7 Reasons Why Is It Hard to Start Journaling?

Journaling is often seen as a simple and therapeutic habit, a space to pour out thoughts, dreams, and worries. 

Yet, if you’ve ever sat down with a beautiful notebook or a digital journal and found yourself staring at a blank page, you’ve probably asked yourself: Why is it hard to start journaling? 

It might surprise you, but the difficulty often has more to do with mindset and emotions than the actual act of writing.

The reason why it is so hard to start journaling is because it’s deeply personal, and that makes it intimidating. 

There’s the fear of not knowing what to write, the pressure to make it “perfect,” or even the discomfort of confronting your own thoughts and emotions. 

Add to that the fast pace of modern life, and journaling can easily become one more thing on your to-do list that never gets done. 

But what we don’t realize is that it doesn’t have to be profound, perfect, or even consistent to make an impact. Journaling is for you, and that’s all that matters.

When my husband and I first started journaling, we faced many of these same struggles. I remember opening my notebook, ready to pour my heart out, but instead, I froze. 

I didn’t know where to start. Should I write about my day? My dreams? My worries? When I finally started, I hated how messy the page looked. Crooked lines, scribbled-out sentences, and disjointed thoughts. 

I even tore out the first few pages because they didn’t feel “good enough.”

Sound familiar? If you’ve felt this way, you’re not alone. The doubts creep in: What if I’m doing it wrong? What if someone reads this? Does this even matter? 

These fears and uncertainties are common, and they’re part of why so many people struggle to start or stick with journaling. But what I’ve learned is that the magic of journaling is in letting go of those doubts and embracing the process.

In this blog, we’re going to explore why journaling can feel so hard to start and how to overcome the mental and emotional blocks that stand in the way. 

We’ll share personal experiences, practical tips, and insights to help you get started and keep going. 

By the end of this blog, you’ll see that journaling isn’t about getting it “right” but about showing up for yourself. Journaling doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be yours. 

No matter where you’re starting from, there’s a way to make journaling work for you, and we’re here to guide you through it. Let’s dive in.

7 Reasons Why It’s So Hard for You to Start Journaling

Let’s get straight to the heart of why you’re here, figuring out why is it so hard to start journaling. There could be so many reasons that might be holding you back. 

Once you understand these, you’ll see that the barriers to journaling are often easier to overcome than they seem. Let’s start with one of the most significant challenges: The Fear of Getting It “Wrong.”

1. The Fear of Getting It “Wrong”

One of the biggest reasons people hesitate to start journaling is the fear of doing it “wrong.” It sounds strange, doesn’t it? After all, journaling is meant to be personal and free-form. 

Yet, this fear is very real and often paralyzing. Many of us think that whatever we write has to be perfect. It has to be well-written, meaningful, or even beautifully presented. 

This perfectionist mindset can make the blank page feel overwhelming as if every word we write is being judged.

When I first started journaling, I felt the same way. I wanted my entries to look like the ones I’d seen online, full of artistic doodles, deep reflections, and profound insights. 

But that pressure made me overthink everything. Instead of writing freely, I found myself crossing sentences or rewriting them to “sound better.” Journaling, which should have felt free, started to feel like a chore.

But the truth is that there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to journal. It’s not about perfect grammar, neat handwriting, or writing the “right” things. 

Your journal is your space, a place where you can be messy, honest, and unapologetically yourself. If you’re worried about making mistakes, remind yourself that the act of writing is what matters, not how it looks or sounds. 

Once you let go of this fear, journaling can become the therapeutic and rewarding habit it’s meant to be.

2. Overwhelmed by Where to Start

Another common reason journaling feels so hard to start is the overwhelming question of where to start. You might have the perfect notebook or digital journal ready, but when it’s time to write, your mind goes blank. 

Should you start by describing your day? Maybe dive into your emotions? Or is it better to list your goals and dreams? The sheer number of possibilities can feel paralyzing and make you feel stuck before you even begin.

I remember sitting down with my pen poised, only to realize I had no idea what to write about. My thoughts were all over the place. There was so much I could write about, but nothing seemed like the “right” thing to begin with. 

I’d flip through blank pages, feeling defeated before even putting pen to paper.

This overwhelm generally comes from the misconception that journaling has to follow a specific format or structure. We think there’s a “best” way to start, but the beauty of journaling is in its flexibility. 

You don’t need a perfect entry to get going. Start anywhere, with a thought, a feeling, or even a single word. It could be as simple as writing, “I don’t know what to write today.”

