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Set your goals - make the plans - artfully create your life - live it beautifully. Grab the good chocolate and find your muse.

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Home » journaling

How to Solve a Problem (in Reverse)

January 11, 2022 Leave a Comment

How to Solve a Problem (in reverse) ideas for working through the silly things that hold you back | ChocolateMusings.com

How to Solve a Problem (in Reverse)

How to solve a problem in reverse – get motivated and find answers to your questions by giving yourself reversed solutions or how NOT to solve your problem. The reverse problem-solving method is enlightening, motivating, and a little silly.

Do you have issues solving your problems? Do you have a nagging concern or something you desperately want to change, and no solution seems to work? Whether it’s what to fix for dinner, what color to paint your house, or how to get out of your dead-end job, we all have problems big and small where the solutions elude us. I came across a way to problem-solve in reverse, and it’s very intriguing and somewhat comical.

One of my issues is finding the motivation to solve a problem. Adding research or additional tasks to my everyday life seems overwhelming, so in some cases, I decide that the problem is smaller than the solution itself. Sometimes the answer is living with the problem. But that way of thinking only applies to some situations, not all. If the problem bothers me that much, well, then it’s time to come up with a real solution.

Table of contents

  • How to Solve a Problem (in Reverse)
  • Where I Found This Reverse Problem-Solving Idea:
  • Curious About Reverse Problem Solving? Here’s how to do it:
  • What Problems Do You NOT Want to Solve?
  • Reverse Problem-Solving Example – How to Keep a Messy, Disorganized House
    • Reverse Idea: Don’t Organize Anything!
    • How to Keep a Messy House Conclusion:
  • How Do I Keep Myself Out of a Routine?
    • Some Other Things to Consider When Trying to Throw Routines to the Wolves:
  • Problem-Solving in Reverse: How NOT to Lose Weight
  • Reverse Problem-Solving Conclusion
  • What Other Problems do you NOT Want to Solve?
  • Find More Posts on Habits
  • Here are some additional articles I found helpful for creating routines:
Need to Solve a Problem? Try this reverse method to help you identify the thoughts that are holding you back | ChocolateMusings.com

Where I Found This Reverse Problem-Solving Idea:

While reading the Decision-Making Blueprint by Patrick Edblad, I found a ridiculous solution that made absolute sense. It’s called Inversion. The chapter is subtitled “Thinking backward instead of forward.”

First of all, let me ask the question for all of us: “What”? And the second question is, “how does this apply to my life issues?”

According to the German mathematician Carl Jacobi, the best way to clarify your thinking was to restate problems in their inverse. That sounds complicated. It also sounds like the kind of math my algebra teacher told me I’d use every day.

After reading a little more and trying to restate the question in reverse, it’s ridiculously insightful and surprisingly quite fun. Perhaps here is how we will use that advanced math in our lives, but not in the way our high school math teachers envisioned. Word-problem solving at its best.

Curious About Reverse Problem Solving? Here’s how to do it:

Think of your problem; instead of trying to solve it, you ask yourself how NOT to do it. No answer is too ridiculous. In fact, some of the most absurd-sounding answers might be closer to the truth than we like to admit.

What Problems Do You NOT Want to Solve?

Let’s ask you the question: What problems do you NOT want to solve? Getting in a routine? Going to bed on time? Planning out your day the night before? Here’s how I would think backward about those questions.

Reverse Problem-Solving Example – How to Keep a Messy, Disorganized House

Here’s an example of how to use this problem-solving technique.

First, start with the problem: I can’t keep my house organized.

Now, instead of brainstorming how to set habits and come up with different ideas and tasks, I chose to jot down everything I wasn’t going to keep my house organized.

For example, to keep my house in a disorganized array, I should leave the dishes in the sink and never load them in the dishwasher. If the dishes find their way into the dishwasher, the clean dishes should stay in that dishwasher for several days or a week to ensure they are dry.

