Journaling is an
exercise for the mind and it has several
proven benefits, but it can also seem difficult to do. This is
primarily due to the overwhelming feeling of having to journal
- it shouldn't be like that. Instead, it should be something you look
forward to doing every
day. It should be a task that inspires you for the day ahead
and/or relieves
you of the day you have just had.
Also, there's no
precise form to journaling - you should structure it how you want and
to your own lifestyle. Perhaps you want to start the day off with it
or maybe end the day with it or even both! How you organize your
journal can vary too. The
most important thing about journaling is to actually journal and be consistent
if you're going to do it. The methods of journaling that we'll cover
in this article will allow you to do all of these things.
Use A Word
Processor Or Notepad Application
Let's start simple. One
of the easiest ways to start journaling now is with something you already
have and we all
have a word processor or notepad application.
Your local
options
Notepad applications
are also an excellent way to journal. Although very simplistic, when
staring at a blank screen with no other distractions, you already
feel compelled to write. You can use the default program that came
with your system or check out any of the notepad
alternatives we've written about.
Your options
online
There are a lot of web
apps for journaling (we'll explore those more in a bit), but this is
specifically concerning online office suites. We know most of them
already: Google Docs, Microsoft Web Apps, Zoho Office, etc. The
purpose that these would have over your local options would be that
it's all online, so you
can journal anywhere. Also, it's about what works for you
- if the web, specifically a certain service like Google Docs, is the
primary place where you do most of your work, then that should be
where you journal too. This is because you want to make it as easy to
do it as possible.
Just before the
"online office suites" section started it was mentioned
that a workaround for accessing your local files was to use a cloud
synchronization program. Google Docs and Microsoft Web Apps both have
local programs that provide a similar effect: Google Drive and
SkyDrive.
Organize Your
Journal Entries With A Note App
The problem with word
processors and notepad applications is that your journal entries
(files) aren't organized in the sense that the said program provides
easy access to them via its interface. Instead, you have to navigate
away from your "journal page" to look in a folder for
previous entries that you've logged. This is where note applications,
like Evernote or OneNote,
come in handy. Both come in local applications, although Evernote is
also known very well for its cloud-syncing and mobile capabilities.
You should know, however, that OneNote
also syncs to the cloud through SkyDrive and has both a web and
mobile apps as well.
Set Up A
Private Blog
When we think
"blogging," we often think of something public, where the world can see
everything about us - at least everything that we tell it about
us. But blogs can also be made private. Often at times you can set it
up with a password that any visitors must enter to be able to access
what you've posted. But if you don't want to share anything with
anyone, that is fine too. In fact, that's why it makes such a great
method for journaling.
The blogging platforms
which I feel are the best for this are WordPress, Tumblr, Posterous,
Blogger and Livescribe. If you already have a blog or website using
one of these platforms, then just create another private blog on
that same platform so you can have it all in one place.
Create A
Private Twitter Account
Usually, I wouldn't
recommend using social networking to journal. For those of you who've
read other articles which cover any realm of social media might find
the following phrase familiar:
Don't post anything
online that you wouldn't shout into a megaphone on a crowded street
corner.
All of that aside,
Twitter is
a great way to privately journal online. You obviously can only share
entries of 140 characters, so it isn't for everyone and it depends on
your journaling style.
Use A Web
Service Specifically For Journaling
There are several services
out there that are great for journaling. What makes them so great is
they cater to that precise use. There is something about using
something that is only
for that. It helps you separate everything else from that task, in
this case journaling. We've shared about some ways
to quickly and simply journal online. However, that article
certainly doesn't cover them all. Below is a list of three excellent
services to try, along with a link to their MakeUseOf article:
In addition to those,
there is one more service that isn't technically a journal-specific
service, but it can definitely be used for it (and I this is the
closest category it falls into, to be honest). This service is
iDoneThis, which is a tool to log
your productivity and track your progress. However, don't let
that scare you away. If you just want something to type out what you
did while you reflect on your day, this is an excellent tool for
that.
Having Trouble
Focusing? Try A Distraction-Free Writing App
If you've been in the
boat where you seem to always struggle with getting distracted
whenever you sit down to journal, perhaps you should consider a tool
that is aimed at a distraction-free writing experience. We've covered
several of these tools already in articles like Write In
Peace With These Distraction-Free Editors where Saikat covered
excellent tools like Q10, Ommwriter,
WriteMonkey
and FocusWriter,
as well as others.
If you prefer an online
option, there are many to choose from, such as:
For more help on
overcoming the distractions when writing, I'd like to refer you to
following articles:
Also, get away from
people while writing and journaling. Nothing ever gets done whenever
a pillow fight is on.
Last, But
NEVER Least: Pen And Paper
As much as society is
pushing everything to go paperless, there is still a need for pen and
paper occasionally. And journaling is a prime example of that. In the
previous section we talked about distraction-free writing. Well...
you can't get more distraction-free than away from a computer
altogether - in a quiet, cozy and dimly lit little corner somewhere.
As much as we'd like to argue that technology has more benefits than
not, one thing that is a fact is that it can be very distracting. And
in this day and age we are reliant
on it, which might not be a good thing if it is a weakness for you.
Nonetheless, if you
need a break from the overwhelming number of bright-screened devices
that you have, journaling with a pen and paper just might suffice and
fill that gap.
Conclusion
Journaling isn't an
easy task and I don't want to make it out to be so. It requires
purpose to consistently write every
day. You might (or might not) be thinking "This guy
sounds like an avid journaler." But I'll be honest, I'm not as
consistent as I should be. So if you're that type of person who's had
trouble - I can relate.
If you are an avid
journaler, what method (or methods?) do you prefer? Have you found
one is exceptionally better over the others? And if you aren't an
avid journaler, what do you feel would help you become one? Share
your thoughts below!
For more info about
journaling, be sure to check out the following MakeUseOf articles:
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