Since her teenage years, Nadine Rodriguez has dabbled in journaling, eventually committing to consistency at the beginning of this year. To her, journaling is more than just recording daily events. It’s a therapeutic channel that not only aids her mental health but also fosters personal growth.
Nadine’s journal serves as a trusted confidant, a space for her to pour out her deepest thoughts and feelings and, in doing so, find clarity, healing, and a deeper connection with herself. More than just words on a page, her journal encompasses photos and videos, bringing her memories to life without the pressures of social media.
Her daily entries usually start with three expressions of gratitude—a practice that she credits for lifting her out of a slump. Followed by a brief reflection on her overall mood, she allows herself the freedom to write as little or as much as her heart desires on any given day. With a morning ritual firmly in place, and an occasional evening review, Nadine encourages newcomers to start small and build their journaling habit gradually.
In this interview, we delve into the transformative power of journaling in Nadine’s life, shedding light on how this habit has helped her manage stress, increase self-awareness, celebrate successes, and appreciate the beauty of life in its entirety.
How long have you been keeping a journal?
I’ve been journaling off and on for years since I was a teenager. I downloaded Day One about two years ago but never stuck with it. At the beginning of this year, I made a commitment to stay consistent and use Day One to help out with that.
What makes journaling important to you?
Journaling is amazing for my mental health and for self-reflection. To see how much I’ve grown and how to be able to look back and see how I handled certain situations. The last two years were incredibly stressful and journaling has been that outlet where I can let it out and process what’s going on in my life or in my mind.
It’s been my trusted confidant, allowing me to express my deepest thoughts and emotions in a way that brings clarity, healing, and a deeper connection to my own truth.
Plus, it’s awesome to add photos and videos and be able to document my life without it all being about social media. It’s private and personal and I can’t wait to get a book printed so I can have a hard copy.
“Journaling has become my daily compass, guiding me towards self-awareness, growth, and healing. I found a safe haven to explore the layers of my soul and find the beauty in my imperfections without any judgment.”
What do you usually journal about?
I always write 3 things I’m grateful for and why. Having a daily gratitude practice has definitely helped me get out of the slump I was in for the last few years. If I’m ever feeling down I go back and re-read some of my gratitude entries to change my mood.
Then I usually answer “What was my overall mood” which I usually answer with an emoji. But there are times when I’ll write more. Then I leave it open for whatever flows out. Sometimes nothing comes out and I leave it at that. Other times words pour out of me.
I always try to upload a daily picture which makes the day fun because I’m taking pictures now with more intention.
When do you journal each day?
I always journal in the morning. I use a template I created called “Morning Mindset” and it has a few questions that I answer. I also have an “Evening Review” template that I use but there are some nights I don’t get to it.
At night, I go over the day and start it off with “What’s one positive thing that happened today?” This has mentally helped me out because even during a bad or stressful day you can still find something positive out of it.
What tips or advice would you give others who want to build a journaling habit?
Start very small. If you’re using the Day One app, create a template and add one question to it. Like “What’s your mood?” or “What’s one thing you’re grateful for?”
Then set a daily alarm for you to journal. Day One has reminders like alerts and text messages but when I first started I set an actual alarm on my phone called “Time to Journal”. I only answered one question so it was easy to start building that small habit. Then you can add to it as you’re more consistent.
What have you learned from keeping a journal?
Daily journaling has become an integral part of my self-care routine. I’ve learned so much about myself, the power of self-reflection, and the importance of taking time to check in with myself. By writing my thoughts and feelings down, I’ve been able to better understand my own patterns and tendencies, which are both positive and negative. And I’ve learned it can serve as a tool for managing stress and anxiety.
I’ve also become more present and insanely grateful for life. I know that sounds crazy because I used to think the same thing when people would talk about the power of journaling. But when I was down, I started with no real intention of it working. I just knew I needed to try something and little by little I saw a shift.
It’s also helped me celebrate my successes and accomplishments. Even if it’s a teeny tiny win, I jot it down. And it’s fun to look back and read what I wrote.
What is your favorite thing about the Day One app?
My favorite thing about Day One is the templates and the ability to have multiple journals. I have a fitness/health journal where I track my strength training and health journey. I have another one called Goals and I use that to document what I’m going after in life and I’m able to track my progress on it. And then I have my main journal called Life.
But it’s all about the templates. I honestly don’t think I would have lasted this long if it wasn’t for the templates. I’m not staring at a blank page. It’s a simple question that I can answer and even if I’m not feeling like it I can still use an emoji to answer it.
I also love how it syncs up with my Mac and iPad. When I’m doing goals for the month I love hopping on my laptop and typing away on there.
How has Day One helped you journal more consistently?
Using Day One has been a game-changer for me in staying consistent. With the app on my phone, I can easily write in my journal no matter where I am or what I’m doing. I love the fact that the app is customizable, allowing me to create different journals for different areas of my life and search and organize my entries. Again, it’s all about the templates. I love how I can create tons of templates for whatever it is I’m going to journal about. Plus, the app’s security features give me peace of mind knowing that my personal thoughts and feelings are kept safe and confidential.
Also, now that I hit a 150-day streak, I don’t ever want to break it. So that right there will keep me consistent. I never thought I could have a digital journal but I prefer it now more than writing.
Start Your Journaling Streak
with Day One
The Day One journaling app makes it easy to build and maintain a daily journaling habit. Daily journaling reminders, daily writing prompts, and journal streaks are designed to help keep you motivated and consistently journaling.
