(And How to Actually Use One Without the Pressure)
So, you’ve got yourself a shiny new productivity journal.
You crack open the first page, grab a pen, and… suddenly feel like you’re meant to be reinventing your life before lunch.
Sound familiar?
The truth is: journals are a brilliant tool, but only when used like they were meant to be. Not as some kind of high-performance bootcamp or test of your handwriting. Just a simple place to sort your thoughts and take back control of your day.
Here are 3 common mistakes people make with productivity journals and some tips on how to avoid them.
1. Trying to “do it properly” from Day One
We understand, you want to use your journal right. You spend half an hour setting it up like a work of art, only to despair when your priorities change the next day.
Productivity journals aren’t meant to be perfect.
They’re meant to be used. Scribbled in. Crossed out. Folded. Flipped back through. Picked up and put down again.
Our Tip:
Start small. One page. One day. One simple focus.
And if it looks a bit chaotic? That means it’s working.
2. Feeling like you’ve failed if you miss a day (or three)
Let’s be honest: life gets in the way of good habits, no matter how much determination we have.
You have a busy week. You forget. You drop the habit. Suddenly the journal is sitting in the corner, sending you on a guilt trip every time you glance across at it.
Here’s the secret: you can pick it up again at any time.
There are no journal police. No marks deducted. No wasted pages. Just you, if you need it to help for just a few complicated days, or a tricky month that’s fine. In a perfect world we would use it every day but in real life there are not many that can maintain that discipline… We’re not saying don’t try and get in to the great habit of using it daily, what we’re saying is don’t stress about it.
Especially with our own Get Stuff Done Journal, there are no dates. You can dip in and out whenever you need a reset.
Our Tip:
Just turn the page. Start fresh. It’s still there for you, it never needed to be perfect in the first place.
3. Over-planning instead of taking action
Ah, the productivity trap: spending more time planning the work than actually doing the work.
It feels productive (colour-coded tasks! fresh bullet points!), but you haven’t actually kicked the ball yet.
Journals work best when they support your day, not replace it.
Our Tip:
- Keep it simple.
- Write your top 3 priorities.
- Choose one small win.
Then close the journal and crack on.
Use the journal to guide your actions, not distract from them.
Final Thought
Your journal isn’t a piece of art.
It’s a tool. A companion. A place to brain-dump. And, yes, it can be bit of a sanity-saver.
You don’t need to “use it right”. You just need to use it your way.
Messy, sporadic, scribbly just like real life.
And honestly? That’s where the magic is.
👉 Ready to try a journal that doesn’t judge or pressure?
Explore the Get Stuff Done Journal undated, flexible, and always ready when you are.
GET STUFF DONE 
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