Want to start a journal or notebook as a couple? This can be a huge benefit to your relationship. When you use the same journal or notebook, you can create a history of your love, a record of your life, and a shared outlook on what you hope and dream for. It’s a great way to get to know each other better or just stay on the same page when it comes to life’s big issues. There are so many ways to use a shared journal or notebook that it would take a whole book to write about it. Let’s get you started with these 10 ideas.
10 Ways To Use A Shared Journal Or Notebook As A Couple
1. Get Clear On The 12 Categories Of Life Together
You share your life, so you should know each other’s values and priorities in each area of life. By getting clear on how the other feels about various aspects of life, you will improve your understanding of each other and your relationship.
According to Lifebook, by Jon and Missy Butcher, there are 12 main areas of life, including:
- Health and fitness
- Intellect
- Emotions
- Character
- Spirituality
- Romantic relationships
- Parenting
- Friends and family
- Finances
- Career
- Quality of life
- The vision you have for your life
Do you know how your partner feels about each category? If not, you can use your shared journal or notebook to discover each other’s deepest beliefs and work together to find a way to compromise in each category or respect each other’s values in each category.
In short, using a shared journal or notebook to reflect on your thoughts and feelings in each category is going to help improve your relationship.
Note: You can take a free masterclass to learn more about Lifebook here.
2. Get On The Same Page
If you and your partner are working on a shared goal, whether it’s getting healthy, saving money, or starting a family, using your shared journal or notebook can help you stay on the same page.
At the beginning of each day, write down what goals or tasks you plan to focus on for your goal. Then, throughout the day, make note of any challenges you face or successes you achieve.
In this way, your partner will get a clear picture of where you’re at and whether there’s more work to be done in any area.
Finally, when you sit down together at the end of the day to review your notes and plans for tomorrow, take time to reflect on what went well and what could have gone better. Use these insights to create a stronger plan for achieving your mutual goals going forward.
3. Manage Big Life Changes
Big life changes, like moving to a new city or starting a new job, can be exciting and stressful at the same time. Your shared journal or notebook is a great place to document these changes and reflect on how they are impacting your relationship.
For example, if you’re relocating to another state due to a job promotion, write down what aspects of this change are most exciting for each of you (such as exploring a new area or meeting new people). Then, make plans to work through any challenges together (such as adjusting to a sudden change in schedule or finding ways to stay connected with family members back home).
By using a shared journal or notebook for your big life changes, you are going to avoid a lot of miscommunication and will ensure that the other person knows what you’ve done, where you are at, and what is left to do.
Ultimately, taking the time to process big life changes together will help you feel supported and appreciated by your partner during a time of transition.
4. Resolve Conflict
We all know that conflict is inevitable in any relationship. But did you know that journaling can actually help you resolve conflict more effectively?
The next time you’re in the midst of an argument with your partner, take a break to cool down, and then each write down your thoughts and feelings about the situation in your shared journal or notebook.
Once you’ve had a chance to calm down and process your emotions, come back together and read what you’ve written out loud to each other.
This exercise will help you to understand each other’s perspectives, identify any misunderstandings, and find common ground. From there, you can work together to find a solution that meets both of your needs.
5. Celebrate Your Wins
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind and forget to celebrate your relationship milestones. But taking the time to reflect on your accomplishments, both big and small, is an important part of maintaining a healthy and happy relationship.
In your shared journal or notebook, make a list of all the things you’ve achieved together as a couple. Include everything from major accomplishments (like buying a house or having a baby) to smaller successes (like finally getting around to that home improvement project you’ve been putting off for ages).
Then, take some time to reflect on why each accomplishment was meaningful to you and what you learned along the way. Doing so will help you to appreciate all that you’ve accomplished together and set your sights on even bigger goals for the future.
6. Use Daily Or Weekly Journal Prompts In Your Shared Journal Or Notebook
Journal prompts are a way to dig deeper into areas of life, interests, thoughts, or emotions, and you can include journal prompts in your shared journal or notebook to get and give insight into a topic.
For example, you could use the following journal prompts in your shared journal or notebook:
-What are three things you’re grateful for from this past week?
-What was the best part of your day today?
-What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
-What’s something you’ve been wanting to tell me but haven’t yet?
-How can I be a better partner to you?
Asking and answering these types of questions on a regular basis can help you to build a stronger foundation for your relationship. So why not give it a try? You may be surprised at how much you learn about each other – and yourself.
7. Get Creative With Your Shared Journal Or Notebook
There’s no right or wrong way to use a shared journal or notebook. So don’t be afraid to get creative! If you’re feeling stuck, here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Use your shared journal or notebook as a photo album and include pictures from special moments in your relationship.
- Write down your favorite memories of each other and reflect on what made them so special.
- Make a bucket list of things you want to do together and check items off as you go.
- Start a collection of inside jokes, pet names, and other things that are unique to your relationship.
- Write down recipes you want to try.
Anything you want to share with your partner, you can do in your shared journal or notebook.
8. Enhance Your Faith As A Couple
You can use your shared journal or notebook to enhance or heighten your faith as a couple. You can do this by using prayer prompts, meditations, or affirmations as journal prompts.
For example, you might use the following journal prompt in your shared journal or notebook:
-Write down a prayer for our relationship and commit it to the universe.
As with any other exercise in your shared journal or notebook, getting creative with your faith and spirituality can help deepen the connection between you and enhance every aspect of your relationship. Figure out what you want to work on, whether it’s deepening your faith, exploring new faiths, or coming together on faith, and then find a way to use your shard journal or notebook to help you do that.
9. Come Up With A Date Night List In Your Shared Journal Or Notebook
You will never run out of date night ideas again when you create a date night list in your shared journal or notebook. You can separate the page into columns and each of you can write down date night ideas as they come to you. By doing this, you can get inspired by each other and never run out of ideas again.
Some great date night ideas include:
- Go to a museum or art gallery together.
- Play games at a local arcade.
- Plan a picnic in your favorite park.
- Relax by the fire with some hot cocoa and good conversation.
- Go for a long drive and discover new places in your city (or town!).
Having this list will ensure that you keep dating even when life gets busy, which is sure to help keep things fresh and exciting between the two of you!
10. Write Each Other Love Letters In Your Shared Journal Or Notebook
Whenever the mood hits, write each other love letters that the other person will find as a surprise. By doing this in your shared journal or notebook, you keep your relationship full of love, passion, and intimacy. You can also write about the things that you love about each other or express gratitude for all that your partner does for you.
Creating a tradition like this is not only sweet and romantic – it can also strengthen the bond between the two of you by giving both of you an opportunity to appreciate and uplift one another on a regular basis.
The Possibilities Are Endless
As you can see, there are many different ways to use your shared journal or notebook in order to improve your relationship. This is just a short list of 10 things. Your imagination is the only limit on how you can use a shared journal or notebook in your romantic relationship.
Whether you choose to focus on communication, intimacy, productivity, creativity, or faith as a couple, using a shared journal or notebook is sure to help strengthen every aspect of your life.
