The Journaling Guy Podcast

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast (Season 3, Episode 7), I'm talking about how Journaling can help you cope with Anxiety.We covered how Journaling can help release Stress in Episode 5, so now we're going to look at Anxiety.Anxiety is different to Stress. Anxiety is more internal. It’s not always tied to what’s happening right now but what might happen next. And dealing with that is VERY different to how we deal with Stress.Your Journaling Prompt for This Week is:What am I worried might happen? - Be honest. Write it down.How likely is this, realistically? - Not emotionally, realistically.If it did happen, how would I handle it? - This is powerful because it reminds you that you’re more capable than your anxiety suggests.What is actually true right now? - Bring yourself back to the present. The Result? Your Anxiety softens and the mind feels safer and more grounded.------------------Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think. Plus, please leave me a review, they matter so much for getting the podcast heard and seen.Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast (Season 3, Episode 6), I'm talking about an Easter Restart. The days are getting longer and lighter and there's a subtle sense of things beginning to shift. We're not trying to reinvent your life but to begin something that could quietly change it.Your Journaling Prompt for This Week is:What’s been on my mind lately?What feels slightly off — even if I can’t fully explain it?What do I need a little more of right now?What would a small step forward look like this week?If this has inspired you to get started, please let me know!------------------Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think. Plus, please leave me a review, they matter for exposure reasons (so I'm told).Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

Season 3, Episode 5On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about How Journaling Can Reduce Stress - FACT! Journaling isn’t just about 'Reflection', it's also about Science. Journaling, when it’s done properly, can genuinely reduce stress in your body and your mind, and that's exactly what we discuss on today's episode!Your Journaling Prompt for This Week is:Step 1: Write freely for 10–15 minutes, then...Step 2: Focus on one thing that’s been sitting with you - Go deeper!Step 3: Add this question at the end - “What am I actually feeling about this?”Step 4: Close with perspective - “What would a calmer version of me say about this?”------------------Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think. Plus, please leave me a review, they matter for exposure reasons (so I'm told). Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

Season 3, Episode 4On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about Energy Before Effort. Because the problem isn’t the effort you're putting into Journaling, the problem is the Energy!We're often told - Work harder - Push through - Stay disciplined. But, more effort DOES NOT create progress, it creates friction.Journaling Prompt for This Week:1️⃣ What is currently draining my energy?2️⃣ What is quietly restoring my energy?3️⃣ When during the day do I feel most like myself?4️⃣ What would it look like to work with my energy instead of against it?Plus, this week, I answered another listener question, because it sat so neatly alongside this week's topic: “What if I don’t feel like journaling? Should I force myself to do it anyway?”Listen to the episode to hear how I answered this brilliant question. ------------------Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

Season 3, Episode 3On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about something incredibly important if journaling is going to change your life: Becoming consistent… without becoming stale.You know the phrase, consistency is key (yes, yawn), but it's so relevant when it comes to seeing the results of Journaling. In this episode, I give you FIVE different methods to try, yes 5... if you think your Journaling is becoming a bit stale. These five methods will unlock something new for you and help you stay on track. Journaling rarely works overnight. You will notice changes almost immediately, but if you want true self-awareness, it takes time. Stick with it and try one of these methods if you feel your writing is quite samey. ------------------Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

Season 3, Episode 2On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about making tiny adjustments. These adjustments, albeit small, if carried out consistently, they WILL lead to BIG CHANGES. Here's your Journaling Prompt for this episode, and it comes in 3 parts, answer these three questions:Where in my life do I feel slightly off-course?What is the smallest possible shift that would move me 1% closer?What would change if I repeated that shift daily for 30 days?Once you've answered those 3 questions, it should open you up to a whole new way of thinking about making tiny shifts, leading to big changes. New Segment - I also answered a listeners question on this episode which is based around someone else discovering your Journal. ------------------Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

Welcome to SEASON THREE and Welcome to March!On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about not starting again, but Starting Wiser as the seasons change. March does something to us. The light changes. The air softens and there’s a subtle shift in energy. It's OK to notice that, but we mustn't forget about what came before it.Here's your Journaling tip for this episode, and it comes in THREE parts. Complete these three sentences in sequence...“Because of the last couple of months, I now understand that…”“This spring, I want to build on…”“One small action that aligns with who I’m becoming is…”This should help you stop that boom-and-bust cycle of starting again. You're not, you're simply learning from the past and becoming wiser. ------------------Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing, keep noticing, and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