What helped me was giving myself permission to write imperfectly. I stopped worrying about whether my starting point was good enough and just wrote whatever came to mind. 

Some days, it was a to-do list. Other days, it was a rant about how I was feeling. Over time, I realized that there’s no wrong place to start, what matters is that you do start. 

Once you get that first sentence down, the rest flows naturally.

3. Perfectionism Holds You Back

For many of us, perfectionism is a sneaky barrier that keeps us from starting or sticking to journaling. You might feel like your journal needs to look “just right.” 

Maybe you think that it should be filled with perfectly crafted sentences, elegant handwriting, or deep and insightful thoughts. But when that doesn’t happen, it’s natural to feel discouraged and stop before you even begin.

I remember I’d spend more time worrying about how my journal looked than focusing on what I was actually writing. If my handwriting wasn’t neat or my thoughts didn’t seem “profound enough,” I’d feel frustrated. 

As I said before, I even tore out pages or rewrote entries just to make them look better. But journaling isn’t supposed to be perfect, it’s meant to be real.

Perfectionism often comes from the belief that what we create needs to be polished and presentable, but a journal is the opposite of that. 

It’s your private space where you can be messy, raw, and unfiltered. There’s no audience to impress and no standard to meet. The pressure to make it “perfect” can take away the joy of simply putting your thoughts onto the page.

What helped me overcome this was reminding myself that my journal was for me, not anyone else. I let go of the idea that my entries needed to be “Instagram-worthy” or inspirational. 

Instead, I focused on showing up and writing, no matter how messy it looked. When you let go of the idea of perfectionism, journaling becomes a liberating practice rather than another task to get “right.”

4. Confronting Emotions Feels Uncomfortable

One of the hardest parts about journaling is the way it pushes you to confront your emotions. Writing can feel like opening the door to thoughts and feelings you’ve been avoiding, and that can be uncomfortable and even scary. 

It’s easier to keep those emotions bottled up than to put them on paper where they suddenly feel more real.

A few months after I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, my doctor suggested taking therapy. My therapist would make me sit on a couch in a relaxed position with my eyes closed, and think of the thoughts that might be troubling me.  

Starting journaling was a similar experience. I didn’t expect it to stir up so much. I’d sit down to write about my day, but instead, I’d find myself thinking about the worries, regrets, or fears I hadn’t fully processed. 

It felt heavy at times and I’d question whether journaling was even worth it if it meant feeling this vulnerable.

The truth is that this discomfort is part of why journaling is so powerful. It allows you to process emotions that might otherwise stay buried. But getting to that point requires pushing past the initial unease. 

It’s okay to feel uncomfortable. Journaling isn’t about having all the answers or instantly feeling better. It’s about giving yourself a safe space to explore what’s on your mind and heart, no matter how messy or complicated it feels.

What helped me was starting small. Instead of diving into the deep end of my emotions, I began by writing simple and surface-level thoughts. 

Gradually, as I grew more comfortable, I found myself opening up without even realizing it. 

If confronting emotions feels too overwhelming, remind yourself that you don’t have to write everything all at once. Take it one step at a time. The process might be uncomfortable, but it’s also incredibly healing.

5. Lack of Time or Energy

Another big reason why it’s so hard to start journaling is the simple fact that life gets in the way as we all live in a very hectic and fast-paced world.

When your days are packed with work, responsibilities, and endless to-do lists, journaling can feel like just one more thing to add to your plate. 

By the time you finally sit down, you might feel too drained even to pick up a pen.

There were, and still are so many days when I’d tell myself, “I’ll journal before bed,” but when the time came, I was either too tired or too distracted. 

It felt like I needed a dedicated hour and a peaceful setting to do it “properly,” and if I didn’t have that, I’d skip it altogether.

The reality is that journaling doesn’t have to take up a huge chunk of your time or energy. You don’t need to write pages and pages every day. Even five minutes can make a difference. 

What helped me was shifting my mindset, and switching to a digital journal that I’ll talk about later. I started treating journaling as a quick check-in rather than a big task. 

Some days, I’d write just a few sentences or things I was grateful for.

If time and energy are barriers for you, start small. Keep your journal within reach and write when you feel like it. Whether it’s during your morning coffee, on your lunch break, or right before bed. 

It doesn’t have to be perfect or lengthy to be meaningful.

