What is Guided Journaling?

When I was a new grad nurse one of my preceptors gave me a journal as a present for completing my orientation. I still have that journal and it is now filled with eight years of stories (without patient identifiers of course- ya' know, HIPAA and all). But I documented my days- good, bad, hard, exciting, and tiring. I wouldn't write every day, but I'd try to write once a week or once every other week in the beginning and then as I progressed and grew as a nurse, I slowed down writing and only wrote when I had an important experience- a patient or family who touched my heart, a wild story, when I performed a new task/ procedure. In my journal I also kept all the cards and kudos from team members or families and wrote when someone important recognized me for something. As I've grown as a nurse it has helped me look back and remember why I became a nurse.  I can look back over the years and see the amazing, crazy or hilarious stories and know that there is good in the profession still, and I recognize my reason "why".  These guided journals leave you the space to journal about your days with free spaces and also provide prompts to get you thinking and check ins to make sure you are caring for yourself.