The Five Minute Journal from Intelligent Change
has been getting a ton of buzz lately
for helping people practice gratitude, mindfulness, and self-growth.
But before you jump on the bandwagon,
let’s keep it real and talk about some potential drawbacks that this journal might have.
No product is perfect, and it’s important to go into this thing with your eyes wide open.
In this article, we’ll take an honest look at some of the areas where the Five Minute Journal may fall short,
allowing you to make an informed decision about whether it aligns with your needs and preferences.
Please note this post contains affiliate links
5 Drawbacks
Let’s look at the drawbacks quickly
| 1 | Limited Versatility and Free Space – Intelligent Change offers other type of Journals with more free space |
| 2 | Perceived Value and Cost – Could try out digital version |
| 3 | Font Size and Readability Concerns – Could try out digital version |
| 4 | Potential for Monotony or Burnout in Beginners – Feel free to tailer |
| 5 | Limited Depth or Personalization for Journaling Experts |
1. Limited Versatility and Free Space
daily page across
This journal’s whole setup is pretty rigid with those pre-formatted pages and prompts.
For some people, that structure is helpful guidance.
But for others who like to free-write or get deep into their thoughts,
feeling boxed in like that could be suffocating.
The limited space allotted for each prompt could also be frustrating for those who tend to be more verbose or expressive in their writing.
Solution: Try other products of Intelligent Change
If you prefer having more free space to jot down your thoughts, Intelligent Change offers other types of journals.
2. Perceived Value and Cost
Then there’s the cost factor.
At around $30 for a 6-month supply,
the Five Minute Journal ain’t exactly cheap.
You’ve gotta ask yourself
if it’s really worth that investment compared to just grabbing any old notebook.
For folks on a tight budget, that price tag might be a no-go.
It’s important to note that the perceived value of a product is highly subjective and dependent on individual circumstances and priorities.
Solution 1 : Try digital version
If that $30 price tag for the 6 months physical journal is giving you sticker shock,
one option could be trying out the digital version first.
It’s $39.99 for 12 months.
so it might be a smoother way to dip your toes into this whole journaling thing without dropping too much cash upfront.
| Analog The Five Minute Journal | Digital 5 Minute Journal: Self-Care | |
| Link to the store | Amazon (Five Minute Journal) | Android (GooglePlay) Iphone (AppleStore) |
| Price | $28.99 | $39.99 |
| Duration | 6 months | 12 months (subscription) |
Solution 2 : Build into your current journal
But listen, if you’re already pretty comfortable with journaling
and don’t need the full Five Minute Journal experience,
you could honestly just start incorporating gratitude prompts into your existing routine.
Those things are all over the internet for free – a quick Google search and you’re good to go without spending a dime.
3. Font Size and Readability Concerns
Let’s talk about those small fonts, especially in that preface section explaining how to use the journal.
If you’re someone
who needs large print or struggles with vision issues,
getting through those tiny instructions
could leave you squinting and strained.
Not an ideal way to start your journaling journey!
While the small font size may not be an issue for everyone,
it could present a barrier for some users,
potentially leading to frustration or a diminished understanding of the journal’s intended purpose and usage.
This factor may be particularly relevant for older individuals or those with specific visual needs.
Solution : Try digital version. (5 minute journal)
4. Potential for Monotony or Burnout in Beginners
Another potential pitfall?
Burnout.
Doing those same gratitude prompts day after day could start feeling real monotonous after a while.
If you’re someone who craves variety and gets bored easily with routines,
the risk of losing motivation
and falling off the journaling wagon is legit.
For those who thrive on spontaneity or find themselves easily bored with routine,
the Five Minute Journal’s consistent format
may struggle to maintain their interest and motivation in the long run.
This could potentially diminish the journal’s effectiveness or lead to inconsistent usage, undermining the benefits of a sustained gratitude and mindfulness practice.
Solution: Feel free to customize and be creative
This journal provides the core concept and basic gratitude method.
Once you get comfortable, you can modify based on what you want to write down.
such as…
You can add your own questions.
You can add mood tracker in the free space.
You can add more findings and thoughts. Even though the daily space is limited, you can write down some. You could utilize the blank ruled pages at the end.
5. Limited Depth or Personalization for Journaling Experts
For those deep-thinking self-explorers out there,
you might find the prompts in the Five Minute Journal to be a bit…surface level.
There’s not much room for getting down into the nitty-gritty of your personal growth.
While the Five Minute Journal excels in providing a simple and accessible entry point into gratitude and mindfulness practices,
some users may find the prompts and exercises too surface-level or lacking in depth.
If you need more profundity, this journal could leave you unfulfilled.
Without the ability to modify or adapt the prompts to better align with their unique circumstances or goals, some users may feel disconnected from the journaling experience.
Solution: Try other Journals
You could try other Journals.
Summary
It’s always good to go into something like this with a balanced view,
aware of both the potential awesomeness and limitations.
At the end of the day, you’ve gotta ask yourself if the journal’s format, price, and features line up with your needs and lifestyle.
If any of those drawbacks are deal breakers for you,
no shame!
There are plenty of other journaling methods out there.
But if you can overlook those potential cons and still dig the basic concept, maybe giving this thing a shot could be a game-changer for your wellbeing.
