One of the best ways to process your journey toward a simple life is journaling. Journals help you have a better connection with your values, your emotions, and your goals—and they help keep track of personal development.

The reality is this: life happens fast—too fast, actually—and we seldom take the time to stop and look at what’s happening around us. By keeping a journal, we leave a footprint for us to remember how each moment made us feel.

Keeping a Minimalist Journal

There are plenty of reasons for them, but here are five very specific things we think are worthwhile writing about:

1. Write about gratitude.

Focusing on the things we are thankful for is a great way to remove ourselves—and our selfishness—from the equation. We place importance on others, and that is something we probably don’t do as often as we should. Going through the process of writing down these things should result in greater retention, which means we have a better chance of remembering how blessed we are.

Related: 11 Tips for a Powerful Gratitude Journal

2. Remember the little things.

I love what Melissa Camara Wilkins says here: “Small matters, small gets you started, and small adds up.”

If you ask me, this can’t be any truer. I think far too many times we try to place emphasis on the “bigger” things in life, and we end up forgetting how important all of the little things are. They add up, and writing them down in a journal is a surefire way to never forget. After all, simple is, as simple does.

Related: Why Smallness Matters

3. Why you are enough.

Your journey towards a simple life is your own. It’s about designing a life that’s right for you. It’s about crafting a way of living that you want to experience and with whom you want to be surrounded by. Your journal is a place to share (with yourself, of course) the reasons why you deserve a life filled with happiness. It’s a place to remind yourself of this one very important thing—you are enough.

Related: What It Means to Be Enough

4. The magic of white space.

I am a firm believer in this: white space is where the magic happens. I’ve shared this idea many times, both in my writing over at here as well as creating various sharable images on our Facebook page. The unobstructed quiet time we give ourselves is the perfect chance to slow down. When we slow down, we give ourselves the opportunity to learn, to be grateful, and to live with intention.

Related: Why the White Space in Our Life Matters

5. Document your experiences.

Our life is short, and our life is unique. We only have one shot at making the most of it, and we should want to do just that. We should spend our time and money on experiences that we’ll remember, rather than on things we’ll give away. And these are among the things we should be writing about.

We want to help you figure out what’s getting in your way, at home and at work. We want to help you let go of distractions, online and off. We want to help you turn down the noise that disrupts the quiet of your heart and soul.

The Design a Simple Life journal is hand-bound and made from recycled materials. Use it to write notes, make lists and above all—to be inspired

Click here to view the journal in our Etsy store.

UPDATE: This journal is no longer available.

*Note — This article is taken from from our 30 Days to a Simpler Life course, where we help inspire + encourage you to design a simple life.