Anyone out there good at keeping a journal? Daily? If not everyday, for a season or special events?
We spent last week in Carlsbad, CA for Spring Break. We were there 8 days and did a ton. Disneyland, San Diego Zoo, spent time with family, spent time with friends, beach, pool. I watched the movie Pitch Perfect with my daughter. My first time, her 40th. We ate at a great place called the Pizza Port three times. Fantastic. We had a great time.
I told myself while I was there that each day I should take 10 minutes and write down what we did each day. I put it off the first day and then the 2nd and then I convinced myself that I would remember what we did.
We’ve been back 3 days and while I remember the big stuff I’m sure I’ve already forgotten some of the little things. Something funny that was said, etc. Frustrating b/c it’s these little moments that are the best.
I do this all the time. Have the best of intentions and then just don’t do it.
How about you? Anyone out there good at journaling? You have a process or does it just come natural?
In the fall of 1991, while living in the Dominican Republic, I wrote in my journal everyday for all 92 days I was there. I was a scared, insecure, 21 year old kid and it is all there in my journal.
Try a digital voice recorder. They are inexpensive, easy to use and take only seconds, not minutes, to record your thoughts. They hold hours of recording. When you’re ready simply transcribe it. It may be a little odd at first, you may even feel like Capt. Kirk, but you will get used to it.
Yeah….this is a good one, I NEED to write things down. I did great when I was in high school, but since then ____ years ago I haven’t. I’ve got a hugely busy life now, more going on than ever, I’ll have to tell you later…..but it would really be good for me to do a daily journal for myself. I think it would be therapeutic.
I kept a journal for 92 days in a row while I was living in the Domican Republic in the fall of 1991. I was 21 years old, scared, and insecure, and my writings reflect that! During that time, Haiti’s government was overthrown just miles away, I experienced kids with AIDS, and the Berlin Wall came down. My journal writings are about how long my hair was getting, should I get my ear pierced, and other important topics.
Bill, something you never knew about me but yes, I’ve been journaling since 1974 or 10 years old. Ok, now you know how old I am. To answer your question, do I have a process or does it come naturally? Well, I probably lean towards the natural side. I write down everything, I mean everything. Good or bad, inner thoughts, ideas and daily events. Since I’ve had children I’ve also kept a separate journal for them. Things they do that make me smile, laugh or sad. It’s something for them after I’m gone although Emma sneaks a peek every now and then. She also started a journal this past year at 7 years of age. Levi, who is 4, scribbles in his journal tells everyone not to bother him because he’s writing in his journal. My main reason for journaling is that it’s a great release. It’s therapy in a way because I think of it as unloading all of the clutter in my head. I look at it like filing cabinet for my thoughts. Anyway, didn’t mean to be long winded but I would encourage everyone to keep a journal. I now have volumes stacked in my office.
I have tried all kinds of notebooks and journals over the years and I have gone through seasons where I have done “ok” at keeping up but usually fall off track.
However, for the last 4 months I have successfully kept an entry everyday. There are a few things that have made it work for me. The main one is that I use an app called 365 Journal and I keep it on the first screen of my phone. I can type or dictate events I want to remember throughout the day instead of finding one good time everyday to write. I also get to add one picture to remember that day by. Sometimes it has been the big events, and sometimes it’s been the small moments that make me smile. I can export all my entries too. It works great for me and I see no signs of slowing down. It’s just now turning into a habit.
I also had to give myself permission to record enough that would jar my memory. A lot of my entries are just bullet points. Others are more detailed narratives. My goal for journaling this time was simply to “write something every day, even if it’s only a single word”.
I am also writing with the end in mind. At the end of the year I picture myself thumbing through a book with my family looking at all the pictures and entries and looking back over how this was an incredible year. That has also helped me shape what kinds of things I am writing down and it is helping me live a better story everyday.