Season 3, Episode 1On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about how important it is not to write-off February, but to discover what it taught you instead.People have already started to mentally writing this month off. And I wonder… How often do we dismiss entire chapters of our lives simply because they didn’t look dramatic, exciting, or Instagram-worthy?It's time to RECLAIM FEBRUARY. Here's your Journaling tip for this episode, and it comes in FOUR parts.1️⃣ What did this month actually require of me?2️⃣ Where did I show up when it would have been easier not to?3️⃣ What did I handle better than the old version of me might have?4️⃣ What am I quietly proud of?When you journal, you often realise, “Actually… quite a lot happened.” That's what I want you to discover this episode - GOOD LUCK!------------------Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about Journaling through those days where your mood is low. It's mid-February. The novelty of the new year has faded. The weather, here in the UK at least, is still cold, very damp, and impossibly miserable. So, what can we do about that?Today's episode will help you clear that Mental Fog!Here's the four-step process that I use and explain fully, in this episode. 1️⃣ - The Brain DumpWrite freely for 5–10 minutes.2️⃣ - What’s Actually Mine?Look at what you’ve written and ask "Which of these things are genuinely within my control?" Then Circle them.3️⃣ - Today’s Emotional WeatherThen Write “Today feels…” Not “I am...”.4️⃣ - One Gentle AnchorFinally, write and ask yourself this... “What is one small, kind, stabilising thing I can do today?”----------------------------------------Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about Discipline & Honesty.By now, you should know that one of the cornerstones of effective Journaling, is BRUTAL HONESTY, with yourself. But, we live in a world nowadays where Discipline is what we're told we need to make progress. Actually, what we really need is to be more HONEST with ourselves. HERE'S THIS WEEK'S JOURNALING EXERCISE: “The Capacity Check”Grab your journal and answer these THREE questions.1. What am I currently expecting of myself? List it out. Work. Family. Health. Social. All those Commitments.2. What does my energy realistically allow right now? Not ideally... Realistically.3. Where could I soften, simplify, or slow down without giving up? This isn’t about lowering standards, it’s about making them sustainable.Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about The February Dip.It's real, it happens to most of us and here's what you can do to fix it, through Journaling. HERE'S THIS WEEK'S JOURNALING EXERCISE:“The Reality Check”1. What feels harder than you expected right now?Not what you think should be hard. What actually is. Be Brutally Honest. 2. What have you kept going with, even imperfectly?This is important. Not what you’ve mastered. Not what you’ve smashed. What have you stayed with.3. What might you need more of — not less of?More rest? More structure? More patience? More kindness?Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about Recognising Your Wins.Adults are terrible at recognising their wins; the positives in their lives. It's time to stop that and start realising when we win and allowing ourselves to think we're good enough.HERE'S TODAY’S EXERCISE - THE DAILY WINS LISTIn your journal, write down...Three wins from todayThey MUST be small. Taking the stairs, counts. Not shouting at your kids when they spilt cereal, counts (in fact, that one’s a HUGE win). Making the bed, counts.Why each win matteredDid it show Discipline? Did it show Kindness? Did it show Restraint? Did it show Growth?What it says about who you’re becoming.This one is so important. Most of us aren’t looking to become a world leader, we just want to become better. By starting your daily wins list, you’ll see it mapping out in front of your very own eyes.Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about stripping it back to the beginning.If you feel like you don’t know how to journal - If the blank page makes you freeze - If you worry you’re doing it wrong - Congratulations, you are a perfectly normal human being.It's time to remove the rules. There is NO WRONG WAY TO JOURNAL. Here are FOUR STEPS to get you going... again!Step 1: Get Rid of the RulesStep 2: Pick a Time That Suits YouStep 3: Use Prompts to Get You StartedStep 4: Celebrate Showing UpPrompt for TodayWrite for 5 minutes: “If journaling was easy, what would I want it to give me?”Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about starting the New Year in the best way possible; with a low-pressure approach to Journaling = START SMALL!The 3-Part Beginner-Friendly New Year Journaling Method1. “How am I really?”No grand declarations, just an honest check-in.2. “What do I need today?”A break? A conversation? Some fresh air? A decent meal? A nap? This keeps journaling grounded in your real life.3. “What’s one small thing I can do to feel good about today?”One. Small. Thing. This sets the tone of self-respect for the year ahead.Today's Journaling Prompt is:Write for 6 minutes “If this year was about being kinder to myself, what would that look like?”Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