To make sure my floors stay at their crummy best, I should sweep only once a week or less. The counters should NEVER be cleared, and laundry should be allowed to pile up so we have to climb over the mounds.

Reverse Idea: Don’t Organize Anything!

All cleaning supplies should be hard to get to for more disorganized fun. I should have to hunt for the correct cleaning item. Playing a game of hide and seek seems fun! Under no circumstances should it be put away after it’s used. When I run out or am low on supply, the best way to make sure that I don’t have it on hand for the next time I need it is to try and remember my shopping list all in my head. We should not ever keep a written shopping list.

Every drawer should be a junk drawer with any item thrown in it. Things do not have a ‘home’ location. If an activity makes you feel organized, avoid doing it at all costs. In fact, why not mix empty wrappers and unusable items with usable items for added confusion and inconvenience?

Finally, the best way to stay disorganized is to pile everything together and discontinue filing. Mail should never be sorted when it comes in. Optimal disorganization means I should touch everything more than once, preferably get lost at least once before I have to use it again.

How to Keep a Messy House Conclusion:

Doing this exercise makes me smile because the actions seem so ridiculous when spelled out like this. The sad truth is that developing these spectacular ways to keep me disorganized was not hard. Because, at some point or another, I must admit (at least a small amount of) guilt!

I also have to admit that I stretched ideas and made them seem more ridiculous than normal life.

From the perspective of keeping a disorganized house, it’s easier to see what habits to change or which ones I need to work on.

How Do I Keep Myself Out of a Routine?

First of all, when reverse problem-solving the life-routine question, I would never ask what plans I’ll make. Secondly, having a contingency plan for when I fall off the wagon would be the furthest thing from my thought process. Thirdly, who wants a routine to stick, anyway?

Excellent tips to keep me away from those pesky routines that might streamline processes and make caring for myself, my house, and my family.

How do you start a new habit or routine? Questions asked | ChocolateMusings.com #habit #routine #journal

Some Other Things to Consider When Trying to Throw Routines to the Wolves:

For one thing, I would never plan anything. If I had a planner, I would carry it around, never open it, or make sure to leave it at home instead of packing it in my purse. I would not set reminders to help me start a routine. Nor would I read any books from those who have experience in creating routines or habits.

Adopting the mindset that routines make you boring will drive you from creating any schedule. In fact, routinely telling yourself that routines are for losers or fuddy-duddies. (Did I just say fuddy-duddy? Also, did you see what I did there? Creating a routine of anti-routine!)

I got the idea of fuddy-duddy from an interview with Anna Quindlen by Gretchen Rubin. She talks about her routines and how she used to view them versus how she sees them now.

Problem-Solving in Reverse: How NOT to Lose Weight

First things first, stop and get a candy bar every day on your way home from work. On Saturdays, visit Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and stock up on sweet enough, gooey goodness to last the rest of the week. Another way to make sure those pounds pack on is to make sure TV is the top priority. When planning meals, takeout and drive-thru should appear on the schedule at least 4 nights per week, and be sure to sprinkle in some quick breakfast stops.

One final suggestion using the reverse problem-solving method and ensuring those pounds stay packed on your hips is increasing your soda intake.

Sounds ridiculous, right? Thinking in reverse adds a bit of comedic relief to problem-solving. If you thought about it, you could add some hilarious bits of advice that run a little too close to reality.

Follow My Health Journey and see what I use to get healthy & lose weight.

  • handmade game board tracker for classrooms, teachers & bullet journals | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #bujo #tracker #gameboard
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Reverse Problem-Solving Conclusion

Though problem-solving in reverse doesn’t provide all the answers, the realizations that it paints open your mind to the pitfalls or games you play with yourself. If you want to stick to a routine, maybe it’s your mindset instead of the method. Reverse problem-solving is admittedly eye-opening, and if I’m candid with myself, it’s a bit humbling.

