This document provides information and examples about creating and writing reflective journals. It defines a reflective journal as a place to write about meaningful life experiences and what was learned from them. Tips are provided, such as writing entries soon after events happen while details are still fresh, and making regular journal entries. Examples of reflective journal prompts and a sample entry about losing a job are also included to illustrate the reflective writing process.

1. How To Create a
Reflective Journal
Mr. Suarez – 10th Grade English

2. REFLECTIVE JOURNALS
• One of the most commonly used and therapeutic ways to utilize
your journal is to reflect upon experiences you deem
profound or that had an impact on your life. Getting it all down
on paper can really give you a completely different perspective
on things. Writing in your journal can be an incredibly useful
tool to help you better understand yourself and the world you
operate in. Reflective learning journals are also a great way to
find creative solutions to difficult problems.

3. So, what exactly is a Reflective Journal?
• A reflective journal (aka a reflective diary) is the perfect place to jot
down some of life's biggest thoughts. In a reflective journal, you can
write about a positive or negative event that you experienced, what
it means or meant to you, and what you may have learned from that
experience.
• A well-written journal can be an important tool. As with any tool, to
get the most benefits, you need practice. This could mean forcing
yourself to write, at first, but after a while, it will become like second
nature. Write down your entry as soon as possible after the event.
This way, the details will still be fresh in your mind, which will help
later in your analysis.

4. 5 Reasons To Write a Reflective Journal
• 1. To make sense of things that happened - What you write should
sound as if you are describing the details to someone who wasn't
there. Be as descriptive as possible. Just the act of writing down the
details of what happened may give you perspective that you may
not have otherwise considered had you just continued to think
about it.
• 2. To speculate as to why something is the way it is - Your views
can come from your own common sense, or from something you
have heard at a lecture or read in a book. Either way, speculating
why something is the way it is can be a very useful exercise in
reasoning.

5. 5 Reasons To Write a Reflective Journal
• 3. To align future actions with your reflected values and experiences - After
positing your interpretation, continue to observe the subject of your speculation to
decide whether you want to stick to your original views, or make changes. That is
one of the great things about an online journal--you can make changes to your
entries at any time.
• 4. To get thoughts and ideas out of your head - Writing down your thoughts can
help relieve pressure or help resolve problems. It will also help you focus the task
at hand.
• 5. To share your thoughts and ideas with others - Getting opinions from others
about what you wrote can help you clarify your feelings for a deeper
understanding of yourself.

6. The Reflective Journal Thought Process
• When writing a reflective journal, you are simply documenting
something that has happened in your life that requires you to make
a change or consider the impact of your decision. Your journal, in
many ways, is a dialogue that you are having with yourself. You are
forcing your brain to think critically about something and to produce
written words accordingly.
• The worst thing you can do to a creative flow is to start inputting
criticism before your thought is complete. Allow yourself the time to
make a mistake and keep going. Who cares if you didn't phrase
that exactly how you should have or you didn't spell that word right?
Those things just aren't important here. Find whatever works for
you.

7. 4 Tips To Get Your Reflective Journaling Started
• Writing a reflective journal requires not only that you describe a
learning experience, but also that you analyze the topics covered
and articulate your feelings and opinions about the subject matter.
There is no set structure for writing a reflective journal, as the diary
is meant for your own use. The writing process is entirely free-form.
However, there are certain guidelines to follow that will make you
more successful at this. Here are some basic tips at how to write a
reflective journal.

8. 4 Tips To Get Your Reflective Journaling
Started
1. ALWAYS KEEP THE JOURNAL NEARBY
• The first step in learning how to write a reflective journal is as simple as being
prepared to jot down your thoughts and opinions on something you are learning
anytime the mood strikes. For example, if you have an insightful observation
about a book you're reading while on the bus, it pays to have your journal with
you.
• .2. MAKE REGULAR ENTRIES
• While you can write in whatever form and style you please, it's important to write
regular entries, even if a moment of inspiration doesn't arise. This ensures you
are reviewing content and actively thinking about what you have learned. This will
develop your writing and critical thinking skills while keeping you organized. In the
end, this should enable you to better understand specific topics you are studying.

9. 4 Tips To Get Your Reflective Journaling
Started
• 3. PARTICIPATE, OBSERVE, SUMMARIZE AND CONTEMPLATE
• While reflecting is the main part of keeping a reflective diary, it's also vital that you first
participate in a learning activity, make observations and summarize facts and
experiences. For example, if you are writing a lab for science class, be sure to first
cover what you did and what the goal and outcome of the experiment was prior to
elaborating on your ideas and opinions of what was discovered. Reflective journaling
is first about participating and observing before writing.
• 4. REVIEW REGULARLY
• Take time to read over previous journal entries and see how new experiences,
additional knowledge and time have altered how you think and feel about the material
you've been analyzing and contemplating. This will make the journal more valuable to
you personally, as it will shed light on how you've grown.

10. Reflective Journal Topic Examples
• To create a reflective journal that really provides detail on your overall
perspective on a variety of different situations, consider using one of
these prompts to help with your thought process.

11. Reflective Journal Topic Examples
• • Write about which relationships have the most meaning to you and
why. Include ways you can grow to help maintain these close
relationships and get rid of the toxic relationships currently in your life.
• • Write about what you are learning at school or in college.
• • Write about someone in your life who has experienced a positive
change and how you can learn from their situation.
• • Write about what you want out of the next five years of your life and
what you can do to achieve these goals.

12. Reflective Journal Example
• The passage below is a sample reflective diary entry about losing a job:
• “This week I lost my job because my employer thought I was not
consistent in my work. At first I was a little upset, because I'm always on
time, and I complete what I can by the end of the day. I couldn't figure out
what she meant by stating that I wasn't consistent in my work. After
thinking about the situation, I realized that I can only complete the work
assigned to the best of my ability. What she doesn't realize is that the
problem started because I constantly received incomplete reports.
Whoever ends up with my former job will have the same issues if that
problem isn't addressed first. However, knowing that I did what I could will
allow me to continue to move forward with a positive outlook for the future.