I wanted to give you an episode about starting the New Year with a New Journaling Habit, but life had other plans for me.My Father recently passed away and I didn't want to record an episode today.However, I looked at my Journal entry for the day after his passing and I felt like it would make for an interesting insight and a BRUTALLY HONEST look at how I Journal.Forgive me if this episode has come at a bad time for you, but it was about all I could produce this week.Please share this episode with someone who might need a bit of space to think and who might be going through something similar currently. Always remember... "keep writing and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about something really important, and that's Noticing the Good.Not the big, flashy, monumental moments… but the small ones that make life feel good, and that make us simply feel human.During the Christmas holidays, we often miss these moments. We’re too busy rushing around, attempting to please others. Here's how to Journal Small-Moment Gratitude - Forget long lists of “I’m grateful for my car, my house, my dog…” Try these instead:1. “What made me relax today?” - Great for tension-releasing moments.2. “What moment today felt like ‘me’?” - A personal highlight reel.3. “Where did I feel even 1% better?” - Micro-wins count.Your Prompt for Today is to complete this sentence - “The smallest thing that happened today that felt good was…” Describe it in detail — sights, sounds, smells, feelings, everything. Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about Journaling Through the December Overwhelm and Keeping Your Head When Life Gets Busy.December can feel so overwhelming because there is pressure from everywhere. Family, end of year feelings and of course, financial too. To combat this, why not try the “Three-Minute Dump-and-Do”:Minute 1 — Dump: Everything that’s stressing you. No censoring. Let it spill.Minute 2 — Circle: Circle the 1–2 things that genuinely need your attention today.Minute 3 — Do: Write one small action you’ll take for each.3 minutes! That’s it!If you need a Prompt for Today, try this. Write for 5 minutes and answer this questions...“What am I worrying about that probably doesn’t matter as much as I think?”Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast, I'm talking about why December is the perfect time to start Journaling.December gets a bit of a bad reputation. It’s either “the most magical time of the year”… or an emotional obstacle course. So, to help convince you that December is actually a great time of the year to start Journaling, here are three prompts for you. Three Things to Journal About This Month1. “What actually mattered this year?” - Not the goals you set in a burst of January optimism. The stuff that genuinely made life a little better.2. “Where did I feel most like myself?” - Moments of honesty, calm, flow, or weird joy. These become signposts for next year.3. “What am I carrying that I don’t want to bring into the new year?” - Old frustrations, outdated expectations, emotional clutter. Journaling is a brilliant place to put down the things you’re tired of holding.If that feels like too much, why not just start Journaling today with this: Write for 5 minutes on this: “What surprised me about myself this year?” - Surprises reveal truths you didn’t see coming.Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.com If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode of The Journaling Guy Podcast I'm talking about Consistency!Building Consistency is the key to many things in life, and Journaling is no exception. How can we make it something we WANT to do regularly, in other words how do we make it a habit?Here are your Practical Tips for Consistency:Lower the barPair it with something you already doEnd on a positiveAlso, try this prompt: “When do I feel most ready to reflect, and how can I protect that time?”Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.com If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Always remember... "keep writing and keep showing up for yourself", Matt.

On this episode I'm talking about The Morning Reset!How a quick Journaling habit first thing in the morning, can change everything that comes after it. Today's Main Prompt is:“What do I want to focus on today?”“What do I need to do to achieve that?”“What’s one small thing that would make today a win?”If you want to ease yourself in though, try this first thing tomorrow morning.Before the day hijacks you, open your journal and maybe write "Today, I choose to…” and then complete that sentence. Let me know how you get on with these.Please get in touch with any questions and of course, your feedback too. Email - hello@thejournalingguy.com If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need a bit of space to think.Keep writing and keep showing up for yourself, Matt.