Problem Solving in Reverse brings out the humor in the situation. Fun, silly responses often evoke the truth more than thinking about solving the problem and becoming frustrated. I find that I’m more honest about the things I need to change and concede that I do some of these actions, which directly impede the progress I DO want to make.

What Other Problems do you NOT Want to Solve?

Here are some additional suggestions for compiling your list using the reverse problem-solving method.

  • How to lose your temper all the time with your kids.
  • How to wake up tired.
  • What I am going to do to avoid exercise?
  • How to make myself miserable (and bring everyone down around me).
  • I’m excited to waste hours of my time scrolling through social media! Here’s how I do it.
  • How I plan to burn bridges and ruin relationships.
  • Who needs a successful marriage? Here’s my course for divorce.
  • Budgeting, smudgeting, why I spend my money on Amazon trinkets and fast food, and how you can blow your paycheck, too.

What other problems do you not want to solve? I’d love to know in the comments below. While you think about that, I’m off to clean my kitchen. But first, I’m going to put my bullet journal in my purse, so I’ll make sure to bring it with me.

Find More Posts on Habits

  • Battle With Stuff #2: How to Create Decluttering Habits
  • Advice For My Younger Self
  • Weekly Time Block Spreads for Your Bullet Journal
  • Find Your Inspiration (When It’s Lost)
  • Things to Learn From Your Friend’s Weight Loss

Here are some additional articles I found helpful for creating routines:

  • Zapier – Daily Routines
  • Goalcast – Establish a daily routine
  • Gretchen Rubin: Search on Routines

Here are some books I’ve read on organizing, decluttering, and habits. I’d love a recommendation and add it to my list. Let me know if you have more to add in the comments below.  

 

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Filed Under: Blog, Find Your Happy, Get Organized & Start Planning, Habits, Journal Prompts & Ideas, Product & Book Reviews Tagged: how to, journaling, Problem solving, Tutorial

10 Things You Can Learn from a Blank Notebook

December 14, 2021 Leave a Comment

10 things to learn from a blank notebook - practical life advice | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #motivation #inspiration

10 Things You Can Learn From a Blank Notebook

Hint: These 10 things you can learn from a blank notebook isn’t just about journaling. There’s a lot of good life advice in here, too.

Starting a new notebook feels so refreshing. The smell and feel of the paper. The crackle of the spine as you crack open the notebook for the first time. Thumbing through the book, the feeling of the crisp pages calling for attention. Ahhh, it feels so good to start fresh. I opened a new notebook today, which made me think about how these pages apply to our lives. So I’d like to share 10 things you can learn from a blank notebook.

Table of contents

  • 10 Things You Can Learn From a Blank Notebook
  • Tip #1: The First Thing You Can Learn From a Blank Notebook: Your Past Notebooks Don’t Make Your New Notebook
  • #2: You Have Limitless Possibilities
  • The Inevitable Thing to Learn When Starting a Blank Notebook – Tip #3: You Will Make Mistakes. Accept Them or Fix Them.
  • #4: Turn The Page. Really. Just Turn the Page.
  • #5: Starting Fresh is OK, Too. Move On If You Have No Other Choice.
  • #6 – Share It!
  • #7: Things You Can Learn from a Blank Notebook:You Don’t Have to Share Everything
  • Tip #8: Things You Can Learn from a Blank Notebook: Focus on the Good
  • #9: Carry Through With Your Plans
  • #10: Finally, the Last Tip You Can Learn From a Blank Notebook – Take Time to Reflect & Learn
  • Which of These Tips Did You Need the Most?
  • Journaling Question:
  • Start Planning – Find More Bullet Journaling & Planning Resources

Tip #1: The First Thing You Can Learn From a Blank Notebook:
Your Past Notebooks Don’t Make Your New Notebook

Your Past Doesn't Determine Your Future - Advice From a Blank Notebook Tip #1 | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #blanknotebook #bulletjournal

No matter what you’ve written (or done) in the past, this notebook can be different.

