Journals are a very useful way to remember the past and think about the future. Among other things, it has been shown that they help regulate mood and emotions. If you are going to keep one, you must first decide what kind of journal you want. Write it in an honest, detailed and authentic way.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Decisions Regarding the Journal
Step 1. Consider what your ideal journal type would be
The choice depends on the way you write and other factors. Before proceeding with the purchase, take some time to evaluate what type of diary you would like.
- Take your handwriting into consideration. Do you have a large or small handwriting? If your writing is small and neat, a journal with narrow margins and narrower lines might be fine. On the other hand, if your writing is large and cluttered, opt for a journal with larger margins. You could also choose one with blank pages, without lines.
- Do you want the diary to be durable? A diary with a fabric or leather cover is more expensive, with prices around 15-20 euros, but it lasts quite a long time. You can find cheaper ones at stationery and hobby stores.
- Do you want a portable diary? Many prefer to always have a notebook or exercise book available to write daily observations. If you want to do this too, you could buy a pocket or small diary that fits easily in a bag or backpack.
- If you live with other people and want some privacy, you might want to buy a diary with a lock. In any case, remember that padlocks are sometimes not very strong and break easily.
- There are websites that allow you to keep an online diary. One of the benefits is that it takes up less space, not to mention that many prefer to type on the computer. Either way, privacy is still an issue. Although your site is password protected, online you can never be 100% sure. Someone could come across your diary on the internet and have access to personal information.
Step 2. Decide where to keep the diary
If you want it to be secret, find a discreet place to store it. You could hide it under your mattress, under your clothes in a drawer, or any other place where others are unlikely to go rummaging. If privacy doesn't worry you, keep it handy, for example near your desk, bed or wherever you want to write.
Step 3. Consider how to distinguish the annotations you will write
There are several ways to do this. Some like to write the date, so that in the future they will be able to better remember the period in which they lived certain experiences. Others prefer to give each entry a short title. Unleash your creativity and make writing a pleasure. Use whichever method you think is most appropriate.
Some people sign themselves at the end of each entry. If you prefer this method, go ahead and use it. Either way, you can have privacy concerns. In the event that the diary is accidentally lost, it will be easy to trace the author. If you write particularly private thoughts, avoid them. Consider the initials instead
Part 2 of 3: Writing in the Journal
Step 1. Be honest
Journals can be quite cognitively useful. A study from the University of California showed that speaking honestly about your feelings helps the brain regulate emotions. As you write, try to be as honest as possible. It is good for your psychic well-being.
- Many find writing cathartic, because the pages help to get rid of all inhibitions and to truly be themselves. Feel free to record your emotions, whether positive or negative, in their entirety.
- Don't worry about style and grammar. The diary is a safe space in which to let off steam and share, without the pressure of external judgments. Whenever you start writing a note, try to take a few minutes to follow your stream of consciousness. So write quickly and without inhibitions. When you think back to your day, your mood, and any other feelings you are going through, write down the first things that come to mind.
- Many have epiphanies about themselves and their relationships when they honestly write their journal. As you write, open up to the possibility of getting to know yourself better.
Step 2. Decide what to write about
There are several types of diary. Some use it to tell their days, others to bring back dreams. If you've set yourself a goal, like losing weight or completing a creative project, a journal can be an effective way to talk about your feelings and progress. Some use it to jot down different thoughts and experiences, without a precise thread. It is up to you to determine what you want to talk about.
Step 3. Abound with details
Diaries are also important because they allow you to keep experiences immediately after having lived them. Memory is deceptive, so the precise details of an event tend to fade over time. Describe your experiences in detail to try to imprint the memories on paper and in the mind.
- Before you start writing a journal, think about your past. What would you have liked to have fixed in your mind? Would you like to remember your grandmother's laugh more precisely? Have you regretted never describing the smells of your childhood, such as those that came from the kitchen and pervaded your room? Be inspired by these strong desires to guide writing. Carefully record those moments that you think are precious and that you will want to remember later.
- In addition to being honest when you vent, you should also be honest in your descriptions. The diary must preserve your memories and the perspective you take in relation to your daily experiences. Don't write that your girlfriend's hair "was brighter than the Northern Lights" if you've never seen her live. Talk about your experiences using terms that make sense to you. For example, you could say that your girlfriend's hair "shone like the sun reflecting off a car headlight in the early afternoon." Perhaps it is a less romantic comparison, but it is authentic and belongs only to you.
Step 4. Make a regular appointment to write down your thoughts
Many have trouble finding time to write every day. If you plan on keeping a journal, make it a regular commitment.
- Write about the same time every day. This way keeping a diary will become an integral part of your daily habits, such as brushing your teeth before going to sleep or taking a shower in the morning.
- Don't make appointments you don't think you can stick to. If you know that it will be impossible to write every night, don't make a commitment to do so. Instead, try to deal with it in a more relaxed way. For example, try to write three times a week.
- Choose a time when you will have no other obligations or external time limits.
Step 5. When time is running out, write less
Sometimes it happens to have a thousand commitments. If you go in a hurry, just write a few sentences. Describe your feelings and thoughts in a nutshell. Talk about what you think is most urgent and immediate. You can always add more later when you have time. Just try to write down the basic details so you don't forget them.
Part 3 of 3: Customizing the Journal
Step 1. Add illustrations
If you want to personalize the diary, the illustrations are ideal, they allow you to make it cuter and truly feel yours.
- Someone repeats the same illustration on all pages or uses themed images. For example, if you have a cat that you are very attached to, you could draw a small sketch at the bottom of each page. If you want to add more details, you could draw the cat inspired by the various seasons. In the summer, he may wear sunglasses. In winter, he could go sleighing.
- You might also include illustrations that are relevant to some of the experiences you have talked about. It is possible to make a small sketch at the end of an annotation or a drawing on the margins. Draw pictures of people you've met, foods you've eaten, movies you've seen on any given day, in short, everything you want to remember.
Step 2. Edit the cover
Some journals have decorated covers, others are plain. If you find yours to be trivial, try decorating it. You can write your name using colorful and cute fonts. You can stick stickers or stick clippings from magazines or newspapers. You can draw with colored pencils or markers. Have fun and be creative.
Step 3. Buy a personalized diary
If you don't feel like decorating it, you can buy it online. Usually you can choose from several illustrations or templates, but also add information such as your name and address on the back cover. Some journals, generally designed for younger clients, may include ideas and writing guides to stimulate the author's creativity.
Step 4. Don't overdo it
Remember that a journal is not a scrapbook. It can be nice to stick on mementos like concert tickets, photographs, and brochures of places you've visited. However, overdoing it can make it look like a scrapbook. A diary should be used for writing rather than for making collages.
