A window on the soul, a diary gives you the opportunity to express your deepest feelings and thoughts, without judgments, shame or justifications. A diary allows you to be who you are and represents a place where you can travel through the emotions of life, understanding and analyzing them.
Writing a diary is a personal journey, whose stages consist in your thoughts, your ideas and the meanders of your soul. In this article, you will find tips on how to make the most of this experience or, if you've never had a journal, tips on how to get started. If you've never tried it in your life or you've started writing one and abandoned it, it's time to leave and give free rein to your stream of consciousness.
Steps
Step 1. Decide which writing medium is right for you
You may, in fact, have a paper or electronic diary. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages, so you'll need to figure out what's right for you. For example, a paper diary can be taken anywhere, does not need electricity to work, and can be personalized with drawings, collages, cards and much more. The electronic format, on the other hand, is ideal for writing quickly and can be customized in many other ways. As for privacy, both can be found by someone else if proper measures are not taken. However, it is probably easier to hide an electronic file than a paper diary.
- While it is not necessary to have a beautiful diary from an aesthetic point of view, for someone buying it in a stationery shop is a very important part of the sensory experience of having one. You don't have to buy expensive or trendy diaries, but if this is essential for you and you want to indulge yourself, buy one.
- An economic diary can be decorated in infinite ways and it could be fun to personalize it, instead of taking advantage of the design born from someone else's idea. Always remember that, however, writing a diary has very little to do with aesthetics: never forget that, if you open one, it is to put your stream of consciousness on paper.
- Have you opted for a paper diary? Also buy a suitable writing instrument, perhaps a particularly comfortable pen that is good for your aesthetic needs.
Step 2. Now, it's time to decide what kind of diary you want to have
You could simply write down the thoughts that come to your mind at a given moment or you could focus your attention on a specific topic in order to track its progress. However, no one has ever said that you can't have both a “random” diary and one dedicated to a particular topic at the same time. Here are some ideas:
- A diary focused on gratitude, where you will write down all the things for which every day, every week or any other amount of time you feel grateful and talk about the people, animals, events and things that are really important to you.
- A diary about your holidays, with all the sensations, impressions and emotions that have challenged, changed and enlightened you during your travels.
- A journal that contains your ideas and inspirations about writing, business, a game or inventions.
- A diary dedicated to your child's growth: it will allow you to follow the development of your child and to write down funny words and phrases and important moments in his life.
- A diary of transition to a new life, whether it deals with, for example, the search for or the loss of a job, becoming a parent for the first time, starting a business, organizing a special trip, etc. This type of diary documents the changes in your life and is useful for asking questions such as “What do I like and what I don't like?”, “What do I expect for the future and how will my life change with respect to my choice?”, “Who could help me in my transition?”, Etc.
Step 3. Find the perfect place (there may be more than one) to dedicate yourself to your journal
Writing one takes time to reflect, loneliness, peace and no interruptions. You should feel relaxed and comfortable and don't worry about being interrupted by someone else. Try different places and choose the one where you feel best.
- Sit in front of a fireplace or under a tree.
- Find a quiet corner of the house.
- The comfort of a seat can vary throughout the day. The kitchen is an example: during the day, it is always crowded, in the evening, however, it becomes the most peaceful and relaxing place in the house.
Step 4. Find the right time for you
Generally, it is advisable to write every day or, in any case, to be constant. However, this suggestion moves away from what is the point of having a diary, an extension of your way of being and your feelings. If you force your writing, you will end up feeling resentment. Instead of making a commitment to write regularly, make a commitment to yourself to use the diary to be creative, express your emotions, jot down ideas, etc. If you can do it every day, good for you; if you don't write for two months or a year, you don't have to worry. Many do not write a single word for years and then start over when they feel the urgency.
- Keeping the diary on the bedside table could help you not forget about it. Often, thoughts come before bed, and writing at the end of the day can be a good way to relax.
- Remember that whenever you feel down or come up with a great idea, a journal is the best way to let off steam or to write down everything you think.
Step 5. Relax
Everyone relaxes in a different way and everyone writes their diary when they are in a certain mood. Some like to write while listening to music, others prefer absolute silence, while still others need the sounds and noises of the city to stimulate their thoughts. Choose the method that is right for you and that doesn't make you feel like writing a diary is a huge effort.
