Many of us are accomplished in the art of procrastination, particularly when it comes to journaling. We know we should carve out time every day to write, but… we are too busy, we have to work late, we have to take the kids to practice, we [insert excuse here].

It’s easy to come up with reasons to avoid journaling regularly, but we owe it to ourselves to make writing a high priority in our lives. Let’s tackle some of the most common writing excuses and find ways to overcome them.

I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

Be honest: how many times have you used this justification at the end of a long day? You are probably extremely busy with work and family and other commitments, and some days journaling might seem like another item on your growing to-do list. Unfortunately, there is no way around this one: you must make time to write. The more you put it off, the harder it is to get into a rhythm that works for you. Remember that it is an important part of your life that you deserve to cultivate.

Experiment with journaling at different times throughout your day and see which is the most convenient. Write for 10 minutes when you wake up in the morning, take a coffee break in the middle of the day or unwind before you go to bed. When you find the best time, schedule it into your day as if it were any other important appointment in your calendar. Put a reminder in your phone or computer, write it on your calendar and let people know that you’ll be unavailable during that time. If you motivate yourself to journal consistently, you will gradually begin to look forward to it as an essential component of your life.

I'M NOT REALLY A WRITER.

If you are interested in keeping a journal, you understand the value of writing and want to express yourself and hone your skills. You don’t have to be a professional writer to keep a journal, but putting a pen to paper and telling your story does make you a writer. Your words are valuable, even if you are the only one who will read them. Try not to think about penning a masterpiece memoir or a great modern novel every time you sit down with your journal or you may become paralyzed from the pressure. Instead, accept that you will have misspellings and rambling thoughts and other imperfections in your writing. Your journal is for you and you alone.