.
Now it’s not about writing essays. It’s about noticing. Noticing what works, what drags me down, what gives me a little lift. Here’s what I track in my habit journal, most days.
1. Sleep
Just a rough idea—what time I went to bed, how I slept. If I wake up tired or groggy, I can usually trace it back to a late night or too much scrolling.
2. Movement
Did I stretch? Walk? Sweat a bit? I’m not tracking workouts like a fitness tracker, just paying attention to whether I moved my body. Even a short walk counts.
3. Screen time
Sometimes I write “too much.” Sometimes I note if I had a screen-free hour or stayed off Instagram till noon. It’s not about guilt—it’s just so I see the patterns.
4. Food & water
Again, no calorie counting. I just write if I had a solid meal, skipped breakfast, drank enough water. Some days I forget to eat real food—and it always shows in how I feel.
5. Mood
I just scribble how I feel. Not big words—maybe just “ugh,” “calm,” or “a bit low.” Some days I write a sentence if something’s weighing on me. Over time, I’ve noticed I start to see little patterns. Like how Mondays feel heavier, or how I’m lighter after a good walk.
6. One Small Win
At the end of the day, I try to note one thing that felt good. It can be really tiny. Like, “I actually made my bed today,” or “I didn’t yell when I was frustrated.” Feels like a way of reminding myself, “Hey, you showed up. You tried.”
7. One line for tomorrow
I write down one thing I want to do tomorrow. Just one. “Drink more water.” “Don’t check phone first thing.” “Talk to mom.” It’s not a to-do list—it’s just an intention. Feels doable.
This habit journal is not about being perfect. It's about staying connected to myself. And when I skip a day or two (or a week), I just come back. No guilt.
Do you track anything daily—or is journaling something you've wanted to try but haven’t started yet?
