I am looking to start getting into this. But I have never enjoyed writing. I also feel a little iffy knowing that my diaries are sitting around somewhere in my room and my family can find it at any moment. If I were to type it would be faster, more secure as I can encrypt it, and it would not get lost as easily as I can upload the encrypted file to a cloud.
However, is typing any less effective at making you feel better than writing?
People who keep journals or diaries, how the fuck do you remember AND motivate yourself?? I want to do this, I have tried to do this but I’ve never managed for more than like 2 consecutive days
EDIT: Thanks for all the suggestions guys! It’s really helpful
I’m very inconsistent with mine. Sometimes I write a lot frequently, sometimes I don’t for years. Sometimes i just log once a month.
The thing is why you want to write and what about. Usually when I write it’s about something that really shocked me or moved me, perhaps a very vivid dream (which I used to have frequently when I was younger) or maybe as a means to cope with depression and anxiety and some rough life patches.
Main motivation for me is to be able to access my thought process in the future. This has proven valuable, personally.
I mean, it’s hard to write when you don’t have anything to write about. Try keeping a journal of things when you move to other place or go camping, there probably would be a ton of stuff to write about and keeping a journal would be much easier
I got consistent when I got a 5 year journal. Each page is one day, divided into five sections. Seeing that I would be revisiting it next year really helped motivate me, and reading previous years entries helps even more. Now I have several journals, and for the other ones, I either write in it when I do my 5 year, or I keep it open and jot in it all the time. The trick often is to just write something in it, and then its easier to keep going.
Also think about why you are journaling. Self reflection? Set an alarm. Memories? Read back in your old entries. Planning? Make it front and center so you look at it right away.
I don’t have the privacy concerns, so this other bit might not help as much, but I also use stuff thats pleasant to use. It does’t have to be luxury, but try going up a step. For paper, skip moleskin and look for a rhodia, leuchterm, or midori notebook. For pens, try a fountain pen like a platinum preppy, pilot kakuno, ot lamy safari. If you prefer ballpoint, skip the cheap ones ans get a Uni Signo gel pen or Pentel Energel gel pen. Having nicer stuff can really help motivate cause its nice to use.
I got one of those five year ones and write an entry once I’m in bed each night. The habit is tied to going to bed and the fact that each day has its own space - I don’t want to leave gaps.
Diaro sends me a notification and the end of the Day, reminding me to write something.
It’s more of a “thought catcher” for me. I have a private chat set up that I just jot things down in the moment. I’ll occasionally go through and react with emoji to form a few storylines running through the week. It’s pretty much a 1 sided text message conversation
Use habit stacking to make it part of your routine. Just start doing it after you brush your teeth or whatever in the evening. You can also set a reminder with Google tasks or whatever your preferred app is.
I use an app called Dailyo, I added the things I do and I click on the icon to say I did it. I don’t have to write anything but I still have a bunch of entries.