6. Unrealistic Expectations

Unrealistic expectations can make journaling feel more daunting than it needs to be. You might imagine that every entry has to be insightful, poetic, or life-changing. 

Or you may believe that journaling will instantly solve your problems or give you clarity about your life. When the reality doesn’t match these high expectations, it’s normal to feel discouraged and give up.

I’m sure you would have understood by now that journaling isn’t about writing perfect entries or achieving immediate breakthroughs. It’s about showing up, being honest with yourself, and giving your thoughts a place to breathe. 

Some days, your writing will feel messy and disorganized, and that’s okay. Journaling is a process, not a performance or a quick fix.

What will help you is focusing on consistency rather than results. Stop trying to write “the perfect journal entry” and allow yourself to simply write down whatever comes to mind. 

7. Not Knowing the Benefits

Sometimes, the hardest part about starting journaling is not fully understanding why it’s worth your time. If you don’t know the benefits, journaling might not make much sense to you and can feel like just another task on your to-do list. 

Without a clear sense of how it can improve your life, it’s natural to question whether it’s worth the effort or simply put it off for another day.

Journaling is a very powerful practice that can help you see patterns in your life, set goals, and celebrate your progress. You may not realize how valuable journaling can be if you do not know this.

What helped me, and can help you as well, was experimenting. Start by writing down simple things like what are you grateful for or a few thoughts about your day. 

Over time, you’ll see how much lighter and more focused you feel after journaling. 

Now I use journaling to practice mindfulness, self-care, gratitude, setting goals, and organizing my days and weeks. I am using a digital planner that enables me to do all this in a single place but more on that later. 

What Are Common Reasons People Avoid Journaling?

While the main reasons people struggle with journaling often boil down to the seven we’ve already discussed, there are other reasons that also make journaling less appealing for some. 

These reasons might not always be obvious, but they can quietly hold you back from picking up a pen or opening your digital journal.

One common reason is simply not feeling the need to journal. If you’ve never tried it before or don’t see a direct problem it could solve in your life, you might think that it is unnecessary. 

Journaling often requires a level of emotional or mental investment and without a clear purpose or immediate benefit you can easily dismiss it as something you don’t “need.”

Another reason is the misconception that journaling is only for certain types of people like writers, creatives, or those who are naturally introspective. 

This belief can make you feel like journaling isn’t for you because you don’t fit into one of these categories. But the truth is that journaling is for everyone. 

Whether you’re logical, emotional, creative, or practical, there’s a style of journaling that can suit your personality and needs.

Finally, there are digital distractions. In today’s fast-paced and tech-driven world, spending time writing by hand can feel out of sync with the way we live. 

With our phones, tablets, and endless apps, carving out quiet time for journaling might feel unnatural or even boring compared to the instant gratification of scrolling through social media.

Why Does Staring at a Blank Page Feel Intimidating?

There’s something about a blank page that can stop us in our tracks. It feels full of possibility but also strangely daunting, as if the empty space demands something perfect or profound. 

This feeling is incredibly common and it’s one of the reasons so many people struggle to get started with journaling.

One reason staring at a blank page feels intimidating is the pressure to fill it “the right way.” Even though journaling is meant to be personal and freeform, many of us get caught up in overthinking. 

What if my thoughts don’t make sense? What if my writing sounds silly? This fear of judgment, even though no one else will read it, can make the act of starting feel much harder than it should be.

Another factor is the sheer openness of a blank page. It offers no prompts, no guidelines, no structure. While this freedom is wonderful in theory, it can also make you feel unsure of where to begin. 

You might think, “What if I waste this space?” or “How do I even start putting my thoughts into words?”

From personal experience, I’ve found that staring at a blank page often amplifies self-doubt. When I started journaling, I’d sit there with my pen hovering, unsure if what I wanted to write was “worthy” of the page. 

The longer I stared, the more overwhelming it became.

The good news is that overcoming this fear doesn’t require grand solutions. A simple tip that helped me is to start with one word, a sentence, or even a doodle. 

A blank page doesn’t need perfection, it just needs something to break the ice. Once you take that first step, the words usually follow, and the page feels less intimidating and more like a space that’s yours to fill.

Another thing that helped me was switching to a digital journal that had prompts and sections that guided my writing. 

How Do I Start Journaling as a Complete Beginner?

Journaling can be as unique and varied as the people who practice it. There are so many different types of journals out there for different purposes and needs. 

You might wonder if you should start a gratitude journal, a manifestation journal, a self-improvement journal, or something entirely different. And that’s the beauty of journaling, there’s no one-size-fits-all.