Your past notebooks do not determine what you can do with your new book. Learn from the past, decide what you want to do, and go confidently in that direction. I’m sure you can see many parallels between this suggestion about a notebook and your life. I’ll leave it at that.

#2: You Have Limitless Possibilities

10 Things to Learn from a Blank Notebook: You Have Limitless Possibilities | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #possibilties #motivation

You have limitless possibilities. And you have full control of all your choices in life. Just like the pages in your notebook, what you record in the journal of your life is up to you. Try lots of new things and then practice, practice, practice. Don’t get discouraged if it’s not perfect the first, second, or hundredth time. Keep going.

The Inevitable Thing to Learn When Starting a Blank Notebook – Tip #3:
You Will Make Mistakes. Accept Them or Fix Them.

Life advice from a blank notebook: you will make mistakes. Fix them or move on.  | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #blanknotebook #potential #bulletjournal

You’ll make mistakes. But it’s usually how you handle the errors that make the most significant difference in the future. Sometimes starting over is the answer. But most of the time, a mistake is minor, and you can whiteout over it or move on.

I only started genuinely benefitting from writing in a notebook or journal when I allowed myself to make mistakes. Big mistakes will happen, as well. But most of the time, even big blunders can be fixed by just turning the page.

See #5 if you feel like you can’t fix it by turning the page.

#4: Turn The Page. Really. Just Turn the Page.

Life advice - Turn the page. | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #bulletjournal #moveon

The mistakes you make won’t seem as significant after you’ve turned a few pages. Other people won’t remember your mistakes as you do. In fact, most people are so worried about themselves that they won’t remember your mistakes. Forgive yourself and learn from them.

#5: Starting Fresh is OK, Too. Move On If You Have No Other Choice.

Starting fresh is ok, if there is no other option. | ChocolateMusings.com - Things you can learn from a blank notebook #bulletjournal #bujo #startover

If you feel you ruined the whole notebook, get a new journal, and start fresh. In all reality, if you spilled coffee all over the book and don’t feel like you can salvage any of it, here’s the thing: you can start over. I’m giving you permission.

When you decide to move on, take a deep breath, go to Target, Walmart, or Amazon, and get yourself a new notebook. Or create your own book. Start fresh. And most importantly, MOVE ON.

#6 – Share It!

Things you can learn from a blank notebook: Share it! Share the things that are most important to you | ChocolateMusings.com #shareit #share #bulletjournal

Share what you’re most proud of. Go ahead, and celebrate your successes. However, Choose the right crowd to share with and who will lift you instead of being jealous of your happiness or accomplishments.

I know that my little planner has grown and evolved with me. It’s also helped me grow in my talents. Find a group that shares your excitement and share your progress.

#7: Things You Can Learn from a Blank Notebook:
You Don’t Have to Share Everything

Life advice from a Blank Notebook - Don't Share Everything | ChocolateMusings.com #journaling #journal #bulletjournal

In contrast to the last tip, you don’t have to post everything online. Some pages belong solely to you, and you don’t have to broadcast them. It is perfectly fine to use your notebook for personal development. You’re the one who will benefit most from it. Use your new blank notebook to your benefit. This goes for your personal life as well. Share with those you trust if you need help but don’t feel obligated to share everything.

Tip #8: Things You Can Learn from a Blank Notebook: Focus on the Good

Things to learn from a blank notebook: Focus on the good in your life and you will find more good. | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #blanknotebook #bulletjournal

Focus on the good. Dedicate pages or areas of your book so you can log the good things that happen. Life isn’t just about schedules or what you checked off your list for the day. Life is about stopping to smell those gorgeous blooming roses on your evening walk with your beloved. It’s about that sunset with all those colors that melted your heart. It’s about seeing your children play together (and not fight!).

Sometimes it’s the little things like ordering a ceramic painting palette on Amazon and admiring how careful they were to package it. And the fragile piece arrives perfectly on your doorstep, so you can immediately start painting. Record the happy moments, even if they seem small or insignificant.

