Do you keep a journal? I mean a diary where you write down thoughts and emotions? A record of events and more? Research shows that journalling can boost mood, health and more. It frees up expression, lets you vent emotions without fear of comeback, unless the source of you annoyances gets a look, and it lets you unburden your mind freely.

I don’t know about you, but this is not the time of year for me to try and start anything demanding. I may well add keeping a journal to my Hibernation list next year, but that’s for another post. (In the absence of Beauty that Moves running her annual Hibernate retreat this year, I’m keeping my own Hibernation. January and February spent writing, reading, crafting and enjoying company. I’ll be posting about it on here and on my Instagram feed. Perhaps you’d consider it as well?)

No, at Christmas time any journalling I do has to be of the simplest, most basic kind. That’s why I fall back on one of my favourite things. List-making. Seriously, you can record a lot of memories by just making them into lists. And list making appears not to demand much time or effort, so it fools even the most reluctant diarist into sharing or saving their memories. It can also be done as a group thing, so keeping a journal can be a family or friendship group activity as well.

Starting a journal is simple: grab a notebook, grab a pen and get going. Do you need some more Christmas journal inspiration? How about this list of Christmas lists to make in your journal? You’re welcome!

My books are all available from Amazon.

50 Ways to Hygge the British Way  is available in Paperback and Kindle version and so is How to Hygge Your Summer, again in Paperback and Kindle form, from Amazon.

Have Yourself a Happy Hygge Christmas was released in September 2017 and is available again in paperback and ebook version.

If you purchase through the links on this page, I get a couple of pence extra per copy, and if you’ve already read them and enjoyed them, please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. I have a Goodreads Author’s Page!

My blog is on Facebook as How to Hygge the British Way and you can now follow me on Bloglovin as well. I’m personally also on Instagram and as a member of The Hygge Nook on Facebook.

****How to Hygge the British Way Blog isn’t monetised. I have taken the decision that I want to remain neutral and not to promote things just because. I will only ever review items that I have bought myself, or that I think will help to promote hygge in a busy life. To do this, I need support. Even just the price of a coffee adds up to a book over time, and it means I can stay independent. Would you help? Please consider clicking through to paypal.me/HyggeJem and leaving even a small amount. I’d be very grateful. Thank you.***