One of the aspects of journaling that makes it so effective is that writing in your journal can be a keystone habit that helps you focus your energy and attention on where it will be most effective.

You can’t fix everything in your life all at once, and trying to start good habits and stop bad habits in the span of a day will likely lead to failure.

Real, positive change happens when you take on only what you can handle; often, changing one important or keystone habit will have ripple effects that improve your life and get you closer to your goals in other areas as well.

Journaling is one such habit; it can keep you centered, help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, give you an opportunity for reflection and self-analysis, and much, much more. Simply keeping a record of your thoughts, feelings, and actions can have a surprisingly big impact on your life.