From my experience, if you seek out the negative in your life, you will find it. Controversially, if you look for the good, you will see it, and if you continue to look for the good, you will more easily find it. If you write it down in your notebook, you have a chance to look back at the good and remember it.

#9: Carry Through With Your Plans

Things to learn from a blank notebook: Carry Through With Your Plans | ChocolateMusings.com #lifemotivation #motivation #deepthoughts

Carry through with your plans. I’m guilty of intending to do many things but never carrying through. I have so many dreams and ambitions, but I let fear stop me. Or I make a schedule and then ignore it.

Make the plans, then write the first step to start your journey if you’re having trouble doing them. Do the first thing, then check it off. Then proceed to the next step.

#10: Finally, the Last Tip You Can Learn From a Blank Notebook – Take Time to Reflect & Learn

Notebook before and after - Tip #10 from things to learn from a blank notebook - reflect & learn from yourself. Go through your notebooks and review what you wrote - then learn from it. | ChocolateMusings.com #reflect #learn #bulletjournal

Look back on your life. When you finish a notebook, take a moment to reflect. Enjoy the things you recorded, and use the memories of the events that bring a smile to your face to increase your joy. Share the things that matter with the people that matter to you.

I find so much insight and inspiration throughout my completed notebooks. Ideas, thoughts, quotes, joy, sadness, and all the experiences combine to create my past and shape my future.

I love looking back through the pages and am always glad I have a record of my life.

Which of These Tips Did You Need the Most?

Which of these tips did you need to hear the most? For me it was #3, #7 & #8. Sometimes I focus so much on making my notebook perfect to share that it’s not as functional as it could be. I also always need a reminder about accepting mistakes. And I can always use a reminder to focus on the good things in life.

Journaling Question:

Here are some journaling questions in the spirit of things you can learn from a new notebook. What Things Do You Love About a New Notebook? What Have you learned from a new journal?

What do you love about a new notebook? Here are 10 things that a blank notebook taught me | ChocolateMusings.com #lifeadvice #inspiration #blanknotebook

Start Planning – Find More Bullet Journaling & Planning Resources

Click here to get started planning & find more ideas for your bullet journal.

Want More Planner & Bullet Journal Inspiration?

Find more plan with me ideas | ChocolateMusings.com #planwithme #ideas
Favorite Beginner Bullet Journal Supplies + Why | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #supplies #favoritesupplies

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Filed Under: Blog, featured, Find Your Happy, Get Inspired, Get Organized & Start Planning, Journal Prompts & Ideas, My Muses (My Favorites & Inspiration), Start Planning Here Tagged: blank notebook, journal prompts, journaling, life advice, start planning

Journal Prompts to Help You Try New Things

January 14, 2021 Leave a Comment

Journal Prompts to Help You Decide to Try New Things - Reflections of the past & looking forward | ChocolateMusings.com

Do you like to try new things? Or are you like me and decide that you don’t like something (before giving it a fair chance)? Here is some journal prompts to help you explore your experiences with trying new things.

I am all about connecting ideas. Listing commonalities between multiple items, finding differences, or general list making all fall into my ‘enjoy’ category. Have you ever tried something new you swore you would never try (and liked it)?

{Timidly raises hand} <– That’s me.

What event, person, or circumstance changed your mind?

Table of contents

  • Why Don’t We Like To Try New Things?
  • A Shortlist of the Things I Vowed I’d Never Try
  • Examples of the ‘New’ Things I Tried:
    • The Tale of Sour Cream:
  • Watercoloring – What’s Not to Like?Another Example of Trying New Things (and Liking Them):
  • Gain New Experiences & Add New Stories to Your Life When You Try New Things
  • Journal Prompts:
  • More Inspiration
WHY Don't You Try New Things?

Why Don’t We Like To Try New Things?

