| About Journaling | | | | date are at the top of the page, but you write in the |
| How to Keep an Addiction Recovery Journal | | | | year. This format is especially conducive for journaling |
| During any addiction recovery process and even | | | | daily the 12 Step Recovery Program. Use 5YJ to |
| afterward, support is essential. A simple, easy and | | | | record a relative reflection of the daily steps taken. |
| proven effective way, that anyone can use to support | | | | After the each year journaled, we can look back at |
| themselves, is keeping an addiction recovery journal or | | | | the previous years to see where we were last year, |
| diary. An excellent tool for recovery, as well as a | | | | then two years ago, three years, and so on. |
| great way of doing our, Daily 10th Step Inventory, | | | | 5 Journaling Tips |
| journaling provides a record of gratitudes, goals, | | | | 1. Start journaling on any day of the year. |
| intentions, and the ups and the downs of life. Journaling | | | | 2. Set your journal where you see it every day: On the |
| is a record of our actions and growth, our dreams and | | | | kitchen table, your desk or in your briefcase. This will |
| desires. | | | | help remind you to journal daily. |
| Journaling is all about expression. Writing down, | | | | 3. Keep a pen or pencil with your journal. |
| recording our feelings, recognizing them, and leaving | | | | 4. Skipping days is a part of journaling. |
| them on the page, is an excellent way to understand | | | | 5. You can use the same color of pen or use different |
| and figure out what is really important to us and for us. | | | | colors. You can also designate colors of pens for |
| We can realize what we are really experiencing. We | | | | certain feelings, i.e., green for growth, blue for sadness, |
| see what we are really thinking. It is right there on the | | | | orange for joy, red for anger, you get the idea. If you |
| page in black and white. Where is the fear? Where is | | | | are using the different colored pens, write in the front |
| the joy? Within the journaling pages and with time, | | | | of your journal what you decided each color signifies. |
| clarity is easier to obtain and focus upon. Then, after | | | | By journaling every day, we make time for ourselves, |
| this processing, we can make clear, focused choices | | | | and in so many ways our journal becomes a |
| of what works and serves us. And what does not. | | | | treasured keepsake. Keeping an addiction recovery |
| An excellent, supportive tool to use to start an | | | | journal can reduce stress, help focus and organize us, |
| addiction recovery journal is The 5 Year Journal. The 5 | | | | and becomes a good reminder, helping us to set and |
| Year Journal can be started on any day, in any year. | | | | track goals. Comparing and exploring the different |
| Already formatted into three lines a day, the day and | | | | times of our lives is easy with a journal. |