Don't pay attention to grammar or spelling in your diary. Feeling the need to correct mistakes while talking about your deepest thoughts or during the stream of consciousness means that you are trying to control the situation you are telling instead of understanding it and finding new ways to perceive it
Step 6. Look for sources of inspiration
Often times, it pays to simply start with what it feels like, put it on paper and see where it takes you. There are no rules on journaling, and you may find that your starting points vary every time you start writing. Sometimes, it's easier to start by talking about your day and talk about that confusing thing that makes you feel like you need answers. Writing down the most mundane facts and events can open up your stream of consciousness and take you to places you would never otherwise have gotten to. Here are some ideas:
- Movies, books, television shows; for example, you might consider the philosophical implications of your favorite movie or write an essay on why you find a certain character irresistible… or not.
- Pretend to be a teacher and to explain to your students what you want them to hear. Sometimes, writing about what's happening to you or writing questions and answers can allow you to awaken your creativity.
- Talk about something you've bought or done in the last few days. Have you bought a new item for your hobby, completed an essay, are you courting someone, decorating your home, etc.? Start from what you bought or what you did to tell the reasons behind your actions.
Step 7. Use the diary to overcome a difficult period; many psychotherapists think that having one is essential to work better on one's emotions
A diary absorbs your anger, your desires for revenge, your jealousy and all the negativity without judging you, without answering you badly and without telling anyone what you wrote. Writing down what you feel in a journal will take a burden off your stomach and keep you from venting elsewhere. It gives you all the space you need to analyze your emotions and put yourself in the shoes of the other people involved to figure out if they are right or not.
- Feel free to write bad words, put nicknames on people and give free rein to everything you hear: always better to do it here than in reality and then repent. Thus, you will put all your frustration and anger in a safe place.
- Write until you feel exhausted. This will allow you to get rid of the feelings that haunt you and that make you avoid moving forward, towards a better life.
- Tell about the boy you think he will never go out with you, about the neighbor who talks about your business, about your parents, your in-laws, your family in general, your ambitions, your abilities, what you like. The list of things you can talk about is endless.
Step 8. Enter anything you want in your journal, even scribbles
Add song lyrics, poems, phrases from books and newspaper clippings. Paste cards or photos. The diary is the manifestation of your real life made by your mind and, therefore, you must feel it completely yours.
Step 9. Reflect on what you have written in the past and what you are writing now
In fact, you must always re-read yourself and make comparisons between where you were before and where you are now. This is an indispensable exercise for your growth. Analyze whether things have become clearer and whether your hopes and dreams have come true. Think about the things that haven't happened yet and if there is something that is blocking your progress. Use the diary to evaluate the journey of your life.
Step 10. Keep your diary safe
In fact, you will only feel free to express yourself if you know for certain that the journal will not compromise your relationships or the perception that others have of you.
- Find perfect places to hide it and change them regularly if you think someone is looking for it. Use the cover of the chemistry book to cover it up and keep curious people out.
- Put the password on your computer or document.
- Write a note to the curious on the first page of the journal, such as “Before reading my deepest thoughts, think about how you would feel if someone did the same thing to you. May karma be with you”.
- Review the diary for new ideas.
Advice
- If you can't get started, think about what you would write in a Facebook status or another social network and write it down in your journal. Later, use it to start new reflections: memories, associations or ideas.
- Buy a blank page journal if you want to draw or don't want to feel stuck. In any case, if your purpose is to write, then pages with lines will do just fine.
- A collaborative project could be a unique way to explore new ideas. Ask your best friends to write a journal together. However, remember that this could turn against you if someone decides to blurt everything around.
- Record what you hear and write down your thoughts later, so you don't forget anything.
- Keeping the diary always with you is a good idea: you never know when the inspiration will arrive and you can write down everything that comes to mind. You could write phrases like "Why do people always look at their handkerchiefs after blowing their noses?". Also, this way, you will write down what you really think over the course of the day, instead of trying to catch it up in the evening. If it seems risky to take it with you, keep only a "notebook of ideas" with you; you will write everything down when you have the actual diary available.
- If you open a blog, watch what you write and, if you really want to give free rein to your thoughts, change the settings and make it private. In case you write something bad about a person and they find out, it will have repercussions. Plus, do you really want to expose yourself so much in front of people you don't even know?
- If you love writing stories, keep them in your journal.
- If you feel stuck and don't know what to talk about, think about a topic or write a simple story. Be creative and you'll come up with lots of ideas!
- Many argue that handwriting is more therapeutic than computer writing, since it allows you to access your emotions more deeply. Try them both. You could also print the pages you write on your computer and keep them in a box or bind them or copy to your computer what you wrote on the paper. In any case, consider the possibility of having a hard copy, to show, perhaps, to the next generations.
Warnings
- Protect your computer or files with a password - you never know, someone could illegally break into your system.
- Don't write if you don't want to. A diary is an escape, not a job. As we have already stated, there are people who do not write for months, and then start over.