It’s incredible how hard-headed I can be about doing or trying new things, but once I do, I like them (and sometimes a lot).

Two reasons why I won’t try new things:

  1. I’m stuck in my old habits.
  2. I’m rebellious or contrary to someone who wants me to try the new thing.

Do you have a list of things you vowed you’d never try?

A Shortlist of the Things I Vowed I’d Never Try

Here’s a shortlist of the things I vowed I’d never try (I’m sure there’s more out there). Okay, ‘vow’ is a strong word, but there were reasons behind each of them (or so I tell myself). But now that I did try these ‘new’ things I think differently.

  • Sour cream
  • Brussell Sprouts
  • Chromebook
  • Watercolor painting
  • Making my bed habitually (it couldn’t make that much difference, could it?)
  • Mangos (how do you get into those things?!)
  • Morning Routine
  • Apple Products
  • Brain Dumps
Williams Shakespeare Quote - It's not in the stars that hold our destiny, but in ourselves - Watercolor Bullet Journal Quote | ChocoalteMusings.com

Examples of the ‘New’ Things I Tried:

As a kid, I was a VERY picky eater. I would only eat cantaloupe when I was three. (Sidenote: As the mother of a very picky eater, I have no idea of how my parents were so patient with me.) Once I left for college, I tried many new foods and loved them.

All of these examples seem very small, but they’ve made a huge impact on my life. If only I would have tried these ‘new things’ earlier. What would be different?

The Tale of Sour Cream:

At an overnight girl’s camp when I was 12 or 13, we had fire-baked potatoes. Those potatoes smelled so good. Along with the baked potatoes were many toppings and one of the toppings was sour cream. Dolloping that creamy goodness onto my steaming potato and piling high other delicious toppings, I dug into my meal without thinking twice.

I don’t know if it was that I was not around my parents and didn’t feel the need to be so rebellious or if I was famished from a day of hiking in the heat and was slightly delirious, not knowing what I was stuffing into my mouth. Still, I tried sour cream (without realizing what it was), and surprisingly, it was good!

Shocked by my change of opinion, I begged the leaders not to tell my parents that I tried sour cream, which, I’m sure they thought was an odd request. They probably told my parents simply because it was strange for me to make a big deal about trying sour cream.

What in life have you finally tried after years of avoiding it? What was the outcome?

  • Shiny, Sparkly Space Watercolor Bookmarks
  • Watercolor Paint Brushes

Watercoloring – What’s Not to Like?Another Example of Trying New Things (and Liking Them):

Watercoloring is another example of things I wouldn’t try (but should have) earlier. For the longest time, I thought the color range for watercolor ranged from light pink to pastel blue and seafoam green. Now, there’s nothing wrong with pastel colors, but I am drawn to bright colors.

Mistakenly, I thought there were no bright colors in watercolor. I thought shadows and color depth came from acrylics or other opaque mediums. Admittedly, I don’t know where this idea originated! Perhaps, someone, I knew painted watercolors using only pastel tones.

Oh, how wrong I was! If only I would have tried this ‘new’ thing earlier!

On a whim, I tried watercoloring about two years ago. I hate to say it, but I think I missed out on a lifetime of using this fantastic medium. Despite my earlier assessment, it’s my favorite way to paint, now. I even figured out how to ‘paint with markers’ like watercolor in my planners. I now have to keep myself from buying new watercolors all the time.

New Experiences Await You

Gain New Experiences & Add New Stories to Your Life When You Try New Things

As you can tell, there’s a story behind each ‘new things I won’t try but did anyway’. Though that list for me is not comprehensive by any means, as a keeper of lists, I’ll add it to my journal and then add a short story of the experience that changed my mind.

What would you call this list of things you thought you’d never try, but then did?