Related Blog: What Are The Different Types of Journaling

In today’s hectic and fast-paced world where we barely have time to pause, journaling gives a much-needed chance to slow down and reconnect. 

It is a medium to practice mindfulness, gratitude, and self-care, a tool for personal growth, self-improvement, and manifesting our dream lives, and a safe space to process emotions and focus on what truly matters.

If you’re a beginner and feel overwhelmed about how to start, my suggestion would be to start with something simple, like the morning pages. This is a technique where you write down whatever comes to your mind first thing in the morning. 

There’s no structure or pressure to make it perfect, just grab a pen and let the words flow.

When my husband and I started to journal, we also faced similar challenges. We wanted journaling to be a medium to practice mindfulness and self-care and simplify our lives. 

I also wanted my journal to be a place to track the factors that might aggravate my fibromyalgia pain, like sleep, exercise, diet, stress levels, etc.

On top of that, we were, and still are, in the process of building this blogging website which meant we needed a system and place to organize our short- and long-term goals effectively.

But when we looked at how to make this work, it became clear that keeping separate journals for mindfulness, goal-setting, health tracking, and everything else wasn’t practical. 

Life is already complicated enough, and we didn’t want our journaling routine to feel like another overwhelming task.

That’s when we decided to create our own journal: the Mindful Living Digital Planner. It’s a journal, planner, and health tracker all in one, designed with simplicity and balance in mind.

We’ve designed it to be a complete toolkit for mindfulness, gratitude, self-care, and personal growth. It combines the best aspects of different journaling styles into one place. For example, it has:

• Yearly and Monthly Goal-setting pages to help you turn your dreams into actionable steps.
• Yearly and Monthly Vision board spaces to visualize what you want to achieve.
• Daily planner pages with prompts for gratitude, affirmations, to-dos, priority tasks, and reflections, so you never run out of ideas.
• A daily health tracker page to monitor your physical and mental well-being.

We designed it to be straightforward and easy to use. ALL the pages are hyperlinked so you can effortlessly move between them. It’s been a game-changer for us.

Creating this planner was our way of solving the challenges we faced when starting to journal, and it’s been an incredible tool to help us live a more intentional and mindful life. 

If you’re new to journaling, I encourage you to start with what feels right for you. Whether it’s morning pages, a simple notebook, or even a tool like our planner. The important thing is to start.

By writing down your dreams and aspirations, you clarify your intentions and create a roadmap to achieve them. Journaling keeps your goals front and center, making it easier to stay motivated and take actionable steps.

What Are the Benefits of Journaling, and How Can They Motivate Me to Start?

Journaling has this incredible ability to help us make sense of the chaos in our minds. At its core, it’s simply about putting your thoughts into words, but the process itself is transformative. 

One of the first things you’ll notice when you start journaling is how it helps you deal with stress. 

Life today is fast-paced, and most of us carry around a heavy mental load like worries about work, family, health, or just the unpredictability of life. 

Writing these thoughts down has a way of making them feel lighter. Instead of letting your anxieties swirl endlessly in your head, putting them on paper gives them structure. 

You can look at them, understand them, and often realize they’re not as insurmountable as they seemed.

But the benefits don’t stop there. Journaling can also be an emotional release, especially on those tough days when everything feels like it’s piling up. 

For me, there have been moments when I’ve poured my anger, frustration, or sadness into my journal, and by the end of it, I felt calmer and more grounded. 

It’s not about solving everything in one sitting but about giving yourself the space to feel and process.

There’s also something profoundly clarifying about writing down your thoughts. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been stuck on a problem, unsure of what to do, only to find the answer staring back at me once I’d written it out. 

Seeing your thoughts in black and white helps you step back and analyze them more objectively. It’s like having a conversation with yourself, but one where you finally get to listen without distractions.

Journaling also helps you develop self-awareness. When you take the time to reflect on your day, your choices, and your emotions, patterns start to emerge. 

You might notice that certain situations consistently trigger stress or that you’ve been avoiding something important. Over time, this habit of self-reflection helps you grow. It’s like having a road map for your personal development.

And let’s not forget how creative journaling can be. If I’ve not already said it enough times, there’s no “right” way to do it, which means you can experiment freely.

Doodle, write poetry, create lists, or just scribble random thoughts, it all counts. This freedom makes journaling not just a tool for organizing your mind but also a source of joy and inspiration.

