Unlocking the Power of Journaling for Business Owners

The Power of Journaling

Welcome back to Uncomplicating Business, where we simplify the entrepreneurial journey for teachers, helpers, and givers. I’m Sara, your business coach and creator of Selling for Weirdos. Today, we're talking about journaling, and I'm going to make the case for WHY you should journal as a business owner, and give you some simple, actionable ways to start today!

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Why Are We Talking About Journaling?

Journaling is often seen as a personal activity – one that you do for your own personal growth – and it is. But also? If you’re a business owner, journaling can be a super useful tool to streamline thought processes, enhance decision-making, and clear mental clutter.

So many us aspire to adding journaling into our regular routines but we struggle to be consistent or are just plain unsure how to effectively use it for business. In this post, we’ll explore simple steps to becoming an effective business journaler, together.

 The Unique Benefits of Journaling for Business

While when you think of journaling you may imagine it’s a super-emotional (tear-stained) reflection, business journaling serves a different purpose. It’s not about reliving past moments so much as it’s about creating a structured space for clarity and focus, sort of like tidying up your workspace after a busy day.

Taking a few moments each day to jot down thoughts helps us as business owners to declutter our minds, and that makes it easier to tackle tasks with renewed energy and purpose.

To maximize the benefits of journaling, follow these four simple steps:

0. Plan Your Journaling Commitment

The first step – before the first step, really – is making a commitment to your journaling practice. Determine how often you’ll write—whether it’s daily, a few times a week, or on weekends. Choose a comfortable timeframe, like five minutes, and a manageable notebook size. For example, I use a 5x8 notebook because it keeps my answers short and helps to keep the process from feeling overwhelming.

Then? Shoot for consistency over perfection. I always encourage clients to strive for a 65% success rate. If your goal is to write five days a week, hitting three to four days is perfectly acceptable – because the goal is NOT perfection, it’s progress, and ANY writing is progress.

From there, there are 3 types of journal writing to consider practicing – noticing, remembering, and becoming.

1. Noticing

The first type of writing involves noticing what’s on your mind. Pause and think about recurring thoughts or feelings that may be weighing you down, or that just feel really loud. Perhaps you find yourself thinking, “I need to do more and faster.” By writing this down, you create space to analyze its truthfulness.

Ask yourself, “Is this thought serving me? Is it true? What ELSE could I choose to think that might serve me better?” Often, we find that these thoughts are products of worry rather than truths.

This process of noticing helps to clear mental space, allowing for more productive thoughts and insights to be heard and acknowledged more readily.

2. Remembering

Next, consider pausing to remembering your strengths and choose some affirmations. This is your chance to remind yourself of your capabilities and past successes. Some of my favorite reminders are these: “I am a powerful creator” or “I trust myself.” Remembering reinforces your self-worth and keeps you grounded in your abilities.



This type of writing acknowledge what you’ve accomplished and the unique value you bring to your business and the people who you serve.

3. Becoming

The final step is about envisioning who you want to become. Start your sentences with, “Today, I am becoming someone who…” and let your imagination flow. You could be someone who embraces rest, prioritizes self-care, and/or approaches challenges with confidence.

This forward-thinking perspective motivates you to take actionable steps toward your goals, and reminds you what you’re working towards.

Conclusion: Your Next Steps

Journaling is a powerful tool that helps us to grow as business by providing clarity, focus, and a deeper understanding of our personal and professional goals. By committing to a regular practice, ad writing in the 3 key areas of noticing, remembering, and becoming, you can grow both yourself AND your business, from the inside out.

If you’re interested in diving deeper into this practice, don’t hesitate to join the FB group, also called UNComplicating Business for Teachers, Helpers, and Givers.

Happy journaling, and I look forward to seeing you in the group!