Journal Prompts Header

Journal Prompts:

Here are a list of journal prompts related to trying new things:

  • What things have you tried (even though you said you wouldn’t)? And what changed your mind?
  • What new things did you like, and what new things did you try and dislike?
  • Why do you think you won’t try new things?
  • What are you gaining/losing by not trying this new thing?
  • Who influenced you to finally try the new thing? Was it a group of friends, or were you peer pressured into doing it? Or were you entirely alone when you tried it?
  • Why was being alone (or with others) the catalyst to get you to try the new thing?
  • What would be different if you would have tried it sooner?
More Inspiration
  • Your Past is Not Your Future
  • Are Your Goals a Priority?
  • William Shakespeare Quotes
  • Gratitude Quotes for Your Planner

More Inspiration

No Matter Which Notebook I use – You’ll Always Find These Supplies Close at Hand

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Filed Under: Blog, Find Your Happy, Journal Prompts & Ideas Tagged: journal prompts, journaling, writing

How to Create (and Use) One Line Per Day in Your Bullet Journal

September 17, 2020 Leave a Comment

Have you ever looked at the One Line Per Day Bullet Journal Spreads and wondered why (or how) to use this journaling page? I’ll show you how to create a One Line Per Day spread, how to create the habit of using it. I’ll also give you some ideas if you’re not sure what to write.

For me, the One Line Per Day is a stepping-stone habit. Meaning I start with something small to get to a bigger habit. In this case, writing in a journal every day.

How to Create (and Why to Use) a One-Line Per Day Journal in your Bullet Journal | ChocolateMusings.com #onelineperday #oneline #journal

When you want to create a habit of daily journaling, it’s hard to develop the practice. I usually end up with a bookshelf full of books with one page filled. Even Monica from Friends made fun of Rachel quoting from Rachel’s journal, saying she was going to write in her diary every day, but every page was blank after the first entry. If you’re with me (and Rachel), starting with a ‘One Line Per Day’ method might help change the empty notebook syndrome.

How to Create a One Line Per Day Page

I’m a sucker for fancy headers. If a page has a fancy header, I’m more likely to use it. In this case, I lettered the title using a brush marker. Simple yet fancy.

  • Using a fancy title makes the page more appealing to use & easier to find as you flip through your bullet journal | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #moderncalligraphy #bulletjournal
  • One Line Per Day Handlettering | ChocolateMusings.com #oneline #handlettering #moderncalligraphy

Check out this post if you want more ideas to creating fancy headers (and no, they don’t all require brush markers. BUT if you are interested in learning how to do modern calligraphy, check out my books.)

My goal is to use one line per day and stick to only one line.  That’s a challenge in and of itself (at least for me). So I used 1-31 stickers, so I didn’t have to number the page (because I cannot number in a straight line no matter how hard I try!). If you have the talent to write numbers in a straight line, number away.  Or you can use a ruler to the side so your column doesn’t drift back and forth as mine would.

You could leave the page like this or, for an added detail, highlight every other line with a highlighter, Mildliner, or even a Crayola marker. I recommend using a ruler to highlight. 

Highlight every other line on your page with a marker or highlighter | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #collections #journalingpage

Once you’ve created the page, now it’s time to make sure that you write in it every day. Don’t stress yourself out. Write a word, a mood, or a short quote for the day. 

Supplies I Used to Creat My One Line Per Day Insert

Crayola Marker Bouquet - Color Combination for August's Theme | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Tumbitri Meri A5 Dot-Grid Journal | Blog Post Review | YouTube Review Video
  • Pentel Sign Brush Pens
  • Archer & Olive Paper Pads 
  • Crayola Super Tip Markers
  • Scotch Washi Tape (for taping the page to the book – you can also use clear tape)

What If You Use a Pre-Printed Planner or Have no Room for Another Page?

If your planner is pre-printed, insert a page, or attach it to your regular planner with a paperclip. Don’t anticipate picking up a journal every night before going to bed. I guarantee you’ll start skipping days.

I love the idea of removable pages. Because if you successfully create this habit and do it for a straight year, what a great memento for the year! Oh, now I want to do it just for that reason.