If you’ve been hesitant to start journaling, think of it as a small gift you give yourself each day. Start with a few lines, a question you’re pondering, or a gratitude list. 

The more you write, the more you’ll uncover its benefits, and before long, it might become one of the best parts of your routine.

Wrapping Up – Why Is It Hard to Start Journaling?

Every new thing you start doing in life is going to be hard at first. It’s perfectly normal to feel unsure or even a little intimidated at first. 

But if we let that fear hold us back, we miss out on the joy of discovery and the growth that comes with it. Think about when you first learned to ride a bike. It wasn’t easy, was it? 

There were probably plenty of wobbles, falls, and maybe even a few scraped knees. But you didn’t give up, and soon enough, you found yourself soaring down the street with the wind in your hair and a smile on your face.

Journaling is much the same. 

It might feel awkward in the beginning, like you’re not sure what to write or if you’re doing it “right.” But again, there’s no wrong way to journal. It’s your space, your thoughts, and your journey. 

Over time, as you let go of expectations and just write, you’ll find that it becomes second nature, something you genuinely look forward to.

What starts as a simple practice of putting pen to paper can grow into one of the most grounding and enriching parts of your day. 

It’s a space to reflect, to dream, to unload the weight of the world from your shoulders. More than that, it’s something that will put your mind at ease, help you track your progress, become a better version of yourself, and improve your mental and emotional well-being.

So, give yourself the gift of patience. Allow yourself to start small, to be messy, to be imperfect. 

Because one day, you’ll look back and realize that this little habit has quietly become a cornerstone of your personal growth, and you’ll be so glad you took that first step. Namaste! 

Related Blogs on Journaling

• What Is Journaling and What Are Its Benefits?
• 5 Simple Steps to Start Journaling for Mental Health
• How to Start a Health and Wellness Journal
• How Can Journaling Boost Your Productivity
• How to Journal for Overthinking
• What Is a Morning Journal and How to Journal in the Morning?
• Journaling vs. Keeping a Diary: What’s the Difference?
• What Type of Self Care Is Journaling?
• How to Organize a Personal Journal
• How to Manifest Through Journaling
• Should You Meditate Before Journaling?

FAQs – Why Is It So Hard to Start Journaling?

Why Am I Not Able to Journal?

It’s normal to feel stuck when starting something new, including journaling. Often, we overthink what to write or worry about doing it “right.” 

Remember, journaling is your personal space, there’s no need for perfection. Start small and write whatever comes to mind, even if it’s just a few words.

Why Do I Have a Hard Time Keeping a Journal?

Consistency can feel challenging, especially if journaling isn’t yet part of your routine. The key is to make it easy, set aside just five minutes a day. 

Treat it as a moment for yourself, free from pressure or expectations.

Why Am I So Resistant to Journaling?

Resistance often comes from fear, fear of facing your thoughts, or fear of not doing it perfectly. But journaling isn’t about judgment, it’s about self-expression. 

Be patient with yourself, and remind yourself that this practice is for your benefit and growth.

Why Do I Struggle With Journaling?

Struggling with journaling might mean you’re putting too much pressure on yourself. Let go of the idea of structure or rules. 

Your journal doesn’t need to make sense to anyone but you. Start by jotting down whatever is on your mind without overthinking it.

What Stops People From Journaling?

Many people hesitate to journal because they feel they’re too busy, unsure of what to write, or afraid their thoughts will be judged. 

But as we’ve shared in the blog, journaling is a private and flexible practice that adapts to your life, it doesn’t have to be perfect.

What Is a Good Age to Start Journaling?

There’s no “right” age to begin journaling, it’s a practice that benefits everyone. Whether you’re a child learning self-expression or an adult seeking clarity, it’s never too early or too late to start connecting with your thoughts.

What Not to Do When Journaling

Don’t overthink or aim for perfection. Avoid comparing your journaling to others or treating it as a chore. Remember, it’s a personal space to express yourself freely without judgment.

Related Blog: The Pros and Cons of Journaling

How Do You Start Journaling When You Hate It?

Start small, write one sentence a day or even a list of things you’re grateful for. Focus on how it makes you feel rather than how it looks. Over time, you’ll find that it’s less about writing and more about connecting with yourself.

What Keeps You From Journaling?

Fear of imperfection, lack of time, or not knowing what to write often holds people back. But as we’ve discussed, journaling is about progress, not perfection. Start with baby steps, and give yourself grace as you build the habit.