The Mindset Journal
Why Journaling?
When you journal, you tap into different states of mind that help you become clearer about your desires and who you want to become.
There is no right or wrong way to journal.
You have to commit time to reflect and write about yourself. If it feels strange at first, then trust me, it will become easier as time goes by. I found it hard at first, but over time discovered that I love writing (so much that I have a monthly column in the newspaper now!)
Find your flow.
When you write in a journal, it is important not to judge yourself for what comes out. You do not have to be a professional writer, and unless you share it with others, remember it is only for your eyes.
Let the words flow. What comes out might feel like nonsense, or it might be the 'a-ha’ moment that you have been waiting to discover.
Reflect on what you write with loving-kindness. If someone opened up their heart to you, you would offer them words of support, not judgement - do the same for yourself.
Sometimes I do it in the morning, sometimes I take a break at lunch and sometimes I do it before I go to bed. It is down to the person when they can give themselves the time - why not try different times and see what works for you? I enjoy creating a mindful moment - a ritual of listening to the birds sing in the morning with herbal tea or I light scented candles and drink Kombucha in the evening.
How do I use the Sober Journal?
When using the Digital Sober Journal you will need to type directly into the PDF.
Make sure that you have Adobe or a PDF editor of your choice downloaded on the device you are using.
Before using your Sober Journal read the rest of this post, and if you do want to use the Digital Sober Journal and you haven’t used an editable PDF before, watch the video, which will show you the spaces you can edit.
Not sure how to use your Journal? Watch this video.
Important Information for those using the Digital Sober Journal.
Save me!
Make sure that EVERY time you update your Sober Journal, you SAVE IT. If you do not save it, your writing will be lost. Keep your Sober Journal somewhere easy to find on your computer.
Locking your Sober Journal.
If you are on a shared device and would like to keep your Sober Journal private, you can go to ‘Permissions’ and use a password to protect the document. If you do this, you will have to remember the password and enter it every time you use it. I will not have your password, so I will not be able to help you to access this once you have done this.
Weekly view.
You can see the week at a glance and write in any key reminders into this space.
Tick each day as you complete it in the empty box.
Click on the day's name to go through to that day’s reflection page to write more.
To go back to the Week view, click on the Week tab on the right-hand side.
Click on GET STARTED to go through to a page to write about this Week’s Sober Journal prompt.
Daily view.
Track how you feel.
Use the daily feelings tracker to see how you feel. As time goes by, you will be able to see patterns forming. What were you doing on the days that you felt most positive, happy, confident, healthy, etc.? The same goes for the negative. You can then start planning to do more things that make you feel good - a greater awareness will develop with time, all part of the journey of real self-discovery.
Goals.
Choose a daily focus. What do you want to achieve today? Use this space to highlight that focus and work out what you need to do to achieve your goals.
Daily affirmations.
Affirmations are positive statements that challenge negative and self-sabotaging thoughts. The more you consistently say the positive, the more you will believe it, live it and manifest it into your reality. Here are some examples of affirmations that I regularly use to get myself in the right headspace first thing in the morning:
I am worthy.
I am enough.
I am confident.
I am filled with positive energy.
Today is going to be a great day.
Open yourself up to receiving and feel your vibrational energy shift over time.
Here’s some more inspo…
An attitude of gratitude.
There is space in your Sober Journal to focus on what you are grateful for; doing this daily helps create a positive mindset - where our intention goes, energy flows!
Every day, write down at least three things you are thankful for, no matter how simple or humble they may be. Focusing on the positive rather than negative thoughts helps us see the cup as half full rather than half empty. It’s been scientifically proven that being thankful makes us happier.
Weekly Focus.
You will see a different Sober Journal prompt for each Week that you do the Programme. These allow you to go deeper with your self-reflection and Sober Journal practice.
Important.
Do not skip forward with the Programme content, or you may overwhelm yourself.
This Programme has been broken down into bite-sized chunks to shift your mindset over time. Please plan the time in to do the work and do it weekly.
This work needs to be done alongside the daily journaling to change your relationship with alcohol, yourself and others.
Handy tabs.
I have added tabs to the top of your Sober Journal for easy access:
Cover.
When you click on this tab, it will take you back to the front of your Sober Journal.
Start.
Use this space to write down where you are at the start of your Sober Journey. How do you feel? How do you look? Why now? You might like to treat this like a breakup letter, saying goodbye to the bad relationship you have with it.
During the Programme, there will be a number of visualisations, which have been created to help you on your journey of real self-discovery. Make sure that you gift yourself the time to do these, they will help you to go deeper with your journaling.
This is an important step and will act as motivation in the future.
We will look at Motivation more in Week 2.
Savings.
Use this space to create awareness of the cost of alcohol and how you could be positively spending this money.
You can break down:
Money spent on alcohol previously - be honest, this isn’t a form at your doctor’s; there is no one here to judge you! The more open and honest you are with yourself, the more powerful the exercise.
Write down an approximate amount for:
Weekly.
Monthly.
Yearly.
Update the space in your Sober Journal to record money saved during the programme.
Money for charity.
Whether you donate a % of your savings or start fundraising, committing money to charity will help hold you accountable; it will also make you feel warm and fuzzy.
Treat yourself.
Schedule treats to look forward to; after all, you deserve it.
What have you always wanted but maybe not been able to afford? It could be a treatment, spa membership, a family holiday, jewellery, a self-development course…the list goes on.
Get clear on how you will reward yourself and plan these things in your Sober Journal as something to look forward to.
Benefits.
It might not feel like it right now, but there are many benefits to not drinking alcohol. These are different for everyone; you can use this space in your Sober Journal to collect them as time passes.
For me, my skin improved, I looked healthier, I had better clarity of mind, I was more reliable, I’d reclaimed my Sundays, I got sick less, and I saved more (These are just to name a few).
Dates.
Let’s get prepared!
Which dates are coming up over the next twelve weeks that you need to get ready for? What feelings are coming up for you around these dates?
We can then look at how we prepare for them and how we can support you. I can’t emphasise this enough - preparation is key.
“by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
Sips.
I recommend finding Sober Sips that you enjoy, which can be your go-to. Use this space in your Sober Journal to write them down so that you don’t forget.
Whether you want to explore alcohol-free alternatives or soft drinks, health drinks and herbal teas - there is a whole world of drinks that don’t have alcohol out there, and the selections are getting better and better.
When you find something you love, share it with the group on our Facebook page; sharing is caring!
Make sure to have your Sober Sips stocked up at home, and before you go out, check what you will order before being put on the spot.
Most places have their menu online to work it out ahead of time; again, you can use this space in your Sober Journal to remind yourself which pubs, bars, and restaurants have good options.
If somewhere doesn’t have a decent alcohol-free choice, try calling up and asking if you can bring one of your favourite Sober Sips with you (you could offer to pay corkage).
Resources.
This is a space in your Sober Journal for you to add any resources that you find helpful during our time together.