What If You Forget to Fill Out Your One Line Per Day?

Completed one line per day journal entry page in my bullet journal. It feels so good to see all those lines filled out! | ChocolateMusings.com one line per day, journal entry, journaling, bullet journal

Here is my completed one line per day. Do you want to know a secret? I missed a day more than 30% of the time. But I went back and completed the lines. In a year or two, when I’m rereading this, honestly, I won’t care that it wasn’t done every day at 9 pm.

So, if you forget to fill it out, think about a time in the day when you pull out your planner. Then at the time when you open your notebook, quickly write your one line for the day.

If you use your planner for work, once you arrive at your desk and start flipping through the pages, take a moment to write down your one line per day. 

If you find yourself looking at a few blank lines on your One Line Per Day, fill it out! I find that if I work backward (start with yesterday, then move to the day before). I can remember more details than if I were to begin with “what happened two weeks ago?” You can always look back at your calendar to jog your memory as well.

Other Ways To Use Your One Line Per Day Journal Page

Who says one line has to sum up the day? It could be a motivating thought for the day or a goal to accomplish. You could fill it out for the previous day in a moment of reflection. Whatever you do, you’re trying to create a habit of everyday use, so make it easy to fill out your one line every day. 

One Line Per Day Journal Ideas - don't know what to write? Here are some ideas for short one-line entries in your bullet journal | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #journaling #onelineperday

Ideas to Record

  • Short Journal about the Day
  • One word describing your mood or day
  • Motivational words for the coming day
  • A goal you want to accomplish
  • Inspiring Quote
  • Statistics from a day (it’s still writing, isn’t it?)
  • Names to Pray For
  • Something you Observed
  • A shortlist of things you did
  • Reminders
  • Good things about yourself (this is hard to do sometimes, but Is very beneficial when trying to combat any negative self-talk)
  • Something your children did (funny, sweet, etc.)
  • Favorite item of the day
  • Shows you watched
  • Books you read & how many pages
  • What you did to work towards a goal
  • How many times you (add something you’re tracking)
  • Things you love in your life
  • Things you want to try
  • Podcasts you listened to
  • Today I learned
  • Happy moment of the day
  • Dinner Conversations
  • Guilt-Free Moment
  • What I did for self-care
  • Accomplishments
  • What to do Better

You could use one idea or any combination of these ideas. What other ideas would you like to record daily?

One Line Per Day – A Great Starting Point

If you’d like to start journaling, but it feels overwhelming, try starting with one line per day. Make sure to designate a time (for example, before you turn out the lights before bed or as you’re having a cup of coffee in the morning to write your one line. Then strive to do it every day. If you miss a day, complete it the following day. No big deal.

Check out this post for two things I do every night before I go to bed that just might help you create the habit of writing in a one-line per day journal. These small things changed my life. (It seems dramatic, but it’s not – it’s true!)

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Filed Under: 5 Minute Planner Spreads, Blog, Bullet Journal, Collections, Find Your Happy, Get Organized & Start Planning, Journal Prompts & Ideas, Planner Spreads, Simple Planner Spreads, Tutorials & How To Tagged: bujo, Bullet Journal, journal prompts, journaling, one line per day

About Me


Hi! I'm Tricia, the creative behind ChocolateMusings.com, I know how it feels to lose your inner muse. After years of darkness (which I call the dark ages of my life), I found my inner muse hiding in the forgotten corners of my soul, I vowed never to lose sight of her again.

Bullet journaling helped reignite the passion for art and living life again while organizing my days. I also discovered modern calligraphy and watercolor. Since then, my use of the bullet journal system has evlolved and I call it 'creative planning'. Here on the blog, I show you how to use your planner to ignite your inner muse and explore creativity and art while staying beautifully organized and living a joyful life.

I invite you to grab some good chocolate and dive into my musings. Let’s ignite your inner muse.

Read more on the about me page. You can also find my policies and disclosures here.

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