You can be even more specific, “I am a strong and healthy person who eats five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.”Īs I go on with my day, I find myself more aware of what I eat. So I wrote this affirmation down every day until it was true. I’ve struggled my whole life with bad eating habits. Every time I write my affirmation, I’m helping my brain internalize this belief. This morning, I wrote down: “I am a strong and healthy person.”ĭaily affirmation is a statement of what you want in your life. Or when I notice I haven’t called my mom yet and it’s getting late, I’d take a step out of the office and give her a ring. When I notice that it’s close to 10 p.m., my brain is more likely to remember to go to bed on time. It turns out that when you write down things that would make your day great, your subconscious takes note of these activities.

I already know what would make me happy (food, money, sex, power, family) but why did I need to write it down? Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables.Gratitude gives you a greater sense of well-being and can even make you more generous to those around you. Practicing gratitude could be as simple as writing what you’re grateful for or expressing it to your loved ones. Psychology studies find that when people practice gratitude, it can instantly make you happier. Weekly challenges give you that extra push to do things that would make you happy that you normally wouldn’t do on your own. My favorite one was to call an old friend. My most recent challenge was to sing in the shower. Once a week, the journal prompts a challenge to tackle during that day.

I’m sure other people are similarly inspired. This quote inspired me to read books for an hour each day. One of the most memorable quotes from the journal is: “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.”Mark Twain Quotes that force you step back from your daily hustle and reflect how that message can impact your life. These quotes are from world class thinkers like Mark Twain, Louis Pasteur, and Seneca. It’s $24.95 and designed to last 180 days.Įvery morning, you start off the day by reading a quote that challenges you to think. The journal has a beautifully designed - and subtle - cover that’s nice to the touch. “How about we create an action focused journal so we can share your process with others?”įast forward two years later, their company has sold thousands of copies and is endorsed by celebrities like Leo Babauta, Hal Elrod, and Jayson Gaignard. “This sounds great, but I’m too lazy to write out the process every day,” Alex said in an interview with Karousing, a lifestyle magazine. They were discussing personal routines and UJ started telling Alex about his morning and night journaling rituals. Not the most obvious pair but they use each other’s skills to grow.Īlex and UJ came up with this idea while they were hiking. Alex co-founded a company that produced high-quality hair extensions. UJ has a background in behavioral science and has helped hundreds of people find meaning in their lives by working with them one on one. The journal was created by UJ Ramdas and Alex Ikonn in 2013. So why not? I joined the hype and bought a copy.

I wasn’t depressed but thought that if I could be a happier person, I would have a more fulfilling life. I’m a huge fan of his work and trust his recommendations. It wasn’t until bestselling author Tim Ferriss recommended journaling in his morning routine that I started to reconsider my stance. I’ve never used a physical journal to write down what I was feeling. Their website said this journal can “prime your brain” and “cultivate gratitude.” But how can a journal make you happier? When I first heard about the Five Minute Journal, I thought it was a complete scam.

5 minute journal quotes