5 workarounds to resistance while journaling; or, Where to start when you don’t know where to start
I’ve been journaling for years. Still, there are times when I sit down with my coffee and journal all ready to write only to find a wall of resistance blocking my path.
In my early days of journaling, this resistance was enough to keep me from writing at all. I’d open my journal, stare at the blank page for a while, and beg myself to write something. Anything. When that didn’t work, I’d give up, close my journal, and walk away. Sometimes I’d come back later. Other times I wouldn’t try again for days or weeks.
It was so painful.
Now, I understand that resistance is a normal part of any writing process—including journaling. Is it still painful when I run into it? Yes. But now I know how to move through the pain and write anyway. On the days when I open my journal and feel resistance, I don’t automatically put down my pen.
Instead, I look for workarounds like these:
Date and time. When I feel frozen, writing the date and time is the easiest way to get unstuck. It requires almost zero effort or thought. If I’ve forgotten what day it is, or if I don’t have my phone nearby to check the time, I’ll just write “I think it’s the 27th” or “It’s probably after 8.” The point is not to be exact; it’s to get my pen moving. Probably 90% of my journal entries start this way.
Location and setting. Where am I? Is anyone with me? What can I see, hear, or smell? What do I feel? Not emotionally, but physically: the breeze on my skin, the warmth of the sun, the pillow supporting my back. Because this one asks me to notice my surroundings, it’s good for days when I feel flustered or stressed. It helps ground me without requiring me to think too hard about what I’m writing.
One garbage thought. For this one, I write down the very first thought that comes to mind. I’m not thinking so much as noticing what’s already there. These thoughts are rarely gold, but that’s okay, because the I’m not going for gold. I’m going for low-effort words on the page. Garbage thoughts help me get there.
A general vibe. If I’m feeling brave, I’ll use this one to notice how I’m feeling. If my resistance to writing is especially solid, I’ll describe the vibe around me instead of turning inward. Either one is okay, because they both get me writing at a time when I’d rather not be. Journaling has a way of turning me inward eventually, anyway, so even if I start with the external vibe, I know I’ll be writing about my emotions after a line or two. (This is a good thing!)
Name the block. Sometimes, the only way out is through. Instead of trying to go around my resistance to writing, I’ll just name it outright: “I don’t want to write.” Then, I follow that thread: “It just feels like a waste of time. I have other things to do. Better things to do. It’s not like I have anything to say anyway.” This can go on for a few lines or a whole page. At some point, though, my tone shifts: “I feel like I’m giving so much of myself. This is a moment for me.”
I know these don’t seem like much. They aren’t especially profound or impressive. They aren’t meant to be. All they’re meant to be is a starting point. A way for me to get writing in the face of resistance that tells me not to try. And that’s all I need.
Because once I get going, I almost never want to stop.